North America's Top 50+ Beaches

  • Cooper's Beach (Southampton) // USA

    Cooper's Beach (Southampton)
    Shinya Suzuki

    This beautiful and serene beach in Southampton, Long Island, has a stretch of white sand running along the Atlantic Ocean. You can walk on the beach, sit in the sun, or you can surf and bodyboard. A local eatery, Serenity, has a Lobster Bake every Friday and Saturday, and there are live concerts. You will also find a concession stand,… read more »

  • Hanalei Beach // USA

    Hanalei Beach
    © havilandwright

    Set around Hanalei Bay, this is one of the largest beaches on Kauai's north shore at almost two miles long. Surrounded by a stunning backdrop of emerald-green mountains and tumbling waterfalls this is an idyllic tropical location. The combination of the deep blue ocean and the rich green mountains, separated by a crescent of white sand is quite breathtaking.

    When… read more »

  • Lucy Vincent Beach // USA

    Lucy Vincent Beach
    N. Friedler

    Located near Chilmark on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Lucy Vincent beach is a beautiful stretch of golden sand that runs along the Atlantic coast. Sadly, unless you are a resident or renting a house in town, you cannot access this beach from June 1 through September 15. Beach passes are required during that time.

    The beach was originally owned… read more »

  • Race Point Beach // USA

    Race Point Beach
    Daniel Schwen

    Race Point Beach is in Provincetown, right at the very top of Cape Cod. The scenery here is both unique and beautiful, with sandy beaches, whales in the ocean, and historical lighthouses among the extensive dunes. You will love walking on the beach or relaxing in the sand.

    Spring is the time to come for whale watching, you can spot… read more »

  • Little Beach // USA

    Little Beach
    dronepicr

    Little Beach is so called, not only because it is fairly small, but because it is next door to the longest beach on Maui's south coast - Big Beach. Both are beautiful stretches of golden sand backed by the near-pristine tropical greenery of Makena State Park, it's just the scale is different... well mostly that.

    Perhaps what Little Beach is… read more »

  • Fort Zachary Taylor Beach // USA

    Fort Zachary Taylor Beach
    © Chris Schieman

    Set on the western tip of Key West, Fort Zachary Taylor is Florida's most southerly state park. It is also home to what is highly regarded as Key West's best beach.

    A stretch of near-white coral sand, lapped by the clear blue waters of the what feels like the Caribbean Sea make this spot is idyllic. The look is completed by… read more »

  • East Hampton Beach // USA

    East Hampton Beach
    Nicole Mayone

    Main Beach is on the eastern edge of Long Island in East Hampton, New York. This prisitine shoreline has sand which is soft and stretches endlessly between the dunes and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

    There's plenty to do at this upmarket location. You can rent surfboards, kayaks, or paddle boards or even take a lesson if you are… read more »

  • Coronado Beach // USA

    Coronado Beach
    ashleytheartist2002

    Consistently voted one of America's finest beaches, Coronado Beach is a long sandy stretch on the outskirts of San Diego. The main Central Beach runs along Ocean Boulevard from the Hotel del Coronado to Sunset Park. An area near Sunset Park is set aside for dog owners to bring their dogs to play on what is known locally as Dog… read more »

  • San Gregorio State Beach // USA

    San Gregorio State Beach
    Nathan Siemers

    Close to Silicon Valley in the South Bay Area, San Gregorio State Beach is a popular beach with a large car park and good amenities. Located on a wild stretch of the California coast this is a great place for picnics, birdwatching, beach activities, walking, hunting for fossils and exploring the trails.

    Accessed from La Honda Road and Cabrillo Hwy, you… read more »

  • Spanish Banks // Canada

    Spanish Banks
    velkr0

    Located on Northwest Marine Drive about 8 km west of downtown Vancouver, Spanish Banks is possibly the most beautiful sandy beaches in the area.

    The beach is sandwiched between Locarno Beach and the University of BC and a cycling/walking trail connects them. It has three distinct areas: east, west and extension.

    The sandy beach is very flat with shallow water;… read more »

  • Capitola Beach // USA

    Capitola Beach
    Dale Cruse

    Often voted one of the top ten beaches on the US West Coast, this beach of fine sand lies at the northern end of Monterey Bay. It sits in front of the almost-neon homes of the village of Capitola, where you can also find a good choice of restaurants and shops. Very popular on sunny summer days when lifeguards… read more »

  • Playa Puerto Angelito // Mexico

    Playa Puerto Angelito
    Adam Jones

    Located in the popular beach destination of Oaxaca, Playa Puerto Angelito is a small family-friendly beach just to the west of Manzanillo Beach. Together these adjacent beaches stretch for about 120 metres.

    Both these attractive beaches curve around the bay and have beautiful white sand, clear aquamarine waters and rocks at either end, but Puerto Angelito is busier with fishermen… read more »

  • Boca Chica Beach // USA

    Boca Chica Beach
    Alexander Hatley

    Federal and state protection has helped ensure that Boca Chica Beach remains undeveloped and untamed despite it being the southernmost point in Texas. It's Spanish name also hints at its location on the Texas-Mexico border where the delta of the Rio Grande meets the Laguna Madre salt flats.

    Part of Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, those who visit will… read more »

  • Enterprise Bay // The Caribbean

    Enterprise Bay
    © Richard Semik / 123RF

    Enterprise Bay, or Miami Beach as it is often called, is a modest strip of white sand on the south coast of the island. Located on the edge of the fishing village of Oistins the beach here is frequently referred to as the best family beach on Barbados. One reason for this accolade is the safe bathing, with calm waters… read more »

  • Eagle beach // The Caribbean

    Eagle beach
    © David Smith / 123RF

    Eagle beach is not only one of the best beaches on Aruba, it is the longest. A wide expanse of pristine soft white sand lapped by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

    Despite being a well known resort Eagle beach is relatively unspoilt and the wildlife here is testimony to that; every year several species of turtle make their nests… read more »