Thanks everyone for the response. Good ideas so far.
Kunde: We have thought about a similar river scene leading from the town into the sea. Very nice.
dk122: really like how you made yours into a "destination." We have some amusement park items and stands (taffy, candy apples, etc) and thought about making them part of the beach area. Really like what you've done.
Ed: Neat idea. Looks like a great way to maximize the scenery without sacrificing space.