America has thousands of beautiful beaches along the coasts and great lakes. The beaches offer all kinds of experiences needed to accommodate the tastes of every traveler. From the calmer beaches of the east coast and the more lively west coast beaches, to the tropical beaches of Hawaii and the great lakes beaches, there is a big variety of beautiful beaches to experience.
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Here is a look at some of the greatest beaches in the US.
Best Atlantic Coast Beaches
The East Coast has many historic beach towns and stretches of sandy shores along the Atlantic Ocean.
Coquina Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
Coquina Beach, located at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, is one of the beautiful Outer Banks beaches in North Carolina. Coquina Beach is a white sand beach named for the tiny coquina clams that line the beach. This beach is a wonderful place for families to spend the day playing in the sand and for beach combers to enjoy the gentle waves. Coquina Beach also provides the privacy of vast, open spaces along the beach.
Visitors can easily reach the beach using a boardwalk, and there are restrooms and picnic tables nearby. The Bodie Island Lighthouse, located nearby, offers beautiful views and tells a part of the story of America’s maritime history.
Race Point Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod, Massachusetts offers a traditional New England coastal experience with lighthouses and seafood shacks. Right Point Beach, with soft, golden sand, is situated near Right Point Lighthouse and is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
It is great for beachcombing and draws in seasoned swimmers and surfers because of the strong currents and waves. Guests can visit the historic lighthouse, use the restrooms and showers, and check out the arts and shops, and dining options, in Provincetown.
South Beach, Miami, Florida
At South Beach, you can enjoy the combination of city life and beach relaxation, making it one of the most quintessential Miami locations. With a stunning 7 miles of white sand beaches, sparkling waters, and swaying palm trees, Miami Beach is sure to impress. Coupled with the unparalleled, iconic Art Deco architecture, visitors will also be privy to a range of accommodation, dining, and shopping options.
There are many beach activities and water sports that can be enjoyed at South Beach, and the nightlife at Ocean Drive is hopping. South Beach also has a number of art galleries and museums, as well as the annual Art Basel Miami Beach event.
Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina
Families can enjoy swimming and paddleboarding in the calm waters of Atlantic Ocean. Sandy shores for miles extend along Hilton Head Island Beach.
The playful marine mammals can often be seen close to shore and spotting them is always a delight for visitors. For a more detailed experience, guided dolphin tours are an option. The beach offers amenities like public restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and shops for rentals of beach and water sports equipment.
Ogunquit Beach, Maine
Ogunquit Beach in Maine is 3 miles long. Both families and water sports lovers enjoy the soft sand and easy surf. The main beach has stronger waves because it faces the Atlantic Ocean. However, a tidal river offers a swimming area.
The beautiful Ogunquit Beach has stunning views, wildlife, and restrooms and rental shops for your convenience. Ogunquit Beach has easy access to dining and shopping, and cultural activities, and is also right next to the Marginal Way walk to Perkins Cove. Ogunquit’s town
Best Pacific Coast Beaches
With the Pacific waves crashing and dramatic cliffs bordering the water, the West Coast is a nature lover’s and surfer’s paradise.
Zuma Beach, Malibu, California
Zuma Beach is huge, almost two miles long, and great for large crowds. Because of its long size, it gives people plenty of room to enjoy the beach. It is also well known to surfers for its consistent surf so it hosts surf competitions, gives surf lessons, and has surf board and equipment rentals.
People like the beautiful sunset. The soft sandy beach and the amazing ocean view is also very pleasing. They have lifeguards on the beach every day, but people should still be careful because there can be really strong, dangerous currents. Zuma beach has a variety of things to do including, food stands, parking, and shower and restroom facilities.
Hug Point Beach, Cannon Beach, Oregon
Hug Point Beach is located right off the beautiful and rugged coast of Oregon. They are also one of the very few spots where a waterfall pours directly onto the beach. They have also got some cool marine life-filled tide pools. These are educational and up close and personal. It’s named after a 19th century wagon road.
Besides waterfalls and tide pools, you can also see sand caves and sandstone cliffs that have been formed by the ocean over thousands of years. Be careful of the tides because high tide makes some areas unsafe. You can park in the lot and take a short walk to the beach, but there are no restrooms.
Blacks Beach, La Jolla, California
Nature lovers can visit the hidden gem that is Blacks Beach. It is located at the bottom of a steep set of cliffs that can be hiked down. It is one of the best and most hidden surfing spots in all of Southern California due to a special subaqueous canyon that produces very large and powerful waves. Because of this, it has become increasingly popular among surfers to come and visit this location.
It is a popular take-off site for paragliders and hang gliders. It has no facilities, so bring what you need. Be careful of cliff descents and changing tides.
Second Beach, La Push, Washington
Hidden away and located within Olympic National Park is Second Beach. The beach can be accessed via a dense and lush forest trail showcasing the incredible biodiversity of the Pacific Northwest. The trail ultimately leads to Second Beach which features stunning dramatic sea stacks that have been shaped by the process of erosion. At low tide, the beach has many tide pools teeming with sea life to explore.
The beautiful beach surrounded by forest and sea stacks is a great location for photography and watching the sunset. However, it is important that visitors are aware of the tides. There are also no amenities on-site, the closest provision is located in La Push or Forks.
Best Gulf Coast Beaches
The Gulf Coast is famous for stunning beaches with white sand and clear, emerald waters, particularly in the state of Florida.
Crystal Sands Beach, Destin, Florida
Crystal Sands Beach is located along the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for great views and a relaxing atmosphere. With pure quartz crystals in the sand, the beach features beautiful clear waters and the soft sands make the water even more beautiful!
The beaches have emerald colored water that glistens in the sun. It offers a family friendly environment with an assortment of activities like swimming, sunbathing, beachcombing, and fishing. There is easy access to dolphin watching, dining, shopping and places to stay. Florida
Malaquite Beach, Padre Island, Texas
Malaquite Beach has miles of beautiful sand where you can relax, take a walk, or comb for treasures. You can also take advantage of the good birdwatching along the Central Flyway. The area has great wildlife photography, especially at sunrise and sunset. There is also stargazing due to the low level of light pollution.
The National Seashore has lodging facilities like restrooms and showers, as well as picnic spots. Educational exhibits and guided programs are available at the Malaquite Visitor Center.
Best Hawaiian Beaches
Hawaii is America’s very own tropical paradise. The stunning beaches in Hawaii have something to offer for every type of traveler.
Sunset Beach, Oahu
Sunset Beach is over 2 miles long and has golden sands and clear waters. In the summer the beach is good for swimming, snorkeling, and families because the water is calm. However, in the winter, the beach is a popular surfing spot and the waves can get up to 30 feet! The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is one of the big events they host.
Sunset Beach is famous for its big waves and breathtaking sunsets, where surfers’ silhouettes come alive in the warm colors of the evening sky.
The beach is an easy place to access, and is located with parking available along Kamehameha Highway. There are lifeguards on duty, but the waves during winter season are only recommended for experienced surfers and spectators are advised to maintain a safe distance.
Hapuna Beach, Big Island
Providing a scenic place to spend the day at the beach, Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area has a half-mile stretch of beach along the island’s western shore. The swimming is easy and the beach has gentle slopes. It has beautiful soft white sand and inviting deep blue water.
Hapuna Beach is excellent for snorkeling and has lots of marine life and the rocky sides of the beach allow for even more underwater exploration. The beach has great weather and lots of lifeguards along with other services.
Napili Bay, Maui
While many Hawaiian beaches are brimming with tourists, Napili Bay promises a quiet beach experience. The unique, natural shape of the bay draws in protections from high waves and provides a more relaxing environment for swimming and even snorkeling. There are golden sand stretches for countless feet and the beach is surrounded by lush greenery, enhancing the experience of a tropical paradise.
Napili Bay’s clear waters, abundant with marine life, create a snorkeler’s dream location. Here, you can find a myriad of colorful fish, and at times, sea turtles, among the striking coral reefs.
With its calm waters, the bay creates a family-friendly atmosphere, and its welcoming vibes foster community among locals and visitors. People come here for sunset-watching and picnics.
Best Freshwater Beaches
The stunning freshwater beaches along the Great Lakes are also found in the US.
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
At more than 35 miles long, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has some of the best inland beaches in the country. In addition to the beautiful freshwater beaches, the park has some spectacular sand dunes, forests, and nature trails. Additionally, the landscape offers many different activities to choose from.
Dune Climb is for those looking for adventure. For more leisurely activities, you can kayak on the lakes. It’s great for all skill levels. Families appreciate the swimming areas on Lake Michigan. The water is clear which makes it great for swimming.
Presque Isle Beach, Erie, Pennsylvania (Lake Erie)
Presque Isle State Park is 2,133 acres and has Presque Isle Beach. This beach has a lot of soft sand and relaxing waves making it perfect for visitors to do a range of activities. The beach also has trails for visitors to walk, fish, and kayak. This beach is one of the best beaches on Lake Erie and has a lot of outdoor activities.
The park is located on a peninsula which gives it a sheltered bay for more sandy shores. This makes it popular for swimming, sunbathing, and picnicking. The water is clean and well kept. There are lifeguards on duty in the summer. There are restrooms and picnic areas.
The park also has a lot of activities. There are a lot of different habitats and over 300 different birds. There are also a lot of trails to walk along, and you can see the park’s scenic views.
More To Explore & Enjoy at the Best Beaches in the US
You can visit a beach in the US regardless of whether you want to surf, sunbathe, or hike. Each coast has something different to offer so each trip to the beach will be a different experience. Make sure to pack sunscreen and a swimsuit.
This article was originally published on Wealth of Geeks.
