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The Top Ten Beaches in the U.S.

Posted by Janelle Nanos on May 27, 2009
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090522-01-hanalei-bay-kauai-hawaii-beach_big.jpgA woman dips her toes in the sand of Hanalei Bay, the top beach on Dr. Beach’s annual list.

With Memorial Day behind us (I do believe the smell of barbecue is still lingering in my nostrils) it’s officially the start of beach season in the U.S., and the perfect time to check out the annual list of top ten beaches tallied by Dr. Beach (aka Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, of Florida International University’s Laboratory for Coastal Research).

Dr. Beach judges the beaches using 50 criteria, including water and sand quality, safety, facility availability and environmental management. And ranking number one this year was Hawaii’s Hanalei Bay, on the island of Kauai. The two-mile crescent of white-sand beach is lined with palm trees and waterfalls, and has stayed off big developers, much to the relief of tourists and locals alike. Located on the island’s North Shore, it’s secluded, surrounded by 4,000-foot peaks, and the bay allows for safe swimming during the summer months. I visited the beach while in Kauai two summers ago, and have to agree with Dr. Beach that it’s truly idyllic.

Not that you have to travel as far as Hawaii to find a great patch of sand. This list is well rounded, featuring beaches on both the east and west coasts, including two on Long Island (where I’m from, so I can attest to their charms).

You can check out the full list after the jump, and see a slideshow of each beach at National Geographic News. Want more beach tips? Be sure to check out NG’s Green Guide Summer planner for great ideas on a smart and eco-savvy summer.

TOP 10 BEACHES 2009

1.   Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii

2.   Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

3.   Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York

4.   Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

5.   Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

6.   Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

7.   Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks of North Carolina

8.   Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida

9.   Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

10. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

How may of these beaches have you visited? What beaches should have made the list?

Photograph by Charles Kogod/National Geographic Image Collection

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Comments

  1. jen laceda
    May 27, 2009, 11:57 am

    Hi Janelle,
    Did you know that Hanalei Bay was the ‘accidental’ source of the song Puff the Magic Dragon’s setting? “Puff the Magic Dragon, lived by the sea, and frolicked in the autumn mist in the land called Honalee…” Must be amazing!

  2. Janelle Nanos
    May 27, 2009, 12:26 pm

    ha. I’d heard that – and it’s also the site where South Pacific was originally filmed. In fact Kauai has played host to a whole bunch of movies, including Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park.

  3. Patrick Evans
    May 27, 2009, 2:00 pm

    I think Cape Hatteras, Outer Banks of North Carolina, would be a bit higher if you considered local food, too. The beach is great, but the food is awesome.

  4. Booka
    May 27, 2009, 6:04 pm

    Hanalei bay is the most beautiful beach I’ve ever seen and all thanks to the Royal Manu Kai such a great place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_epUmKGG3U

  5. Terry Smith
    May 27, 2009, 11:30 pm

    Tunnels Beach on Kauai would not come close to making the list because parking and facilities are non-existent; however, it’s probably the greatest snorkeling location in Hawaii — and just a short distance past Hanalei Bay. Here’s an aerial photograph of Hanalei Bay that I took last year.

  6. Shailendra
    May 28, 2009, 5:16 am

    Hanalei Bay is just mid blowing; it’s the paradise on earth.
    Shail : Agra India

  7. Susan
    May 28, 2009, 10:04 am

    Tops on my list is the Bahia Honda State Park Beach in the Florida Keys. Miles of white sand beach and turquoise waters that make you think you’re in the Caribbean!

  8. Nirdeshini
    May 30, 2009, 8:46 am

    All these beaches are definitely good in all aspects. I have been to California on Coronado Beach and very excited to visit all the other beaches. May be i will start with the beach of New York.

  9. Robi
    June 2, 2009, 10:26 am

    Nice post admin. It’s very usefull information. Thanks a lot.

  10. Brian Allen
    June 22, 2009, 2:38 pm

    Empire Beach in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore would definitely make the top ten, crystal clear waters, miles of sandy beach and bordered by tall forested bluffs and sand dunes. Well, maybe not so great in January..

  11. Vince
    June 24, 2009, 3:39 am

    This is a really great top ten list. Coronado would be my number 1, it is one of the widest beaches in the world so it never feels crowded, the weather is perfect, you get an air show with all the Navy planes flying in and out, there’s a dog beach, and the Hotel Del is a perfect place to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Anyone can post their own list to our site http://www.toptentopten.com/. The coolest feature is you can let other people vote on the rankings of your list.

  12. Salamander
    July 22, 2009, 1:13 pm

    Empire Beach!! A great one! We visited it in June with the family, it is gorgeous.
    We had been looking since May for a nice seaside place to go. I looked for some related information, videos and pictures to find a really top beach. And I found all this at http://www.picktorrent.com which is a good torrent files search engine, so there was no problem with all this.
    And yes, next time we are going to Coronado!!

  13. corporate event photography singapore
    July 28, 2009, 4:32 am

    beautiful beach…

  14. Joanna
    July 30, 2009, 12:22 pm

    Perdido Key! I live here and love it..it was on Dr. Beach’s list last year and should’ve been on this year. If you want to see pictures, go to http://www.perdidochamber.com.

  15. top ten beaches in america
    August 13, 2009, 6:05 am

    That list makes me want to head out to the beach right now.The beaches in America are simply amazing!

  16. NRI Travel
    September 1, 2009, 2:09 pm

    Great post, Great Ideas to help build network which pays for a long haul.
    Thanks much!

  17. Perth Hotels
    September 2, 2009, 9:43 pm

    Such as huge list. Very helpful for travelers. In case you need hotel, check out this Perth Hotels

  18. David
    September 7, 2009, 6:51 pm

    My favorite US beaches are -
    South Beach and Myrtle Beach

  19. David
    September 7, 2009, 6:53 pm

    My favorite US beaches are -
    South Beach and Myrtle Beach. Beach Vacations

  20. globester
    September 14, 2009, 2:01 am

    This is really wonderful and knowledgeable… will definitely go ahead to see this great place…

    Thanks!!!

  21. Richmond
    October 13, 2009, 4:01 am

    Great list of U.S. beaches! I like Hanalei Bay and Hamoa beaches of Hawaii..

  22. Aaron
    November 24, 2009, 6:29 am

    Hanalei is no joke. Unbelievable setting surrounded by the mountains (and waterfalls) behind. Check out [url]www.afeinphoto.com[/url] for some wonderful Kauai photography!

  23. Ryan
    December 24, 2009, 2:35 pm

    I went to Hamoa Beach once.WE stayed in Hana for three days, July 1,2, and 3, 2009, we had virtually our own black beach at the Hana Kai condos, also visited the red sand beach, and the downtown beach and ate at Tutu’s.We booked a Maui beach hotel a friend of my wife’s mother worked there for 40 years, and now his sister works the weekends.