Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York (NATIONAL WINNER)

Coopers Beach is located on the south shore of Long Island, New York, shielded from the cold Labrador currents, in the beautiful village of Southampton.  As the first “Gold Coast” in the country, Coopers Beach is hundreds of yards wide, made of grainy white quartz sand.  The beach is backed by large sand dunes covered by American beach grass, interspersed with large and extravagant mansions. Some of the best beach access in the Hamptons exists on Coopers Beach, and a snack bar serving lunch and drinks can be found here, as well. www.discoverlongisland.com/vendor_detail.cfm?ID=2387

Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida

With some of the finest, whitest sand in the world, this beach attracts sand collectors from all over.  Siesta Beach has clear, warm waters that serve for ideal swimming.  The beach is hundreds of yards wide in the shape of a crescent, due to anchoring of onshore rocks to the north and a unique underwater formation of coral rock and caves, providing for great snorkeling and scuba diving. This beach is great for volleyball and other types of recreational fitness. www.sarasotafl.org

Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

Coronado Beach is the toast of Southern California; it is a veritable oasis by the sea, measuring hundreds of yards wide.  With its lush subtropical vegetation, unique Mediterranean climate, and fine sparkling sand, beach-goers flock to this beach for great ship watching and the summer’s warm and mild surf.  The local landmark, Hotel del Coronado, was built over a hundred years ago, offering spectacular architecture and Old World elegance.  Kings, sheiks, actors, and actresses have stayed at Hotel del Coronado, where food and drinks are served on the beach, and the hotel provides a great location for celebrities. www.sandiego.org/article_set/Visitors/5/44

Cape Hatteras, the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Bulging far offshore of the mainland coast as a barrier island, Cape Hatteras was the first National Seashore.  Providing some of the best board surfing along the East Coast, as well as the most famous lighthouse in the United States, Cape Hatteras attracts beachgoers to its historic fishing villages.  Nature lovers adore the excellent beachcombing and superb fishing. www.outerbanks.org

Main Beach, East Hampton, New York

Main Beach provides the perfect blend of nature and built environment.  Wealthy summertime residents flock here to the beaches protected by a conservation easement, dating back over 300 years.  Main Beach is a great place for star-spotting, since many actors and actresses frequently visit this beach for its idyllic setting in a small village.  The big, wide sandy beach made of quartz has towering sand dunes and beautiful clean and clear blue water.  The best way to get around this beach is on bicycle in order to avoid parking and to take in the beautiful vista. www.easthamptonvillage.org/beaches.htm     

Kahanamoku Beach, Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii

This beach was named in the honor of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku who was a gold medal Olympic swimmer and credited with introducing surfing to the outside world.  Kahanamoku Beach is bounded by the Ala Wai small boat harbor and the Hilton Hawaiian Village catamaran pier.  A shallow offshore reef protects this beach from the big waves, making it a great swimming area for families with children.
www.visit-oahu.com/sec/niche/beaches/default.aspx

Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Coast Guard Beach, accessible by bicycle or via shuttle bus from the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, was formed where a sand spit attached to the eroding glacial cliffs.  The sand is fairly coarse, so the beach slopes steeply into the water.  The picturesque old Coast Guard station still sits atop the glacial bluffs, allowing for a spectacular view down upon the Nauset Spit barrier system and bay.  During the summer, beach-goers take quick, refreshing dips in the ocean, as water temperatures only reach 60-70 degrees. 
www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/coast-guard-beach-eastham.htm

Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina

South of Charleston, Beachwalker Park is the public beach located on the southern end of Kiawah Island.  Tennis and golf are featured here, as well as interpretative tours of the fauna and flora of the island.  This is certainly a nature-lovers coast, so visitors should pack their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets or walk down to St. Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds.  The water is not clear here, but it is clean and provides for fantastic seafood for low-country cooking.  Visitors can also pack their bicycles, since the sand is compact enough to ride along the 10-mile long barrier island.

www.ccprc.com/index.aspx?NID=59

Hamoa Beach, Maui, Hawaii

This pocket beach is rimmed by cliffs, covered by coconut palm trees and beautiful flowering vegetation.  This crescent beach, which is a mixture of coral and lava sand, is the most famous of Maui’s Hana beaches.  The beach is actually inside a breached volcanic crater.  To get to Hamoa Beach, one has to take the “Road to Hana”, the treacherous road with drop-offs of over 1,000 feet and sporadic guardrails, which can be an adventure in itself!  Taking it slow on this road, with over 50 one-way bridges, is probably the safest bet.  Ernest Hemmingway once said that Hamoa Beach was the world’s best beach.

www.gohawaii.com/maui/regions-neighborhoods/east-maui/hana

Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida

Cape Florida State Park, located at the south tip of Key Biscayne, provides clear, emerald-colored waters and gentle surf.  This fine, white coral sand beach is great for swimming, as waves are knocked down by a large sand shoal offshore.  In addition, the Cape Florida Lighthouse allows for a breath-taking view of this beautiful beach.

www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/default.cfm