Been to many beaches all over, and I really have to give my vote to the Pensacola/Florida Panhandle Beaches!!! As many have said, they are so blindingly white the sand looks like snow and squeeks under your feet as though you were wearing tennis shoes...Turqouise water...sea oats...etc

The best beach I have ever been to is in Kaanapali, Maui. Beautiful, serene and most importantly it's not crowded! Makena, Maui is a close second.

Florida's pan-handle, "Destin, Panama city Area" are very beautiful. The sand is like sugar, and the water like glass. They compare to Cancun's beaches. I would not pick Florida over Cancun but they definatly have great beaches.

St. John - USVI. Even better than Hawaii.

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We've been to most islands in the Carribbean, Bermuda, every Hawaiian island over a dozen times, a half dozen stops in Mexico,both coasts of FL, including Sanibel and Captiva, and, although we love to travel to Kauai the most, St. John, USVI, undoubtedly, in our opinion, has the loveliest of beaches on a single island. The water is crystal clear, warm, snorkeling terrific, and the mountainous vistas surrounding the beaches are breathtaking. Take a trip; you won't be disappointed!

You ARE joking, aren't you?!? And you have the GALL to compare dumpy St. John to truly magnificent Hawaii?!? Don't make me L A U G H ! ! !

I'm having a hard time believing that no one has mentioned Sugar Beach in Kehei, Maui. It's the best beach I've been to for simple swimming and sunning. Beautiful, clear green water--fantastic! <BR>

Siesta Key, Florida is our favorite! Soft, white sand and clear, calm water. If you go during the summer, the water is wonderfully warm. Siesta Key is just south of Sarasota. We love it.

In the continental U.S., the gulf coast of Florida has the best beaches.

I think most everyone can imagine or knows that the beaches in the Virgin Islands and Hawaii are beautiful and by most accounts more beautiful than those in the continental US. <BR> <BR>But,I understood this post to be asking which beaches in the continental US are the most beautiful. I vote for Sanibel/Captiva also.

I think the "best beaches" means different things to different people. Having been to 100 or so beaches myself, in my opinion, I'd rank them this way: Best snorkeling: you can't beat Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI. Best sand: Gulf Shores, AL east through the Fla. panhandle (but shh, those of us who grew up down there would just as soon keep that a secret!). Most unique: Cannon Beach, Oregon. People watching: Does it matter? We are taking our first trip to Hawaii in June, so I may change my mind!

Hands down, Hawaii - I've traveled to and through every state in the U.S.(except Alaska)- I may not have been to EVERY georgeous beach, but Maui & Big Island boast many, many popular as well as secluded beaches. You cannot go wrong with choosing Hawaii. Later this year, I will be planning my first trip to Kauai, which already several other people mentioned as having great beaches.

there are absolutely beautiful east-coast-style beaches in the hamptons - not telling you where, though, because then they won't be beautiful anymore. wide, sandy beaches, crashing waves, huge dunes. love them. <BR> <BR>also a big fan of nantucket beaches.

Why anyone would want to drive out to Long Island to go to a beach frequented by rich snobs is beyond me. You blue-bloods can have the Hamptons, thank you.

To Never No: <BR> <BR>FYI, the beaches in the Hamptons ARE really beautiful. Also, not everyone who lives in the Hamptons is a rich snob. Who do you think provides services to rich snobs? Other rich snobs? There's a whole strata of society in the Hamptons that the rich snobs know nothing about. And they love where they live, especially when the rich snobs go back to the city. <BR> <BR>

And the winner is ... Bobcat. But wait, Mr. cat, lets pin that down. It's not just any ole Gulf Beach, it's actually a tie between two magnificient Gulf beaches ... Treasure island and ... the beach north of Pier 60 in the Clearwater area. Contrary to what you may hear from other posters, there is no beach whatsoever between the two ... completely eroded away, and even as we speak, water is washing across Gulf Blvd. Wow .. they're already manning the rafts at Gators. Make that draft and the grouper sandwich to go, please. Hold the relish. C

ha! <BR> <BR>ess is absolutely right. as someone who grew up in the hamptons, and whose parents still live there year-round, i am most certainly not a rich snob. the reason i'm not willing to divulge my favorite beach spots is, quite simply, to keep them free of rich snobs. i'm just sticking up for the beauty of the local beaches. <BR> <BR>no need for name calling, "never." i notice you didn't list your own favorite beach or beach area. why not stick to the topic instead of trying to incite riot?

I'll vote for Martha's Vineyard (especially South Beach, Lamberts Cove and Lucy Vincent) as well as the Gulf Coast beaches around Naples & Sanibel and Grayton on the panhandle... In hawaii, Kapalua is a must...

I think "best" would have to be defined by the individual user. Was in Biloxi, MS about 7 years ago when my daughter was 3. Although I didn't like having to cross a busy highway to get back to our hotel, nor did I like how crowded the beach was, etc., the beach itself was perfect for a 3 year old. You could get 15 yards from shore and the water wouldn't be above your knees. Lousy for an adult, teenager, or older child. But perfect for 3 year old. For her it was a giant sand box and wading pool. And the water was bathwater warm! She played to her heart's content in and out of the water, without ever having to worry about a wave knocking her down. Best beach? Not today. But it was then!