Sitting in the heart of South Carolina’s Grand Strand coast, this seaside resort is home to some of the state’s most picturesque beaches. Myrtle Beach is the crown jewel of the coast, flanked by an award-winning boardwalk which, at 1.2 miles (1.9km) long, is perfect for taking in the picturesque shoreline and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.
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Also known as SoBe, South Beach is a trendy neighbourhood in Miami famed for its stunning beaches, incredible entertainment and aquamarine waters. Bordered by pastel-hued Art Deco buildings and swaying palm streets, its yellow stretch of sand is decorated with bold umbrellas, colourful lifeguard towers and beachgoers soaking up the sun.
This beach in Oregon is home to one of the most recognisable landmarks in the state. Jutting off Cannon Beach, Haystack Rock rises 235 feet (72m) from the edge of the shoreline and has featured in movies including The Goonies and Kindergarten Cop. Alongside the famous sea stack, at low tide marine life is known to peek above the waters while waterfalls cascade onto the sand at Hug Point nearby.
Nicknamed Turtle Beach after the green sea turtles that feed on the seaweed which grows on the reef nearby, Papaoneone Beach is a hidden gem on Oahu’s west shore. Concealed from the roads and tucked behind several vacation condos, its white sands beautifully contrast with its eye-popping blue waters. The tiny beach is a great snorkelling and surfing spot while the occasional sea turtle can be spotted offshore in the early hours of the morning.
With its quartz-crystal powdery sand overlooking sapphire blue waters, Siesta Key Beach on Florida’s west coast is often ranked one of the nation’s prettiest stretches of sand. Lying on the Gulf Coast, the sugary sand beach serves as a beautiful gateway between the lively city of Sarasota and the glittering Gulf of Mexico. Roughly eight miles (12.9km) long, the barrier island is dotted with shops, restaurants and cafés, while tidal pools decorate the waters nearby.
Located west of downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica State Beach is a sparkling example of southern California’s famous beaches. Stretching three-and-a-half miles (5.5km) long, its white sands are flanked by a series of bridges, walkways and stairs providing access from the city. In its heart is the beach’s main attraction, the Santa Monica Pier which extends out towards the glittering waters. The pier is a world-famous landmark, home to an amusement park, shops, restaurants, an aquarium and more.
Easily Oahu’s most famous beach, Waikiki attracts visitors from around the world with its heavenly appearance. A two-mile (3.2km) stretch of white sand and calm waters, the beach was once frequented by Hawaiian royalty who enjoyed surfing here on longboards in the 19th century. Today, fringed by towering high rises and boutique hotels, Waikiki Beach is Hawaii’s premier accommodation hot spot, known for its luxury.
Characterised by its soft sand and emerald green waters just off the coast of St Petersburg in Florida, we can see why St Pete Beach was voted Trip Advisor’s number one beach in the US in 2021. Its warm Gulf waters nestled against sparkling sands are known for typically being uncrowded, drawing vacationers who fancy a peaceful escape from the cities nearby.
With its three miles (4.8km) of white sand and crystal clear waters, you can’t get more heavenly than Ka’anapali Beach. Located in Hawaii’s first planned resort area which opened in the 1960s, the hotels and condos that overlook the beach became a model for resorts around the globe. Aside from its luxury hotels, the beach is also famous for the traditional cliff diving ceremony that takes place each evening off a rock formation known as Black Rock. A cliff diver lights torches along the rock before jumping off, reenacting a feat by Maui’s revered King Kahekili.
Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia Beach’s stretch of sand is the city’s biggest draw. Situated in the Coastal Virginia region, the city has several golden sandy beaches to enjoy. The Oceanfront boardwalk, which trails three miles (4.8km) across the sand, is a bustling hub of activity and the main attraction. Lined with restaurants, bars and hotels, the boardwalk features several stages for hosting live events and also has a separate bike path for cycling and skating.
Shrouded among the rugged Big Sur coastline, Pfeiffer Beach is like a little slice of paradise. Famed for its violet-hued sand and stunning sea stacks, the beach is hidden away by steep cliffs giving it an isolated feel. Its defining feature is Keyhole Arch, an incredible rock formation carved out by crashing waves that formed a hole. For just a few weeks in winter, as the sun sets, it lines up with the arch and is a phenomenal sight – visitors flock from across the country to capture it.
Guarded by the famous Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton Beach lies on a string of islands known as the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Towering 208 feet (63.4m) high, Cape Hatteras is the tallest brick lighthouse in the world and its distinct black and white candy-striped façade makes it one of the most recognisable ones too. Around 175,000 visitors flock to the beach each year to climb the lighthouse’s 257 steps and are rewarded with blissful views across the coast. With its strong winds, Buxton Beach provides perfect conditions for surfing.
New York City’s famed pleasure ground, Coney Island was at the forefront of America’s seaside amusements for over a hundred years. Located on the southwestern tip of Brooklyn, the three-mile (4.8km) beach was the nation’s top summer retreat for decades, drawing millions of visitors each year before its decline in the early 20th century. Today, the nostalgic summer destination is still one of the city’s top attractions, home to restaurants, shops and amusement rides including the Ferris Wheel and the modern Thunderbolt roller coaster.
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Nicknamed “the jewel of San Diego”, with its incredible views, natural beauty and warm weather, the La Jolla coastline is unlike anywhere else in the US. Flanked by scenic sea caves, La Jolla Cove is a small deep water bay sitting just below a grassy park. Although the beach is small, its clear and calm waters are popular with swimmers and snorkellers hoping to catch a glimpse of the native marine life including the bright-orange garibaldi fish frolicking in its watery depths.
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This thin silver sliver of sand may be small, but Coligny Beach makes up for it in charm. Stretching across five miles (8km) on the Atlantic coastline, it is the best-known beach on Hilton Head Island. With plenty of amenities nearby including hotels, shops and restaurants as well as showers, gazebos and benches near the sand, the beach is the ideal family-friendly destination. Its calm waves are perfect for swimming and pods of dolphins are known to play and feed in the water nearby.
With its white sloping sands, turquoise water and soft waves, Napili Bay is one of Maui’s most-visited destinations. Pretty reefs protect the waters from most of the swell, causing gentle waves and providing the perfect swimming conditions. An abundance of colourful and vibrant fish can be found in the nearby waters, making Napili Bay Beach great for snorkelling.
Nestled between the rugged mountains and rocky shores of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park, this little beach is one of Maine’s best-kept secrets. Just 870 feet (265m) long, the beach is mostly made up of unique sand from shell fragments created by the pounding surf over thousands of years. With its pinkish sand and blue waters fringed by pine trees, the cove-style beach is one of the park’s most beautiful natural wonders.
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One of the best-known destinations on Oahu, this gorgeous wine glass shaped bay feels a world away from the buzz of Hawaii’s capital. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the Koko Crater, Hanauma Bay was formed by a violent volcanic eruption over a thousand years ago, creating its near-perfect crescent-moon shape visible today. It’s not just its beauty that makes it so special, around 400 species of fish are said to flock to the bay’s reefs every day, alongside green sea turtles, making it a stunning spot for snorkelling.