Top U.S. Beaches for the Best Beach Vacations

Southern California is home to numerous sandy beaches with big Pacific Ocean waves for surfing. On the west coast, beaches tend to be wide and spacious, with plenty of space for strolling and flying kites. Some beaches near Los Angeles like Santa Monica and Venice Beach have a boardwalk along the sand where you can ride bikes or roller blade. Santa Monica Beach has a large entertainment complex with an aquarium, Ferris wheel and casual restaurants making it a great option for families. Add on a few days at a nearby theme park like Disneyland or Universal for a fantastic week-long trip with something for everyone.

If you’re located on the East Coast, there are many possibilities that could turn out to be one of your best beach vacations. Some of the best beaches in the US can be found on the island of Martha’s Vineyard off of the Massachusetts coast. Many small inns have access to private beaches for a private and secluded couples’ vacation. Further north within New England is the state known as Vacationland: Maine. Maine’s scenic coastline is a place of breathtaking beauty. Sand Beach is nestled between the mountains and rocky shores of Acadia National Park. 

Florida is well known as the home of some of the best beaches in the U.S. With so many options for a great beach vacation within a single state – how do you narrow down the selections? You have south Florida with Miami and Fort Lauderdale and the keys, or the Gulf Coast with Destin and Pensacola Beach to the north and Sanibel Island to the south. With over 1,300 miles of sandy coastline, you can find plenty of spots to lay out your beach blanket.

If you’re looking for one of the best beach vacations for couples, south Florida offers several attractive options. The stylish resorts of Palm Beach and Miami’s South Beach have world-class shopping and dining along with glamorous nightlife. The best beach vacations for families can be found along Florida’s panhandle. There are ocean-front vacation rentals available to house large groups of extended family members. The kids will enjoy the fun water adventures like boogie boarding and jet skiing. But if you book during the fall, consider buying a trip insurance plan in case hurricane season aligns itself with your vacation.

Also read: Your Vacation Guide To Miami’s Best Beaches

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, the best beach vacation is in Hawaii. It’s a long way to paradise if you’re not based on the west coast, but if you’re willing to brave the long flight you’ll find it’s worth the effort. As you put your final plans in place, consider buying a travel insurance plan with Travel Delay, Trip Interruption and Baggage coverage that can help in case you encounter certain unexpected events that can interrupt your vacation.

Some of the best beaches in the U.S. are located in the chain of Hawaiian islands:

Waikiki Beach is perhaps the best-known beach in our 50^th state. A visit to this classic American beach could include surfing lessons or hula classes – all with the majestic view of Diamond Head crater as a backdrop.

Oahu is also home to Hanauma Bay, where you can snorkel from the shoreline and see colorful reef fish and sea turtles.

Or take a short flight over to the Big Island and spend a day on Punaluʻu black sand beach created by crushed volcanic rock.

The laid-back island of Kauai is one of the best beach vacations for couples looking to reconnect. During the off-season, you can even get some stretches of beach to yourself at Hanalei Bay as you idle your day away. Sipping Mai Tais with your special someone while watching a spectacular sunset in a tropical paradise – what could be better? 

Take a tour of the islands to find which one has the best beaches for you