If you are after "a place near the beach with good night life, beach bars, etc." you'll want to be right in town.

If you tell us what your "reasonable $$$" are, that will help us make recommendations to you.

Only one problem that I can foresee is that really great beach and being in town, aren't that easy to put together.

A fish and a bird can fall in love, but where will they build their nest?