10 Best Beaches in the US for a Unique Summer Getaway

If you’re planning your travel for this summer, the US has plenty of incredible beaches for you. Whether you travel to California’s glorious coast or Florida Keys, North Carolina shores or the islands in Hawaii, throughout the US, you’ll find some unique stunners. Find that hidden paradise for a dip, sunbathing and perfect travel selfies! From the Pacific to the Atlantic and even in between, here are 10 of the best beaches in the US for your travel bucket list.

Dry Tortuga National Park, Florida

Dry Tortuga National Park is located 70 miles west of Key West in the US. Travel here for a truly one of kind experience. Fort Jefferson is the most isolated sandy paradise in all of the Flordia Keys with miles of clear ocean waters surround the small islands.

Photo: SNORKELINGDIVES.COM via Flickr

With a coral reef just a stroke away from the shoreline, the water is always inviting, crystal clear and warm. The national park is an incredible place to snorkel the warm Florida waters. Tick off all your must-dos here on your travel check-list!

Photo: Dry Tortugas NPS via Flickr

Hanauma Bay, Hawaii

Hawaii is filled with stunners but Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular outside of Waikiki and North Shore beaches. Travel here to soak up the sun, snorkel or scuba dive – you’ll fall in love!

Photo: Joel Solomon via Flickr

There are over 300 different type of Hawaiian fish species that call this volcano crater home. Lava rock tubes surround the bay as it has helped preserve the marine life that call this bay home. The bay only allows 3,000 travel lovers per day (to preserve the rich wildlife), so make sure you get there early.

Photo: Banzai Hiroaki via Flickr

Cedar Point, New York

On the Atlantic coast of the US – at the end of a long sandy stretch stands a single building that guards the entrance to the Sag Harbor Bay in Long Island, New York. The lighthouse – the Cedar Island Lighthouse is one of the few remaining lighthouses in the area – is popular with travel photography enthusiasts as well!

A popular branch of the Hamptons and a historical mecca, Sag Harbor – the old whaling village has turned into a perfect charming vacation destination. Walk down cobblestone streets to the farmer’s market or wander around a museum.

Best beaches in the U.S Cedar Point, New York Montauk

Photo: Lucas Klappas via Flickr

The area is a perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of New York City and its excruciating traffic. The remote and isolated travel destination is known for its romantic hotels and charming eateries.

Photo: Erik Anestad via Flickr

China Cove, Carmel by-the-sea, California

On the Pacific shores of the US, Point Lobos State Natural Reserve – a beautiful coastal park lies in the city of Carmel by-the-Sea. An outstanding destination on the Big Sur in California, with stunning views, marine life, immersion in nature, scuba diving, and hiking – Point Lobos is a perfect green travel getaway.

Hidden in the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a small emerald green cove surrounded by tower rock cliffs. The hidden cove is considered the crown jewel of the state park and is a magnet for sun lovers.

Best beaches in the U.S China Cove, Point Lobos State Park

Photo: Jay Galvin via Flickr

The beautiful area is a perfect place to soak up the sun but the majestic cove is extremely popular for scuba diving. While you explore the emerald green waters, you will discover kelp forests, coral reefs and all the marine creatures they call this hidden cove home.

If you travel to Point Lobos, bring binoculars and scan the water for sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions, or, further out to sea, look for spouting whales (gray whales December through March; blue whales in summer).

Photo: Jay Galvin via Flickr

Juno Beach, Florida

Less than 30 minutes away from the Palm Beach International Airport, Juno is a seaside community located on a barrier island along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge.

This travel destination is one of the most prolific Loggerhead sea turtle nesting stretches in the world. Home to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center facility, an ocean conservation organization preserving threatened and endangered sea turtles. The Center serves as a sea turtle rehabilitation hospital, with staff leading speciality tours to see these gentle giants coming to nest.

Juno Dunes Natural Area. Photo via DCI

From June through September, you can experience guided tours called Turtle Walks: a unique program that allows you to learn about and observe the nesting and egg-laying process of sea turtles. The nesting season, that began at the end of February, runs to the end of October.

Travel and photography lovers can take in panoramic views over the Atlantic Ocean from the Juno Beach pier. After a day of swimming, grab a snack at the concession stand or fire up the park’s BBQ grills!

Photo via DCI

Indiana Dunes State Park, Michigan

Though unexpected on this list, the sandy dunes of the Michigan state park shoreline has dunes that are a towering 125 feet tall and stretch 15 miles along the Great Lake. The Indiana Dunes State Park beaches are perfect if you want to frolic in the waves, soak in the sun or build a sandcastle.

Photo: John Lodder via Flickr

Additionally, you can climb the towering dunes and get a view of the surrounding wildlife and take in the majestic view of the Great Lake that you get anywhere else. Also, there are a variety of hiking trails that you can follow to Mount Tom and get an even better view of Lake Michigan. Something for every travel lover!

Photo: tpsdave via Pixabay

Papakolea Beach, Hawaii

Papakolea is a geologic oddity, the green sand shore sits in the shadow of Pu’u Mahana, a volcano that erupted 50,000 years ago. The green sand is created by from a rare natural phenomenon, but it isn’t just popular with travel junkies for its green sand.

Photo: Wasif Malik via Flickr

You can go off-roading to the top but if you follow the path along the shore you will get a great view of the ancient heiau which is dedicated to fishing. You can swim but do so with caution. The surf is known to have strong currents.

Photo: Brocken Inaglory via Wikimedia Commons

Ocean City, Maryland

For fun family travel on the east coast of the US, Ocean City is a great summer destination with a busy boardwalk and family activities that include movies, concerts, mini golf and amusement rides.

Photo: Patrick Nouhailler via Flickr

The boardwalk was rated one of the best boardwalks in America by the Travel Channel. The 10 miles of a sandy paradise is a perfect spot to take in the summer sun as well enjoy the endless fun travel activities on the boardwalk.

Photo: dlhdavidlh via Flickr

Aquinnah, Massachusetts

For those in the US Northeast, Massachusetts’s Martha’s Vineyard is renowned for its pristine stunners with one of most picturesque shores in the town of Aquinnah, located on the south side of the island. If you travel to Aquinnah, you’ll find that it is quiet and isolated and home to the National Landmark, the Gay Head Cliffs.

Photo: Camille King via Flickr

The beautiful multi-colored clay cliffs majestically descend down into the ocean. You watch the sun set into the ocean from the Gay Head Lighthouse for a breathtaking view that you can’t get from anywhere else. A travel photography dream!

Photo: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Cape Hatteras National Seashore was earlier a remote and isolated North Carolina travel destination. The first residents of the Outback shorelines were small communities of Native Americans. For centuries, they Outerbanks islands were for residents which eventually became a picturesque travel destination for seafood and peace and quiet living.

Photo: daveynin via Flickr

Now the remote shoreline is open to everyone. Travel here for the comfort of unobstructed views of the ocean and the surrounding land without sweltering crowds. The Cape Hatteras National Seashostretcheshes 70 miles of shoreline is a perfect, quiet travel getaway.