The United States has thousands of miles of coastline, including hundreds of beaches along the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Gulf of Mexico. With all that to choose from, no one could ever definitively say what the 15 best ones are or even what the criteria would have to be.
That said, here are 15 you’ll love, all selected for their scenic beauty.
Punalu’u Beach, HI
Just about any Hawaiian beach could make this list, but Punalu’u is especially exceptional for its black sand. As lava flows into the ocean, it explodes as it cools, becoming basalt, which is what the sand is made of.
Rialto Beach, WA
This beach in Olympic National Park has a lot to love. Just offshore are rock formations called sea stacks, and waves pound them relentlessly. At low tide, you can explore tide pools for starfish, anemones, and other marine life. The sunsets are spectacular, and a lot of beautiful driftwood shaped and polished by the ocean washes up.
Cannon Beach, OR
Just about the entire Oregon Coast is a long postcard, and Cannon is maybe the highlight. It’s one of the most photographed beaches in the world, and you’ve probably seen pictures of its shores and rock outcrops many times.
Pfeiffer Beach, CA
Located in the heart of California’s wild and spectacular Big Sur Country, this is one of the most incredible beaches you’ll ever see. The waters here are too rough for swimming, but that doesn’t matter. You’ll be in awe of the huge waves crashing against the even bigger rocks, including one, Keyhole Rock, that has a hole through it and sometimes frames the setting sun. The sands are purple due to the manganese garnet that washes down from the high country just above.
Malibu, CA
The Malibu region has long been famous for its coastal beauty. It includes legendary Zuma Beach, a prime spot for surfers and whale-watching opportunities.
Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Beach has several individual beaches, and there’s one that’s just right for almost anyone. Popular things to do include swimming, hiking, and exploring sea caves, tide pools, and coastal bluffs.
South Padre Island, TX
Padre Island National Seashore has miles and miles of pristine coastline. With a 4WD vehicle, you can drive dozens of miles along it, and the farther you go, the more solitude you’ll find.
Sanibel Island, FL
The warm waters and white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast are justifiably popular vacation destinations. Sanibel is one of the most famous not for its beauty, though it is beautiful, but for its exceptional shelling opportunities.
Key West, FL
Key West has beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to its beaches, art scene, and entertainment options, it has some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the country.
Amelia Island, FL
While the beaches of the Gulf Coast and around Miami get most of the fanfare in Florida, you can find scenic beauty, relaxation, and quiet at this lesser-known beauty. It’s a bit north of Jacksonville along the Atlantic.
Cumberland Island, GA
Home to a national seashore bearing the same name, this barrier island is one of the most scenic and ecologically diverse places on the East Coast. It protects and preserves pristine beaches, maritime forests, marshes, and a wide variety of wildlife, both terrestrial and marine.
Cape Lookout, NC
Cape Lookout National Seashore has a wild, primitive feel since you can only get to it by ferry (though you can bring a car across and drive a road along the island’s west side). The beaches here are pristine, and they receive some of the roughest waves in the Southeast.
Pea Island, NC
Pea Island is close to the north end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. It’s the site of a national wildlife refuge, and it also has some of the tallest sand dunes on the Outer Banks. Although it’s not a secret, it has a wild feel to it, maybe because the lack of amenities close by makes it not as heavily visited as many of the other beaches in this region.
Assateague Island, MD-VA
You can drive to Assateague Island National Seashore from the Ocean City area on the north end or from the storied Chincoteague on the southern end. It’s a beautiful beach, and with a permit and 4WD, you can access areas far from the crowds. The island is also home to a famous herd of semi-wild ponies.
Mohegan Bluffs, RI
New England is another region that could have an entire article like this dedicated to its beaches. The Mohegan Bluffs are on Block Island in Rhode Island, and they are a line of clay cliffs averaging about 150’ high. You can admire the ocean and the cliffs from up top, and you can also take a steep staircase down to the beach and see the rough surf up close.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border makes a lot of lists of the most beautiful places in America. There’s also a lot to do there, with a wide range of outdoor recreation, great dining, resorts, nightlife, and more. If it’s your first time going or if you’re going back, consider adding some of the following places to your itinerary.
15 Must-Dos on Your Next Trip to Lake Tahoe
The World’s 5 Friendliest and 5 Unfriendliest Cities
Some cities welcome visitors and want them to be there. Other cities are rude to visitors and would just as soon see you leave. It can be jarring to be in an unfriendly city, though some of the world’s most enticing cities rank high on the rudeness scale.
When you visit a friendly city, it’s much easier to soak in the culture and meet the locals. Rough Guides readers voted on the cities for their level of friendliness. According to Rough Guides, these are the world’s friendliest and unfriendliest cities.
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