Best Beach Vacations in the U.S.

There’s nothing quite like a coastal getaway. When vacation time arrives, pick from this shortlist of the best beach towns in the country.

1. Florida Beach Frolic

Catch the sunset after a long day of fun in the sun during yoru beach vacation on the Florida coast.

Finding accommodations in Clearwater Beach is heaven if your dream vacation involves sugar-fine sand, calm blue water and lots of fun activities—and whose doesn’t? Three miles of white sand draw millions each year to this town on Florida's Gulf Coast. Just 30 minutes from Tampa, Clearwater Beach was voted Florida's top beach town in a USA Today survey. If you are looking for a fun, small-town atmosphere that’s family friendly, this may be your spot.

Stretch your legs strolling along Beach Walk, the palm-lined waterfront promenade. After you can introduce the kids to Winter, star of the movie Dolphin Tale, at the Marine Aquarium. Lively Pier 60 hosts street performers and artists in the evening, but for quieter moments, ferry out to undeveloped Caladesi Island, a favorite spot for setting up a picnic and collecting shells.

2. Puerto Rico Exploration

Puerto Rico beaches are ideal for sunning, swimming and soaking up culture.

When looking for your next great beach vacation, consider booking a hotel in Puerto Rico. There you’ll experience some of the most beautiful island shores—think colorfully rich scenery without a touristy feel.

Don’t miss the chic and trendy Playa Candado, which is more relaxed and less crowded during the week. Or head to Escambron Beach located between Old San Juan and Condado. The coral reef surrounding the beach calms the cool water for snorkeling and scuba diving and the golden sand is picture perfect for even the most curated of social media feeds. When the kids get bored of too much beach time, nearby Bateria del Escambron (Escambron Battery) is a historic fortification built by the Spanish at the end of the 18th century.

3. Outer Banks Adventure

The Outer Banks of North Carolina has a laid back vibe that help you create a fully relaxed beach vacation.

If you're an adventure lover, head to the barrier islands and find a hotel along North Carolina's Outer Banks—it will be a beach vacation you'll long remember. Seventy miles of shoreline offer long stretches of undeveloped beaches with no commercial or residential developments in sight.

You'll find some of the best surfing on the East Coast here, plus great windsurfing, kayaking and skim boarding. Enjoy the mini-golf course and aquarium on Roanoke Island and tour its famous lighthouse, but don't expect much touristy glitz. Natural beauty and outdoor adventures are the Outer Banks' calling cards. The beachcombing is excellent, and the surf fishing is outstanding. You can four-wheel drive on some beaches and most let you take your dog with you. For scuba divers, think 3,000 shipwrecks you can explore from this chain of barrier islands.

4. California Dreaming Coronado-Style

Get away from it all on Coronado Island, which is just across the water from bustling San Diego.

When you want toasty sand and endless waves, head to the beaches of Southern California. The town of Coronado, just across the bridge from hotels in downtown San Diego, offers one of the best beach vacations in the U.S. It feels like a lush, leafy island with perfect summer weather and Victorian homes.

The centerpiece is Central Beach, a wide ribbon of sparkling sand lining a blue ocean. It's perfect for swimming, bodyboarding, surfing and more. When you’re not on the beach, try biking or rollerblading along Coronado's trails and bike paths. If you visit in winter, whale watching is a must—you can see countless blue and gray whales migrate south.

5. Kicking Around Kiawah

If you want to stay close to Charleston, SC, but still feel like you've escaped to a beach destination, visit Kiawah Island.

You can't do better than a pristine island with 10 miles of windswept beaches and acres of undeveloped woodlands. Kiawah Island, just off the coast of South Carolina, is a short drive away when you book a hotel in Charleston, but with a serenity all its own.

Many of its beaches are private, but Beachwalker Park on the island's southern tip is open to all. This is the spot for nature lovers to swim and canoe or kayak the tidal inlets. Hike or bike over to Captain Sam’s Spit—an inlet at the southern end of the island—to see throngs of seabirds. The island is also home to some of the finest golfing in South Carolina.

6. Santa Cruz Cruising

After a long day of beach bumming, visit the boardwalk in Santa Cruz for fun and entertainment.

Booking a stay in Santa Cruz—located south of San Francisco—has been a popular, laid-back experience for decades, and it still tops many lists of great beach vacation spots. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk sits right next to a long stretch of golden sand that's perfect for sunbathing, picnicking or bodysurfing. The beach is full of happy people—come here and you’ll find laughter, music and fun in the summer.