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Hanauma Bay in Honolulu, Hawaii – This is one of the best snorkeling spots in the world. This beach was a former volcanic crater resulting in a tuff ring along three sides of the area, making it a prime beach for spotting beautiful fish and sea life you can’t see almost anywhere else. Pufferfish, eels, sea turtles, and angelfish are just a few of the daily sights when happening upon this amazing beach.
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Montauk Beach in New York – Montauk is known for its spectacular seventy foot high bluffs, which stretch all the way to the point. It is a favorite beach for natural exploring—no huge developments or crazy boardwalks to be seen. The beaches with white sands and quickly breaking waves make it a wonderful place to relax and unwind. From catching fresh seafood to exploring the historical lighthouse, I like to think of this beach as the best of the Hamptons, only better!
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Bolongo Bay Beach in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands – This is the perfect beach for grabbing late night drinks with your feet in the sand. This beach hosts the oh so popular Iggies Beach Bar and is a barefoot dream. It beckons you to a quick trip for a weekend of revelry. Nothing is as relaxing for me as waking up by the ocean and ending my days dancing, drinking, and enjoying good company.
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Baker Beach in San Francisco – Baker Beach is hands down one of my all time favorite beaches. We travel here often, seeing as how it’s only a quick three hours from my home in Reno, Nevada. The cool air of San Francisco and the salty mist coming off the water here transports me into a dream state. You can sit under the Golden Gate Bridge and enjoy the bay views. On clear days you can see all the way to the Marin Headlands, but the fog-filled view of the bridge isn’t a bad one either. After lunch on the beach, you can catch one of the Presidio trails and make an entire day of the adventure.
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Dry Tortugas Beaches in Florida is the type of beach I wouldn’t have expected to find in the US. With white powdery sand and gorgeous blue water, it proves you don’t have to leave the US for a gorgeous summer vacation spot. The backdrop of this beach is an old fort and barracks, making the entire experience feel old worldly and special. The coral reef is only meters from the shore, providing a great snorkeling experience as well.
