Top 25 Best Beaches in the United States for 2014
WowTowel is always on the lookout for the best activities for your family, friends, and yourself. With that in mind, hot off the presses, here is the Top 25 Best Beaches in the United States for 2014 reviewed by tripadvisor customers:
1. Lanikai Beach
Mokulua Drive, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii 96734
http://www.to-hawaii.com/oahu/beaches/lanikaibeach.php
“Not easy to find, which makes the discovery all the better. It’s like stepping into a postcard.”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
2. Ka’anapali Beach
Off Highway 30, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii 96761; phone: (808) 661-3271
“What a great beach”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Sunbathing, Swimming, Group tours/walking tour;
Description: One of the best beaches in Maui, a favorite for relaxation as well as water sports.
3. Siesta Key Public Beach
Siesta Key, Florida, 948 Beach Road, Siesta Key, Florida; phone: (941) 349-3800
“This beach is wonderful”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches, Parks
Activities: Swimming
Description: Public swimming beach known for its clean, hard-packed sand.
Useful Information: Activities for older children, Activities for young children, Bathroom facilities, Wheelchair access
4. Hanalei Beach
Transportation: Just past Tahiti Nui, Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii 96714, phone: (808) 241-6670; website: http://www.to-hawaii.com/kauai/beaches/hanaleibay.php
“Probably piling on here, but if you don’t visit you are weird.”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Surfing
5. Wai’anapanapa State Park
Hana Highway near mile marker 32, Hana, Maui, Hawaii; phone: (808) 984-8109
“Great views, great beach, great picnic area”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: State Parks, Beaches
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking, Swimming
Description: Waianapanapa State Park is on the road to Hana, Maui.
6. Wailea Beach
Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
“Quality sand and fun activities”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
7. Hunting Island State Park
1775 Sea Island Parkway, St. Helena, Beaufort, South Carolina 29920; phone: (843) 838-2011
“Serenity on the East Coast”
Best time to go: April – October
Type: State Parks, Beaches, Lighthouses
Description: Park that is a large secluded barrier island with a historic 1859 lighthouse as its centerpiece.
Useful Information: Activities for young children, Activities for older children.
8. Manini’owali Beach (Kua Bay)
Highway 19, dirt road N. of mile marker 88, Kailua-Kona, Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
“Best Beach on Big Island we found -TRIP 1”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
9. Saint Pete Beach
Gulf Blvd., Saint Pete Beach, Florida
“Can’t beat the beaches of St Pete”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
10. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
100 Hanauma Bay Drive, Ueber Kalanianaole Highway, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii 96825, phone: (808) 396-4229; website: http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu/regions-neighborhoods/honolulu/hanauma-bay
“Beautiful snorkelling spot packed with wildlife”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches, Bodies of Water, Nature/ Wildlife Areas, State Parks, Parks
Activities: Snorkeling
Fee: Yes
Recommended length of visit: 1-2 hours
Traveler Description:the bay is protected on three sides by the surrounding cliffs so the water is calm and clear. Get there when the preserve first opens in the morning as parking is limited and once the lot is full, no additional cars are allowed in. This limits crowding and protects the wildlife. There is a snackbar near the parking lot: the food is good but it is pricey, so bring a picnic lunch. most able bodied people walked down. Don’t forget to bring your camera, the views overseeing the bay are just spectacular!
11. Caladesi Island State Park
1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin, Florida 34698, phone: (727) 469-5918, website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/caladesiisland/default.cfm
“Caladesi Island is just great!”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: State Parks, Islands, Beaches
Activities: Kayaking
Description: One of Florida’s few remaining undisturbed barrier islands.
12. Poipu Beach Park
Hoona Rd, Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii 96756 (Koloa), phone: (808) 742-7444, website: http://www.poipubeach.org/individual-map/7#pagecontent
“Love those Chickens”
Type: Beaches, Parks
Useful Information: Activities for older children, Activities for young children.
13. Ko Olina Lagoons
Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii
“Amazing!”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches, Landmarks/ Points of Interest
Fee: None
Recommended length of visit: More than 3 hours
Owner description: Beyond Pearl City is Oahu’s Leeward Coast, home to spectacular beaches like Makaha and Yokohama. But the biggest magnet is Ko Olina Resort with its glorious coves for swimming and sunning. Ko Olina’s newest addition is Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa that sidesteps typical Disney fantasy and focuses on celebrating the reality of Hawaiian culture, history and traditions. With the help of Mickey, Minnie and the gang decked out in aloha attire, the resort has a fun vibe that never lets you lose sight that it’s all about the Hawaiian Islands. At Ko Olina, you’ll also find two of Oahu’s most popular luaus at Germaine’s and Paradise Cove, plus a selection of ocean excursions departing the resort’s marina.
14. St. Augustine Beach
1200 Rte A1A S, Saint Augustine Beach, Saint Augustine, Florida
“Best beaches in the State!”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Shopping
15. Ogunquit Beach
Ogunquit, Maine
“The most beautiful beach in the world!”
Best time to go: June – September
Type: Beaches
16. Race Point Beach
Race Point Road, Provincetown, Massachusetts 02657
“Lovely, expansive (and cold in winter!)”
Best time to go: June – August
Type: Beaches
Activities: Swimming
17. Bahia Honda State Park and Beach
36850 Overseas Hwy., Bahia Honda Key, Big Pine Key, Big Pine Key, Florida 33043, phone: (305) 872-3210, website: http://bahiahondapark.com/
“Must stop here for amazing beaches in the Keys”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: State Parks, Beaches
Activities: Camping/RV, Camping
18. La Jolla Cove
1100 Coast Blvd San Diego, CA 92037, East of Ellen Browning Scripps Park, La Jolla, San Diego, California
“Seal’s are weaning their pups til May 15th”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Viewing wildlife, Snorkeling
Fee: None
Recommended length of visit: More than 3 hours
Owner description: San Diego’s most desirable spot for swimming, diving and snorkeling. The water is calm and the cove is ecologically protected. There is also a world famous dive site that is located in the La Jolla ecological preserve.
19. Pensacola Beach
Pensacola, Florida 32562, phone: (800) 635 4803, website: http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/
“No better beaches any where!”
Best time to go: March – May
Type: Beaches
Activities: Swimming, Sunbathing
Description: Located on Santa Rosa Island, Pensacola Beach is a popular spot for family vacations.
20. Beach at Panama City
Panama City Beach, Florida, phone: (850) 233-5070, website: http://panamacitybeach.com/
“*SPRING BREAK REVIEW*”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Swimming
Description: This 27-mile long beach offers a wide variety of activities to enjoy such as swimming, snorkeling, dolphin-spotting parasailing and jet skiing.
21. Clearwater Beach
Western end of State Road 60, One Causeway Blvd. Clearwater, Florida 33767, website: http://www.clearwaterbeach.com/
“Hotel on the Beach”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Swimming, Sunbathing
Description: Rated the number one beach in the Gulf region; Offers many activities for the entire family.
22. Lido Beach
Ben Franklin Drive, Lido Key, Sarasota, Florida
“One of the best beaches in the United States”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
23. Assateague Beach
Assateague Island, Virginia
“Off-Season wonderful”
Best time to go: May – September
Type: Beaches
24. Kapalua Beach
Ritz Carlton, Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii
“Great beach for snorkeling”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Activities: Snorkeling
25. Navarre Beach
8543 Navarre Parkway, Navarre, Florida 32566; phone: (800) 480-7263, website: http://www.floridabeachestorivers.com/
“Best Undiscovered Beach in the Florida Panhandle”
Best time to go: Year-round
Type: Beaches
Owner description: Tucked away in a corner of Northwest Florida, far from crowded theme parks and packed beaches, you will find a piece of the old Florida offering solitude and simplicity for sun seekers, families, outdoor adventurers, nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts.
WowTowel thanks tripadvisor and their customers’ for releasing this timely review of the top 25 beaches in the United States for 2014.
