Hawaii's Waimanalo Bay Beach Park is the No. 1 beach in the country for 2015, according to Dr. Beach's 25th annual top 10 list of U.S. beaches, released Thursday. This stunning white coral sand beach is worth the flight.
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2. Barefoot Beach Preserve County Park, Bonita Springs, Florida. Between Fort Myers and Naples on Florida's Gulf Coast, this 8,200-foot-long beach is tucked into a 342-acre preserve. The shallow waters, gentle surf and seashells make it ideal for families with young children. The habitat also hosts sea turtle nesting sites during the summer. The protected gopher tortoise also calls the preserve home.
Courtesy Dr. Beach
3. St. George Island State Park, Florida. Located on 1,963 acres on the eastern side of a barrier island, St. George Island State Park is a lovely spot to explore the dunes, swim and enjoy the Florida Panhandle beach's white sand. (Shuffle your feet to warn off stingrays in the shallow waters.) Camping is also permitted.
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4. Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Take it slow, Hawaiian style, on the way to this Hana beach, which is inside a breached volcanic crater. The "Road to Hana" is known to be dangerous unless you drive slowly over the one-way bridges and stay clear of 1,000-foot drop-offs. And when you get there, there's the possibility of large surf, strong currents outside the bay and no lifeguard on duty. (There are restrooms and showers.)
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5. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Outer Banks, North Carolina. Established in 1937 as the country's first national seashore to preserve barrier islands along the North Carolina coast, Cape Hatteras reportedly has some of the best board surfing along the East Coast, says Dr. Beach. It's also home to historic fishing villages and one of the most famous lighthouses in the United States.
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6. Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida. On the southern end of Key Biscayne, a short drive (depending on traffic) from Miami, Cape Florida State Park has gentle surf, beautiful waters, white coral sand and overnight boat camping. Loggerhead sea turtles often nest at the park. These turtles were found injured and were released into the wild at the park after being nursed back to health.
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7. Coast Guard Beach, Eastham, Massachusetts. Part of Cape Cod National Seashore, Coast Guard Beach can be reached by bicycle or shuttle bus after parking at the Salt Pond Visitor's Center. The former Coast Guard station is still standing, and Nauset Marsh behind it is worth exploring to see the shorebirds. Or wander the Great Beach, named by Henry David Thoreau.
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8. Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina. Head south from Charleston to the southern end of Kiawah Island. There you'll find 11 miles of untouched beach at Beachwalker Park, where you can kayak or canoe through the tidal inlets, or walk or bicycle to bird watch at Captain Sam's Inlet.
Courtesy Dr. Beach
9. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, Naples, Florida. Head to this 166-acre beach park on the Gulf of Mexico early to get there before the crowds. It's worth the effort to find a post on the white sand beach, where the seashells are plentiful. There are paddleboards, kayaks and canoes to rent for the active visitor, and umbrellas and beach chairs to rent for the relaxed guest. There's a designated fishing area and a convenient boat launch area.
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10. East Beach, Santa Barbara, California. Known for hosting volleyball tournaments at its famous courts, East Beach can be found, naturally, on the east side of the city's the 4-mile-long stretch of city beach parks. The Cabrillo Pavilion Bathhouse, built in 1927, has volleyball rentals, lockers, showers and beach wheelchairs.
