It would be helpful to know where you are. You're talking about beaches and palm trees but it says zone 7 in your zone box.

Down on the Gulf, Live Oak and Bald Cypress are planted near the ocean, both are wind-resistant and I assume would be salt spray resistant, but need to check for that.
Some of the California Cypresses (Monterrey)are right on the edge of beach and subject to salt spray. What type of soil where you are?

My user name says Virginia Zone 7. So it isn't like florida or anything where palm trees grow like weeds. The palm trees are not native, I was just saying I had them in the backyard. Sorry for the confusion. The soil is sandy.

might consider southern waxmyrtle/bayberry---myrica cerifera, supposed to be very tolerant of sandy soils near the beach.

Thanks!
I have considered those but, just wondering on what else would grow here. Thanks so much.

well, the "southern living garden book" suggests several kinds of holly (american, dahoon,yaupon, juniper (eastern red and southern red), live oak, american arborvitae, japanese cryptomeria,sea buckthorn (hippophae rhamnoides) even southern magnolia---so there are some interesting and attractive possibilities for you to consider.

Thanks for the help : )