America’s coastal areas don’t have a monopoly on great beaches . . . or groovy beach towns.
21.07.2023 - 07:36 / roughguides.com
There's no shortage of breathtaking beaches in the USA. From the island paradise of Hawaii to Cape May in New Jersey, here's our rundown of the best beaches in the USA.
The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to the USA , your essential guide for visiting the USA .
One of the best beaches in the USA? For most Americans, the answer is simple: Hawaii. For the quintessential sandy escape, spend a day at Makena Beach – also called Big Beach – on Maui, where screensaver-worthy golden sands unfold along bright blue waters. Take a dip, snorkel the offshore reefs, or go body surfing. The sloping beach has a strong shore break, which makes for ideal surf conditions.
Hawaii is not a state of mind, but a state of grace – Paul Theroux, Travel writer
Aerial image of Big Beach, Little Beach and Pu'u O'lai, also known as Oneloa or Makena Beach, Maui, Hawaii © 123rf
Poipu, Kauai’s largest beach resort, lies on the south coast ten miles west of Lihue, where sunshine is more consistent and there’s great surfing and snorkelling. Two of Hawaii’s major scenic attractions – the gorge of Waimea Canyon, and Kokee State Parkway up at its far end – can only be reached from the west coast of Kauai.
The shoreline itself, however, is nondescript. Waimea, the largest town, is just one short street at the foot of the poorly marked road up to the canyon.
Explore Hawaii's Garden Isle with a guide and see some of the shooting locations of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including Jurassic Park. Visit some of the most beautiful movie sets on Kauai.
Poipu Beach, Kauai. Hawaii © Jan Arendtsz/Flickr under CC BY-ND 2.0 license
Many of California’s beaches are famous for their human elements – the surfers of Huntington Beach or the sunbathers in their string bikinis at Santa Monica Beach. But Big Sur is all about the stunning natural elements, which are revealed around every bend, from the rugged rock arch that rises mightily out of the sea to the gently curving sands that sparkle under the sun.
Every time I come, I'm still amazed at the breadth California has. Big Sur, Yosemite, the desert… I love it — Theo James, Actor
Pfeiffer Beach in California — one of the best beaches in the USA © Rajani Chand Nair/Flickr
This is Miami in all its sun-soaked, celebrity-thronged, Art Deco glory. By day, bronzed beachgoers pose and play on the silky sands, and by night, they do the same in the thumping dance clubs.
Miami is one of these great places that is a sensual, physically beautiful place — Michael Mann, Film director
Also, explore our guide to the best places to stay in Miami and find your perfect accommodation option in South Beach.
Miami Beach Florida, with a colourful lifeguard house © fotomak/Shutterstock
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America’s coastal areas don’t have a monopoly on great beaches . . . or groovy beach towns.
The esteemed Dr. Beach has released his annual list of America’s top ten beaches, and you’ll want to visit all of them this summer—doctors orders.
Mauritius has long entranced its visitors. Charles Baudelaire called it ‘the perfumed land, fondled by the sun’, while Mark Twain noted simply that ‘heaven was copied after Mauritius’. The stunning white, sandy beaches lapped by aquamarine seas are some of the best in the world. Here is our pick of the best beaches in Mauritius.
Most visitors to Miami head to the southern Florida city to bask in the sun, relax on the beach, visit national parks, and enjoy daytime activities like kayaking or evening activities like dinners and drinks overlooking the ocean.
It’s about to be easier for Midwest-based travelers to reach the famous covered bazaars, mosques, palaces, and churches of Istanbul. Turkish Airlines recently announced plans for a new route between Detroit and Istanbul.
Dreaming of being on a dreamy European beach—or already on one and wondering if you can do even better? Then look to the Iberian Peninsula. European Best Destinations recently announced its ranking of the top 15 beaches in Europe, as voted on by thousands of travelers from 83 countries. This year’s No. 1 is Torrente de Pareis in Mallorca, Spain. Rounding out the top three are Bordeira Beach in Alzejur, Portugal and Amio Beach in Cantabria, Spain.
Get away from the crowds of the east coast and explore some truly remote and wild areas. These are some of the best beaches on the west coast of Australia :
It’s hard to encapsulate the full depth and variety of the USA – any nation that can marry cities as life filled as New York, San Francisco and LA with landscapes as breathtaking as those of Alaska, Arizona and Hawaii is beyond easy summary. Its rewards come in droves, from all-American icons like baseball, blues and bourbon to the unbridled spectacles like Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
While Argentina isn’t known for powdery white beaches and transparent warm waters like some Latin American countries, it does boast 4,989 km of coastline as well as lakes, streams and rivers. What Argentina lacks in tropical vibes, it more than makes up for in rugged natural beauty. Keep that in mind as you check out our list of the best beaches in Argentina.
There are so many great US cities that there's almost too much choice when planning a short break. Whether you want to chase the sunshine, stuff yourself silly, or check out the best local beats, we’ve got it covered. These are the best US cities for a weekend away.
Squeezed between Argentina and Brazil and shaped a bit like a football, Uruguay doesn’t feature on your average South American checklist. But with its progressive politics, sizzling asado culture and some of the best beaches on the continent, we think it should. Keep that in mind as you check out our list of the best beaches in Uruguay.
From the pristine shores of Bali to the rugged beauty of Australia's Whitehaven Beach, these best beaches in the world offer incomparable beauty, crystal clear waters and a sense of tranquillity, making them truly unforgettable destinations for beach lovers.