<strong>10, Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina:</strong> The public beach on the southern end of the island, Beachwalker Park is a nature-lover's paradise -- and canoeing and kayaking are favorite pastimes. Beachwalker ranks tenth on Dr. Beach's top 10 US beaches for 2017.
10, Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina: The public beach on the southern end of the island, Beachwalker Park is a nature-lover's paradise -- and canoeing and kayaking are favorite pastimes. Beachwalker ranks tenth on Dr. Beach's top 10 US beaches for 2017.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort via AP
<strong>9. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California: </strong>An oasis just a bridge away from mainland San Diego, the public Coronado beach is worth a day visit or a stay at the iconic Hotel del Coronado, pictured here.
9. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California: An oasis just a bridge away from mainland San Diego, the public Coronado beach is worth a day visit or a stay at the iconic Hotel del Coronado, pictured here.
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<strong>8. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii:</strong> This white coral beach is surrounded by the flows of an old lava rock bed. (You can stay at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, pictured here, to explore the area in depth.)
8. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii: This white coral beach is surrounded by the flows of an old lava rock bed. (You can stay at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, pictured here, to explore the area in depth.)
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<strong>7. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida:</strong> Visitors can reach the crystalline quartz sand beach via a long walk north from Clearwater Beach, or sail there by pedestrian ferry boat or private boat.
7. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, Florida: Visitors can reach the crystalline quartz sand beach via a long walk north from Clearwater Beach, or sail there by pedestrian ferry boat or private boat.
St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area CVB/AP
<strong>6. Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Eastham, Massachusetts: </strong>Part of Cape Cod National Seashore, this section of this National Park Service area can be reached by bicycle or shuttle bus after parking at the Salt Pond Visitors' Center. Summer is the prime visiting season, since the water is very cold the rest of the year.
6. Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Eastham, Massachusetts: Part of Cape Cod National Seashore, this section of this National Park Service area can be reached by bicycle or shuttle bus after parking at the Salt Pond Visitors' Center. Summer is the prime visiting season, since the water is very cold the rest of the year.
Margo Tabb/AP
<strong>5. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York: </strong> Located on Long Island's "Gold Coast," Coopers Beach is located in swanky Southampton.
5. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York: Located on Long Island's "Gold Coast," Coopers Beach is located in swanky Southampton.
Kathy Willens/AP
<strong>4. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida: </strong>Located on Florida's Panhandle on the Gulf Coast, Grayton Beach has white sand, big sand dunes, tidal lakes and freshwater ponds.
4. Grayton Beach State Park, Florida: Located on Florida's Panhandle on the Gulf Coast, Grayton Beach has white sand, big sand dunes, tidal lakes and freshwater ponds.
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<strong>3. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina</strong>: Once the home of the pirate Blackbeard, this is Dr. Beach's favorite getaway beach. He warns that big surf dominates in late summer, "so families with children may want to come earlier in the year" for swimming and beachcombing.
3. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina: Once the home of the pirate Blackbeard, this is Dr. Beach's favorite getaway beach. He warns that big surf dominates in late summer, "so families with children may want to come earlier in the year" for swimming and beachcombing.
Bill Russ/AP
<strong>2. Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui, Hawaii:</strong> Two headlands created by lava flows, this white sand beach offers clear waters for swimming and snorkeling.
2. Kapalua Bay Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Two headlands created by lava flows, this white sand beach offers clear waters for swimming and snorkeling.
Tor Johnson/AP
<strong>1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida:</strong> Dr. Beach's top-ranked US beach offers calm clear waters and white sand beaches just across the bay from downtown Sarasota.
1. Siesta Beach, Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida: Dr. Beach's top-ranked US beach offers calm clear waters and white sand beaches just across the bay from downtown Sarasota.
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