Beaches in the United States

1. Clearwater Beach, Florida

Clearwater Beach is known for its pristine white sands and beautiful blue waters.

• Popular activities at the beach include sunbathing, parasailing, and boat tours, and dolphin sightings are fairly common in the waters of the Gulf.
• The beach is also a regular hub of activity, and event highlights include the annual Clearwater Jazz Festival and a nightly sunset celebration on the pier with live music and street vendors.
• A number of restaurants and shops can be found along the beach, and there are also drinking fountains and outdoor showers available for public use.

Clearwater Beach is 50 minutes from Miami.

2. Kalaloch Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington

Located on the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula, Kalaloch Beach is inside Olympic National Park. The waters are a safe haven for many types of marine wildlife, so sightings of animals like puffins and otters are common.

• The beach is home to one of only two campgrounds on the southern coast of Olympic National Park.
• Campsites fill up quickly, so visitors are advised to reserve a spot as early in the year as possible.
• There is also a lodge located right on the beach, which has rooms and cabins to rent if reserved in advance.

Kalaloch Beach is 3 hours from Tacoma.

3. Sea Camp Beach, Cumberland Island, Georgia

Sea Camp Beach is a large, undeveloped beach located on the Atlantic side of Cumberland Island.

• The large variety of shells in the area makes the beach an excellent spot for beach combing, and visitors may even be able to find shark teeth.
• Other popular activities here include stargazing, bird watching, fishing, and boating.
• There is a small but popular campground on the beach; reservations are required, and amenities include washrooms, cold showers, potable water, fire pits, and picnic tables.
• Anyone wishing to bicycle around the island can rent a bike at the Sea Camp Dock.

The drive from Savannah to St Marys, Georgia is around 2 hours. From there, you can catch a ferry to Cumberland Island.

4. Hanauma Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Formed inside a volcanic cone, Hanauma Bay has been a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park since 1967. The signature curved shape of the bay makes it ideal for snorkeling and swimming.

• Reservations are required. Admission is charged for everyone over the age of 12.
• Parking at the beach is very limited, but shuttle services make the trip out to the bay several times a day.
• A public bus is also available.
• Snorkeling equipment can be rented at the beach, and a gift shop and snack bar are on site as well.

Hanauma Bay Beach Park is 25 minutes from Honolulu.

5. East Beach, Santa Barbara, California

As the name implies, East Beach in Santa Barbara is found on the eastern end of a four-mile stretch of city beach parks.

• Visitors to the beach can enjoy picnic facilities, a children's playground, and one of more than a dozen volleyball courts.
• The boathouse also offers showers, lockers, and a weight room. Alcohol is prohibited on the beach.
• A bike path and a sidewalk pass through the beach, providing access to the other city beaches in the area. Map

The beach is easy to get to and there are many hotels and restaurants to choose from nearby.

6. Islanders Beach, Hilton Head, South Carolina

Made up of 12 miles of beautiful white sand, Islanders Beach is located on the eastern shore of Hilton Head, SC.

• The beach is wheelchair accessible thanks to a boardwalk bridge and beach matting that lead to the ocean, and the water boasts a gentle underwater slope that makes it extremely swimmer-friendly.
• Visitors are welcome to use the picnic pavilion and grill.
• Permit parking is available for those with annual beach parking passes, and metered parking spots are available for all others.
• Other amenities at the beach include bike racks, public washrooms, a children's playground, and outdoor showers.

7. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

Coronado Beach is actually home to four distinct beach areas: Coronado City Beach, Tidelands Park, Glorietta Bay Park, and Centennial Park.

• The beaches are well known for the presence of mica, which causes the sand to glitter gold in the sun.
• Gentle waves make the beaches ideal for skim boarding, swimming, and body boarding, and the wide, flat sandy areas are perfectly suited to relaxing strolls.
• Tidelands Park and Glorietta Bay Park are both home to playgrounds, picnic tables, and grassy areas, and volleyball courts, and fire rings are scattered throughout all four areas.
• Scuba diving is prohibited. Map

8. Malaquite Beach, North Padre Island, Texas

Situated near the north end of North Padre Island, Malaquite Beach is made up of roughly 4-5 miles of uninterrupted white sand.

• The beach is rarely crowded, and popular activities here include kayaking and windsurfing.
• The nearby visitor center features displays on local history and wildlife, and it also offers a gift store and a snack shop.
• Various activities and events are held at the Malaquite Beach Pavilion, including guided evening stargazing tours and annual turtle releases.
• The Malaquite Campground offers approximately 45 semi-primitive campsites and can accommodate tent and car campers only. Camping is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Map

Malaquite Beach is 45 minutes from Corpus Christi.