Summer will be here before you know it, and for many people, that means visits to the beach.
Of course, not all beaches are created equal. Some beaches are larger, some are prettier, some are better or worse for families and, let’s face it, some are more dangerous than others. Plus, of course, some of the best beaches in the world aren’t particularly close to the United States at all.
But if your beach visits don’t include utilizing a passport to get there, we’ve got you covered. Forbes recently listed the Top Ten Beaches in the U.S. (although they fully admit that the list was compiled by Tripadvisor):
10 Best Beaches in the U.S.
1. Siesta Beach (Siesta Key, Florida)
Forbes and Tripadvisor chose this beach, located on the Gulf of Mexico, as #1 because of its beautiful white sand and clear, shallow, blue-green water that’s known throughout the state’s west coast. They also mentioned plusses of on-duty lifeguards (not all beaches offer those. Safety first!), as well as the cuteness of the town of Siesta Key.
2. Poipu Beach Park (Poipu, Hawaii)
It’s no surprise that a beach in Hawaii, on the island of Kauai would make the list, as well. The beach is good for wading, surfing and boogie boarding, thanks to its natural crescent coves. Plus it’s an excellent spot to go whale watching. Heads up that Poipu Beach Park is very popular, so it’s best to visit between April and June, or September and November, if you want to avoid crowds.
3. Ka’anapali Beach (Maui, Hawaii)
Way back when, Lahaina’s Ka’anapali Beach was a retreat for Hawaiian royalty. Nowadays this popular beach, which stretches for 3 miles, is great for snorkeling or to watch the daily cliff diving ceremony (those happen on Puu Kekaa, the beach’s northernmost cliffs).
4. La Jolla Cove (La Jolla, California)
La Jolla Cove has something for everybody – kayaking, snorkeling and yes, regular swimming, too. The cove is at the bottom of a rocky coastline, and if you climb the stairs to the top, there are also picnic tables for your enjoyment.
5. Waikiki Beach (Oahu, Hawaii)
Waikiki Beach has been a favorite of visitors for decades. Lined with high-rise hotels, white sand beaches, and beautiful blue waters, you’ll be able to see surfers and paddleboarders (and join in, too, if you’d like).
Click here to see #6-10 from Forbes’ report, or click here to see TripAdvisor’s original list.
10 Most Dangerous Beaches in the U.S.
Even if you can’t go to the absolute best beaches in the country, you’re probably going to want to avoid the beaches that are the most dangerous.
Researchers with Tideschart evaluated 528 beaches across the country to find the 10 most dangerous beaches to visit in America, based on three factors: hurricanes, shark attacks, and surf zone fatalities such as rip current deaths.
Spoilers: all but one are on Florida’s Atlantic coast.
1. New Smyrna Beach
2. Laguna Beach
3. Daytona Beach
4. Miami Beach
5. Indialantic Beach
6. Cocoa Beach
7. Palm Beach
8. Miramar Heights Beach (Gulf of Mexico)
9. Cape Canaveral
10. Jupiter Beach Park
Ewww! The 16 Dirtiest Beaches in the U.S.
Maybe you’re not concerned about shark attacks and hurricanes as much as you are about pollution, raw sewage and bacteria levels.
The Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Bay, and Environment America culled out and named the names of the dirtiest beaches in the country. You may want to avoid these:
1. Cole Park Beach – Corpus Christi, Texas (raw sewage)
2. Easton’s Beach – Newport, Rhode Island (bacteria)
3. Flying Point Beach – Southampton, New York (stagnant water, plus runoff water tainted by old septic systems & cesspools)
4. Goose Rocks Beach – Kennebunkport, Maine (hazardous microorganisms)
5. Gulfport West Beach – Gulfport, Mississippi (bacteria from wastewater treatment plants, septic systems, recreational boat sewage, or other fecal contaminants)
6. Imperial Beach – Imperial Beach, California (untreated sewage)
7. Kalapaki Beach Park – Lihue, Hawaii (high bacteria count)
8. King’s Beach – Swampscott, Massachusetts (decaying drainage system allows human fecal matter into the water)
9. Linda Mar Beach – Pacifica, California (animal [pets] waste, faulty local sewage infrastructure, and the unclean condition of San Pedro Creek)
10. Little Squalicum Park – Bellingham, Washington (petroleum hydrocarbons, dioxin, and other dangerous chemical compounds, plus high bacteria levels)
11. Mother’s Beach – Marina del Rey, California (stagnant water)
12. Myrtle Beach – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (pet waste, motor oil, bird droppings, and other contaminants)
13. Nye Beach – Newport, Oregon (insufficiently treated sewage, unsafe levels of bacteria)
14. Park View Island Kayak Launch – Miami Beach, Florida (raw sewage, toxic materials)
15. Santa Monica Pier Beach – Santa Monica, California (urban runoff, bird excrement, bacteria)
16. South Beach – Key West, Florida (high levels of enterococcus bacteria)
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