North America's Top 50+ Beaches
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Mispec Beach // Canada
© Bill Lapp / CC BY Located 15 minutes southeast of the town of Saint John, Mispec Beach is always crowded in summer. Accessed from Red Head Road down a manmade staircase, it is one of the best beaches in New Brunswick.
Overlooking the chilly waters of the Bay of Fundy, it has a massive tidal range of around 43 feet (13 metres) with some of the… read more »
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South Kouchibouguac Dune // Canada
© Yasehtor / CC BY South Kouchibouguac Dune lies to the south of the Kouchibouguac River estuary where it empties into the Northumberland Strait. Located in Kouchibouguac National Park, it is on the east coast of New Brunswick.
Pronounced "kooshi-boog-wac", the word "Kouchibouguac" in Mi'kmaq means "River of long tides". Like the neighbouring North Kouchibouguac Dune, this south dune is an offshore island or sand… read more »
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North Kouchibouguac Dune // Canada
© Larry / CC BY Located in Kouchibouguac National Park, North Kouchibouguac Dune is a famously long sandy dune beach stretching for 25km. Named after the Kouchibouguac River, the word in Mi'kmaq appropriately means "River of long tides".
The sensitive dunes and bogs are protected by the park system since 1969 when the land was expropriated from local families with one notable exception; Jackie Vautour refused… read more »
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Morro Rock Beach // USA
© David Mark Nestled in a secluded spot along California's northern coastline, Morro Rock is one of the state's most naturally beautiful beaches.
The Morro Rock itself stands at around 576 feet tall and was formed millions of years ago from volcanic rock. Until the mid-sixties it was regularly mined, partly for breakwaters, but by the end of the decade it had been recognised… read more »
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Palisades Beach // USA
© Milan Ashley This narrow strip of soft white sand is just along the coast from the ever-popular Santa Monica.
Unlike its next-door neighbor, there aren't a whole host of beachfront bars and restaurants, which helps to keep the crowds away, and means there's plenty of wriggle room for a spot of sunbathing.
Lifeguards are on duty every day and there are loads of places… read more »
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DT Fleming Beach Park // USA
KasugaHuang Set on the far northwest of Maui, D.T. Fleming Beach Park has a long sandy beach which is surrounded by trees, and is quieter than many of the island's other beaches. The white sand runs for 1,500 feet with a width of 150 feet between two lava healands. The surrounding trees are Ironwoods, and there are dunes leading up to… read more »
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Gay Head Town Beach // USA
Many continue to call Gay Head Town Beach by its original name, although Gay Head Town has been known formerly as Aquinnah (meaning ‘land under the hill') by its population of 440 since 1997. At the end of Massachusetts' famed island of Martha's Vineyard, the beach is best known for its dramatic cliffs and the ocean views they deliver.
Designated a… read more »
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Avila Beach // USA
Scooterboss This secluded little spot sits on California's central coast, approximately halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The beach itself is a stunning unspoilt stretch of white sand and crystal clear water that's around half a mile long, with a near 1700-feet pier at the heart of it that's been standing for more than a century.
It's partially closed for… read more »
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Pfeiffer Beach // USA
Robert Brett Pfeiffer Beach is in the Big Sur area of California. Roughly a mile long, it is located down a twisting and unmarked two-mile paved road that is unsuitable for RVs and trailers as it has only five points at which vehicles are able to pass one another in opposite directions.
However, this beach more than makes up for the slight difficulty… read more »
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Point Reyes Beach // USA
John Uhrig The main beach at Point Reyes can be arbitrarily divided into North Beach and South Beach. However, a more appropriate name is the Great Beach which fairly accurately sums up this 12 mile long stretch of unbroken golden sand.
On one of the frequent wild and windy days, where you feel the full force of the Pacific waves pounding unabated into… read more »
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Gibson Beach // USA
Eric Chan This is a top spot for nature lovers. Gibson's Beach is the southernmost beach in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve and can be reached by car in around 10 minutes from Carmel. The scenic drive alone is well worth the time spent.
It's a wide sandy stretch about a quarter of a mile long and access to the beach can be… read more »
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Gray Whale Cove State Beach // USA
Christopher Michel When you hear that Gray Whale Cove State Beach is on an area of coastline known as "Devil's Slide" this should help convey that the descent to the beach is steep and tricky.
Just 18 miles south of San Francisco, situated between Pacifica and Montara, this state beach is popular for whale watching during the spring migratory season,… read more »
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Clam Beach // USA
Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill Clam Beach County Park lies just off (Redwood) Highway 101 to the north of Arcata. It is a long stretch of fine golden sand backed by low sand dunes.
The beach here is a popular stopover for camping with parks for both RVs and tents. Facilities include plenty of picnic areas, firepits, and restrooms.
As the name might suggest, Clam beach is popular… read more »
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Lighthouse Field State Beach // USA
Don DeBold Lighthouse Field State Beach lies at the north end of Monterey Bay in downtown Santa Cruz, and can be accessed via West Cliff Drive. A protected state park covering 15 hectares, it overlooks the famous Steamer Lane surf break, making it incredibly popular with experienced surfers and body boarders.
The beach itself is formed of flat, lightly-coloured sands surrounded… read more »
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Cowell Beach // USA
loboford220 Cowell Beach is located on the westside of Santa Cruz's wood-built municipal wharf in the downtown district. Stretching from the wharf to the cliffs overlooked by West Cliff Drive, this broad sweep of golden sand is popular for a number of reasons.
Beyond the delights of its sands, it is close to the amusements of the boardwalk, and is also popular… read more »
