10 Best Beaches in the US

TripAdvisor offers its annual list
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 19, 2015 2:18 PM CST
10 Best Beaches in the US
This May 18, 2011 photo shows the Siesta Key public beach in Sarasota, Fla.   (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

On this historically cold day (at least in some places), you're probably wishing you were on a nice, warm beach somewhere. Well, you can at least daydream, because TripAdvisor has released its annual ranking of the best beaches. The rankings are based on quantity and quality of reviews from users of the travel site over the past year:

  1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Fla.: This Gulf Coast beach, which features quartz crystal sand, is great for kids thanks to calm surf.
  2. Saint Pete Beach, Saint Pete Beach, Fla.: If you're a foodie, there's a bustling restaurant scene here as well.
  3. Ka’anapali Beach, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii: In the mood for adventure? Consider snorkeling at Black Rock to check out diverse sea life.
  4. Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hana, Maui, Hawaii: If you want a more secluded beach, this one is surrounded by dark volcanic rock.
  5. Pensacola Beach, Pensacola Beach, Fla.: The Emerald Coast beach features a pier with fishing, plus lots of beachfront restaurants serving seafood from the gulf.

  1. La Jolla Cove, La Jolla, Calif.: This beach has been called the most photographed one in San Diego, and its ecologically protected status makes it another great place to snorkel.
  2. Kailua Beach Park, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii: If you're into water sports, head to this beach for kayaking and windsurfing.
  3. Clearwater Beach, Clearwater, Fla.: There are 361 days of sunshine per year at this barrier island beach.
  4. St. Augustine Beach, Saint Augustine, Fla.: This Atlantic Coast beach offers a pier and lots of powdery sand.
  5. Beach at Panama City, Panama City Beach, Fla.: You can take about as long a walk as you want on this beach's 20 miles of shoreline.
Click through for the 10 best beaches in the world. (More TripAdvisor stories.)

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