Best USA Beaches
The Best U.S. Beaches...
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91. Zuma Beach // Southern California
tmastro Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Surfing
One of largest and most popular beaches in Los Angeles County, Zuma Beach has clean waters and wide sands that extend for a total of around two miles. The location for the famous final scene in the original 1968 version of Planet of the Apes, it is now better known by the surfing community for its breaks, with Zuma Beach hosting several major competitions each year. Kite surfers tend to… read more »
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92. El Matador State Beach // Southern California
Graham Great for:- Swimming
This public beach in Western Malibu is one of the smallest but most charming of the region's long list of shoreline attractions. El Matador State Beach sits at the base of dramatic cliffs and formed of golden sand washed by aquamarine waters.
It is accessed along a steep path and wooden staircase, via a small parking lot suitable for around 20 vehicles which sits on a bluff above the high tide… read more »
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93. Shark Fin Cove // Northern California
Located just a few miles up Highway 1 from Santa Cruz, Shark Fin Cove is a different world. It isn't hard to see where the beach gets its name from; viewed from the right angle the hulking rock that guards the bay's entrance cuts the same profile of a huge shark's fin. The sandy beach is also known as Shark Tooth Cove, for the same reason.
But there's more to Shark… read more »
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94. Grayton Beach // Florida
goldenticket76 Great for:- Family
- Swimming
- Kitesurfing
Located on the Florida Panhandle, Grayton Beach faces south into the crystalline waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A Blue Wave beach (similar to the better-known Blue Flag scheme in Europe), it is a delightful strip of level white sand. The beach is part of a historic coastal village of the same name, and via its grid of streets, with Grayton Beach State Park.
A popular spot year-round, Gulf of Mexico… read more »
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95. Hulopo'e Bay Beach // Lanai
© Matt Anderson Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Considered one of the best beaches not only in the state of Hawaii but also the entire United States, Hulopoe Bay Beach consists of a beautiful arc of richly coloured sand. This drifts towards sparkling Pacific waters, while being backed onto by areas of native flora containing few manmade structures.
During the summer months, Hulopo'e's shallows are a prime swimming spot, although the seabed quickly drops off. Snorkelling is also possible… read more »
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96. Punalu'u Beach // Big Island
Famartin Perhaps the most famous of Hawaii's black sand beaches, Punalu'u is located on the southeast coast of the Big Island. Along with the spectacle of jet black sand contrasting the verdant greens of the palm trees behind, the beach here is also known for its turtles.
Both the rare hawksbill and Hawaiian green turtles (Honu) frequent Punalu'u's black sands. Another endangered species that is often spotted here is the Hawaiian monk… read more »
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97. Tappens Beach // Rhode Island
Zhengan Tappens Beach lies at the end of a rocky cove on the eastern stretches of Rhode Island in Little Compton. Between the natural rock formations, visitors to this quiet Atlantic offering will find a modest area of sand not much over 100 yards long and only loosely speckled with stones and seashells.
A little overlooked by nearby homes on the rocks, Tappens Beach nonetheless makes for a worthy detour for nature… read more »
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98. Jenness State Beach // New Hampshire
Ken Gallager Great for:- Family
- Fishing
- Swimming
- Surfing
Jenness Beach is a popular spot with surfers and is one of the most easily reached surf spots from Boston. Generally speaking this is a beginner-friendly beach with a gently sloping sand bottom but on its day the waves here can be awesome.
The beach is also a good family friendly choice with cheap parking and good amenities. Lifeguards patrol the beach during the summer months meaning swimming is fairly safe… read more »
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99. Manini'owali Beach // Big Island
Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Swimming
Manini'owali Beach in Kua Bay is the most northerly of a trio of beautiful beaches set in Kekaha Kai State Park. Whilst it would be nearly impossible to say which of these three beaches is the best it is certainly the case that Manini'owali Beach is the most easily accessed. Of course this also means it is the most popular, however the beach here still retains something of a secluded… read more »
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100. Spencer Beach Park // Big Island
Terry Ott Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
Samuel M Spencer Beach Park (to give it its full name) is possibly the best family beach on the Big Island. Located on the northwest coast of the island, just south of Kawaihae Harbor, this white sand beach offers calm waters, plenty of natural shade and a pretty good range of amenities.
Also known as Ohai'ula beach, the sand here slopes gently into the ocean. Along with a large offshore reef providing… read more »
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101. Hollywood Beach // South Florida
Tamanoeconomico Great for:- Family
- Swimming
With its gorgeous white sand reaching out to turquoise waters, Hollywood Beach is a South Florida gem. Located between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, the beach here stretches for 2.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean. A boardwalk runs the length of the beach and is lined with all kinds of cafes, attractions and shops. If that isn't enough, then there is a trolley to take you from the beach… read more »
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102. Panama City Beach // Florida
jsclark.net Great for:- Family
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Swimming
Stretching for 27 miles, Panama City Beach has white sands that meet clear turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Along this expansive shoreline are two state parks, waterfront restaurants, and a great range of attractions. You will find scuba divers and fishermen enjoying the artificial reefs offshore, and plenty of people relaxing on the beach.
Panama City Beach has practically every water sports you can think of, from boating to… read more »
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103. Sanibel Island // South Florida
© Noel Benadom / CC BY Sanibel Island is a barrier island on Florida's Gulf Coast. Whilst there are several other such islands in the vicinity, only Sanibel has an "east to west" orientation which apparently makes for sandy beaches and helps explain why this beach is considered a shell-seeker's paradise.
Until the 1960s Sanibel Island was only connected to the mainland by a ferry. These days a huge bridge connects Sanibel to the rest of Florida… read more »
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104. McWay Falls Cove // Central California
© Pexels Set in the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park this beautiful little horseshoe shaped cove is surrounded by high, tree-lined cliffs. Perhaps the beach's most notable feature though is McWay Falls, a waterfall that vertically plunges 80 feet directly into the aqua-blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. The cove here is one of the undisputed highlights of Big Sur and only a short trip from California's legendary coastal highway, Route 1.
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105. Waimānalo Beach // Oahu
Waimānalo Beach, on the windward side of the island of Oahu has several claims to fame; firstly it is were Magnum, P.I. resided in the 80's TV series. Second, and perhaps more importantly it is the longest stretch of sandy shore on Oahu at well over 5 miles (9km). This expanse of unbroken white sand is sandwiched between the turquoise waters of the Pacific Ocean and the welcome shade of… read more »
USA Regions
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California
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Florida
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Hawaii
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Maine
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Massachusetts
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North Carolina
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Oregon
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Rhode Island
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South Carolina
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Texas
USA Cities
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