Favorite Beach?
 

I was making hotel reservations for my favorite US beach destination, Hollywood, Florida and got to thinking. Because I enjoy the beach there so much, I don't really go to other beaches. I wonder what beauty I'm missing in other states. Not including Hawaii (that is too easy), what is your favorite US beach destination and why?

I'll probably get flamed for saying this but I honestly believe some of the nicest beaches in the world are on Long Island and in New Jersey. Nice big, wide sandy beaches with nice size waves. Personally I hate being on a beach where people are crammed on like Sardines and I don't like totally calm water.

The most beautiful, soft, light sand is along the Florida Panhandle beaches (Destin, etc). There isn't much debating that one.

The Hawaiian beaches don't have the beautiful sand found on the Gulf because the islands there are lava-based. It's the breakdown of coral which creates beautiful sand, and that's why most of the best beaches in the Western and Northern Hemispheres are in the Caribbean.

For beauty and serenity I like the beaches on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard (but the water's too cold for me).
Southern California's beaches are wide in many places, and scenic, but the sand is just average and the water tends to be cold.

If you search the beach ratings websites you'll get plenty of ideas.

The awesomely gorgeous beaches of the National Seashore at near Pt.Reyes, CA
Limantour specifically. You can walk for 2-3 hours w/o turning around. Be sure to head out toward Arch Rock and enjoy the waterfall into the sea.
Surprisingly it is not always spine tingling cold out there-we typically go barefoot-as one always must do when walking on the beach!
R5

For swimming and sunning, i'm very partial to the beaches of Hilton Head.

But the most beautiful have to be along the coast of Washington's Olympic Pennisula. The grandeur of the waves hitting the massive rocks is second to none. Stunning.

Hi GoTravel

I have been to many beaches.
The best beach is the one you are on with the one you love.

Have Fun
GP