502 Best Sights in USA

This well-known beach, also known as Leucadia State Beach, is a popular locals’ hangout. Located down a windy dirt path laden with switchbacks, its entrance is hidden below sea cliffs on a one-way residential street giving the beach an air of exclusivity. With plenty of space to spread out here, you won’t have to infringe on sun-worshipping neighbors. Amenities: parking (no fee). Best for: solitude; surfing; swimming; walking.

Bellows is the same beach as Waimanalo, but it's under the auspices of the military, making it more friendly for visitors—though you need a Department of Defense ID to access one side of the beach. The park area is excellent for camping, and ironwood trees provide plenty of shade. There are no food concessions, but McDonald's and other takeout options are right outside the entrance gate; there's also a weekend farmers' market. The beach is best before 2 pm. After 2, trade winds bring clouds that get hung up on steep mountains nearby, causing overcast skies. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

Set on the north shore of Big Lagoon, this well-maintained state park is known for a variety of natural wonders that include marshes, lakes, woods, and rivers. Take in the stunning surroundings from a three-story observation tower overlooking the beach. Bird-watching is a popular activity during migrations in the spring and fall. The 3.5-mile Sand Pine Loop is perfect for hikers of all abilities. Amenities: parking (fee); toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Located near the mouth of West Penobscot Bay, this crescent-shape beach is well-sheltered from the wind and tends to have a mild surf well-suited to swimming and tide-pooling. Amenities: parking (fee). Best for: swimming; walking.

The powerful waves at this beach attract world-class surfers, and the strand's relative isolation appeals to nudist nature lovers (although by law nudity is prohibited). Backed by 300-foot-tall cliffs whose colors change with the sun's angle, Black's can be accessed from Torrey Pines State Beach to the north, or by a narrow path descending the cliffs from Torrey Pines Glider Port. Be aware that the city has posted a "do not use" sign there because the cliff trails are unmaintained and highly dangerous, so use at your own risk. If you plan to access Black's from the beaches to the north or south, do so at low tide. High tide and waves can restrict access. Strong rip currents are common—only experienced swimmers should take the plunge. Lifeguards patrol the area only between spring break and mid-October. Also keep your eyes peeled for the hang gliders and paragliders who ascend from atop the cliffs. Parking is available at the Glider Port and Torrey Pines State Beach. Amenities: none. Best for: nudists; solitude; surfing.

This is a good beach for nature lovers and a great spot if you are looking for a tranquil stretch of beach. The park contains about 60 acres of Gulf-to-bay land. If you're up for a hike, check out the short nature trail on-site, and keep an eye out for the Hermitage House, one of the oldest structures in the area. Amenities: showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; swimming.

With wonderful views of Block Island Sound, Blue Shutters is a popular escape for beachcombers and quietude seekers who don't mind paying a bit extra for soft sand, sea, and serenity. Beachgoers can see Block Island and Long Island from the shaded deck of the pavilion. Beach-accessible wheelchairs are available at no cost. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets; parking (fee). Best for: walking; sunsets.

In the northern section of the city, Bolsa Chica State Beach is usually less crowded than its southern neighbors. The Huntington Beach bike and walking trail runs along the edge of the sand for 8 miles north to the south of Huntington Beach. The path is wide and in some areas there are separate walking and biking lanes. There are also a sprinkling of different types of eateries open during the summer along the pathway. Some offer live music. In the evening the firepits attract beachgoers. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

This beach is synonymous on Kauai with bodysurfing, thanks to its shallow sandbar and reliable shore break. Because the beach is small and often congested, surfboards are prohibited near shore. The water on the rocky eastern edge of the beach is a good place to see endangered green sea turtles noshing on plants growing on the rocks. Monk seals sometimes haul out here; please allow them to rest. Playground equipment is available, and there's free street parking. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: sunset; surfing.

Just steps from the subway, this stretch of golden sand is the showpiece of Brooklyn's oceanside playground. Families set up beach blankets, umbrellas, and coolers, and pickup games of beach volleyball and football add to the excitement. Calm surf, a lively boardwalk, and a handful of restaurants for shade and refreshments complete the package. That spit of land in the distance is the Rockaway Peninsula, in Queens. Amenities: toilets. Best for: people-watching; sunsets.

This beach is usually not crowded, mostly because it is a bit hard to find, and it’s a 10-minute walk from parking (at Chaplin Community Park  35 Cast Net Dr.). However, it’s a nature-lover’s hideaway on an otherwise bustling island. October through March off-leash dogs are welcome; outside of that window, they are permitted with restrictions. At sunrise, birds and deer bring the adjacent marsh to life. Time a visit around low tide—the marsh flooding during high tide can cut off access. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking; restrooms. Best for: solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking; windsurfing.

This quiet beach south of St. Augustine played a role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, when it attracted national attention for a "wade-in" that later led to Martin Luther King Jr. visiting St. Augustine. Today, it is a county park that still provides access to the beachfront. Amenities: lifeguards (seasonal); parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Just north of Nanny Goat Beach, Cabretta Beach stretches along Sapelo's eastern shore, with its northern terminus at the outflow of Blackbeard Creek. This remote expanse of hard-packed sand is sometimes visited by fishermen or kayakers on their way to Blackbeard Island, and it's also the site of the Cabretta Campground, a group wilderness campsite that can be reserved via Georgia's Department of Natural Resources. Amenities: none. Best for: solitude; sunrise; walking.

The rustic restaurant and music club set on top of the dune are the main attractions at Cahoon Hollow Beach, which tends to draw younger crowds and plenty of families. It's a big Sunday-afternoon gathering place. The Beachcomber restaurant has paid parking, which is reimbursed when you buy something to eat or drink. (Arrive very early; the lot fills up quickly!) Erosion has made getting to the beach a steep climb. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking; a casual bite to eat with ocean views.

Located at the southernmost point of Bahia Honda State Park, this public beach is a calm and pleasant spot for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling. It’s shallow enough for little ones to wade in, and the sand is velvety soft and clean (as opposed to some of the rockier beaches in Key West). There are public restrooms and showers nearby. Camping sites are available, but they tend to book up, so reservations are recommended in high season. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.

This state park is small—only 180 acres—and only open in the daytime, but its location can't be beat. It's on the shores of Lake Powell, the area's largest coastal dune lake and a great place to kayak, paddleboard, or fish (you'll need a license). The park was also once a retreat for employees of Avondale Textile Mills, and the lodge and some of the original cabins have been restored and are used as venues for weddings and meetings. The bucolic surroundings are good for bird-watching, but the main draw may be the beautiful, powdery beach. It's a ½-mile hike down to the sands, but this means you're almost guaranteed to find peace. Amenities: parking. Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

More than beautiful beaches highlight the 5,193 acres here. A 3-mile hiking trail passes a World War II observation tower, which you can climb to the top for a stunning 360-degree view, and there's more World War II history at Fort Miles Historic Area. You can also observe the marine life that inhabits five 1,000-gallon tanks at the Seaside Nature Center aquarium. Activities include kayaking, fishing from the pier, basketball courts, and an 18-hole disc-golf course.

The diverse mix of ocean shoreline, dunes, freshwater coastal marsh and ponds, islands, forests, and fields makes the 235-acre park at the southern end of the Cape May peninsula a mecca for sea and shore birds during the fall migration. Bird-watchers follow in droves and gather up-to-the-minute information from the Cape May Bird Observatory's Northwood Center. Attractions like surf-fishing, marked trails, observation platforms, the Cape May Lighthouse, picnic tables and shelters, a visitors center, and a museum also make the park ideal for year-round visits.

About ½ mile south of the Jupiter Beach Resort, the quiet beach here is just one draw; the manicured park, which straddles A1A, is chock-full of activities and amenities, and it has the most free parking of any beach park in the area. Several picnic pavilions (including a few beachside), two bocce ball courts, six lighted tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a wood-chip-lined running path, and an amphitheater that hosts free concerts and Shakespeare productions are just some of the highlights. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Carmel-by-the-Sea's greatest attraction is its rugged coastline, with pine and cypress forests and countless inlets. Carmel Beach, an easy walk from downtown shops, has sparkling white sands and magnificent sunsets.  Dogs are allowed to romp off-leash here. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; walking.

This sugar-white beach, stretching 106 acres along Carmel Bay, is adjacent to a bird sanctuary, where you might spot pelicans, kingfishers, hawks, and sandpipers. Dogs are allowed on leash. Amenities: parking (no fee); toilets. Best for: sunrise; sunset; walking.

With a 100-foot-tall Ferris wheel, flashing arcade lights, seashell souvenirs, and paddleboats on the small inland lake, Carolina Beach's old-fashioned boardwalk is steeped in nostalgic charm, most evident at Britts Donut Shop, an institution since 1939 that still sells its glazed beauties for an even buck. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: sunrise; windsurfing.

Named for the Casino Resort, the island's first tourist spot when it opened in 1931 (the same day as the first Pensacola Beach Bridge), this beach offers everything from seasonal live entertainment to public restrooms and showers. You can also lounge in the shade of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier. Casino Beach has the most parking for beach access on the island and is just a short stroll from dining, entertainment, and major hotels. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards (seasonal); free parking; showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

Sarasota County's largest park is known for its fossil finds. Amenities: playground; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

With no facilities besides restrooms, this stretch sees fewer visitors than other park beaches. The dunes here are prime nesting spots for swallows that come and go in spring and summer. Amenities: parking (entrance pass required); toilets (seasonal). Best for: solitude; swimming; walking.

This secluded 3-acre park sits off the main drag in a residential area. Lava rocks here shelter you from afternoon gusts of wind, the sand is soft and smooth, and the slope into the ocean is very gradual. The usually gentle waves make for good swimming, and you can find interesting snorkeling along the rocks on the north end. From South Kihei Road, turn onto Kaiau Street, just north of Kamaole I. Amenities: parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Between two high-rises in the relatively quiet community of Cherry Grove, this small oceanfront park with pretty, budding landscaping has amenities for families, like a shaded gazebo, bench swings, and a ramp to the sand for strollers. Amenities: lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking.

Due to the groups of harbor seals that have claimed it as their own, this shallow cove, protected by a seawall, is closed to the public for the winter pupping season, December 15 through May 15. People may access its calm, protected waters the other seven months of the year, however, and the beach's small waves make it an ideal place for children to splash and play. Adults will appreciate the view. Because of its location at the tip of La Jolla Peninsula, you can actually look east to get unmatched panoramic views of the coastline and ocean. The area just outside the pool is popular with scuba divers, who explore the offshore reef when the surf is calm. Although you may not be able to go down on the beach during the winter months, it's still worth a peek. It's fun to watch the seals and their pups from above. Limited free parking is available along Coast Boulevard. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (no fee); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; walking.

There's something for everyone at this beach just west of the Third Street South shopping area, but what gets the most attention is the historical pier, which extends well into the Gulf and offers the best free dolphin-viewing around. Sunsets are a nightly ritual, and dodging anglers' poles is to be expected. The concession stand sells food for humans as well as for fishy friends, and, on the sand below, teenagers hold court at volleyball nets; families picnic on blankets; and a handful of other people swoop up cockles, fighting conchs, and coquinas. To avoid the commotion, head south on Gulf Shore Boulevard, and take your pick of the public access points. The sands here won't have the facilities of the pier—or facilities, period—but the solitude can't be beat. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunsets; swimming.

A quiet day at the beach gets an adventurous start when you board a tram and careen down a ¾-mile boardwalk through shaded mangroves and a network of canals. At the end is a pretty, secluded patch of sand where the calm surf is perfect for swimming. In addition to sunbathing, shelling, and sand-castle building, you can spring for a kayak and meander around the marsh. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: solitude; swimming.