By: Avalynne Russell

    Since the school year is coming to a close, that means the warmth and high UV is coming in hot to the residents of Warren County, leaving many wondering where to vacation this summer. Luckily, in this article, The Squire will be covering the top 10 best beaches to visit this summer without leaving the United States, with input from avid traveler, Ms. Crystal Howe.

10. Leo Carillo State Beach

     Located near Malibu, California, Leo Carillo State Beach is one and a half miles of unique scenery along the Malibu coast. Complete with beautiful blue waters, tide pools to discover, rocks to climb, wildlife to see, gorgeous sunsets to watch, and caves to explore, everyone could surely find something they enjoy at this beach. This beach was even the filming site of many popular movies such as Inception, Grease, The Karate Kid, 50 First Dates, Survivor Type, The Shack, Truth or Dare, and a season of the beloved tv series, Survivor. Since it is so close to Malibu, there is also a plethora of things to do and see if you need a day off from the beach, along with many places to stay. According to Expedia.com, one of the most popular places to stay at Leo Carillo is Nammbu Beachfront Bungalows, which has multiple different room sizes to choose from, free Wi-Fi, a pool, a spa, and a wonderful view of the ocean right from your room. If you are a fan of any of these iconic movies and want to see where they were filmed, then Leo Carillo is definitely the place for you this summer.  

9. Pfeiffer Beach

Known for its unusual scenery, Pfeiffer Beach in Monterey County, California is definitely a place to consider vacationing this summer. One of the most notable things about this beach is that it has purple sand, which is caused by the erosion of the cliffs above it, containing deposits of manganese garnet resulting in the plum-colored sand. The beach also has some interesting rock formations, such as Keyhole Arch, which is a small, standalone cliff on the beach with a hole in the middle that visitors can observe. Another landmark at this beach has to be McWay Falls. This waterfall is 80 feet tall and located in a little cove on the beach, which has a beautiful view of the sunset and would be an amazing sightseeing and photo opportunity. So, if you’re looking for a unique beach destination for your summer plans, be sure to consider Pfeiffer Beach.    

8. Wailea Beach

    With soft sand and crystal blue waters, Wailea Beach of Maui, Hawaii could be the tropical vacation of your dreams. On this beach, you can participate in activities like snorkeling, air tours, and a uniquely Hawaiian experience, a luau. Also, on the beach you can see wildlife such a sea turtles, whales, dolphins, seals, manta rays, and sharks. If you want to plan a trip here, we recommend staying at the Wailea Beach Resort, which, according to marriot.com, is one of the best places to stay in Wailea. At this resort, there are a lot of different luxury rooms, along with activities such as the Te Au Moana Lu’au, private candlelit dinners, island stores, and so many other activities on the beach. If you want to live out your dream Hawaiian vacation, this location would be perfect for you.           

7. South Beach  

     In Miami, Florida the South Beach neighborhood would be an excellent place to vacation this summer. While this beach is 20 hours away, it is much closer than the other beaches mentioned so far in this article. It’s warm weather, white sands, and turquoise water would make it a wonderful destination to swim, build sandcastles, or even get that you summer tan you’ve been dreaming of. Inside this small coastal town, you can find cute shopping locations, seven miles of beachfront, a tropical botanical garden, a Holocaust memorial, and many sidewalk cafes to get a tasty treat while sightseeing. This town has a few resorts and gorgeous Airbnb’s with beachfront access to stay at if you choose to visit South Beach this summer. If you like the Floridian atmosphere, then you should definitely pick this location to visit this summer.

6. Laguna Beach

     If you are looking for somewhere with the best beachfront lodging for you summer vacation, then Laguna Beach might just be the place for you. Located in Orange County, California, there are a lot of things to discover at thus beach if you are or aren’t wanting to swim. For example, 175 yards off of the beachfront at Cleo Street, visitors can find a real-life shipwreck. It is that of The Foss 125, a 130-foot steel barge that ferried Coast Guard supplies along Laguna’s shore, but sadly sank in 1958. It now serves as a sort of reef to local ocean life, and a unique sight for locals and visitors alike. Even if it rains on your trip, Laguna has plenty of other things to offer and fill up your day. Some of these things include The Fragrance Boutique where you make your own perfume, a spa, an art museum, a playhouse, a library, art classes and many coastal restaurants to feed you good food. If you want to go see some wildlife on a sunny day, Laguna offers year-round whale watching cruises where visitors can see giant blue whales and gray whales depending on what time of year you decide to go. You can also go on historic bungalow tours of Laguna’s historic homes that date as far back as 1884. Assuming that you don’t want to wreck this summer with boring plans, you should surely think about taking a trip to Laguna Beach.

5. Siesta Beach

      If you love stark white sands and bright blue, crystal clear water, then you should probably visit Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Florida. While this coastal town has a lot of fantastic restaurants to offer, such as The Old Salty Dog, they are not the main attraction of this location. Aside from its obviously beautiful beaches, Siesta Key is known for its gorgeous sunsets at Sunset Point. Another cool experience at this particular beach is kayaking in the Mangroves. According to mileslesstraveled.com, this adventure should definitely be on your repertoire. During this activity, visitors see wildlife and float through the mangrove tunnels on crystal clear waters that you can see all the way to the bottom in. So, if your ideal vacation entails a few unique sights to see and memories to make, then Siesta Beach might just be the place for you.

4. Outer Banks

        If you are looking for somewhere a little closer to Warren, then Outer Banks should be on your list of places to consider. In Dare County, North Carolina, the Outer Banks is a popular vacation spot for many families. In fact, Howe told us that, “One of my favorite U.S. beach trips was to the Outer Banks for my cousin’s wedding.” The Outer Banks is a unique coastal town with a boardwalk full of fun stores, and a plethora of beaches to choose from. According to multiple internet sources, Kitty Hawk is among the best, if not the best, beach to visit in the Outer Banks. On the beaches you have the opportunity to swim, build sandcastles, tan, fish, surf and so much more. Since it is only a car ride away, you may want to consider this beach when making your summer plans.   

3. Cocoa Beach

          On the coast in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Cocoa Beach has warm sands and bright blue, clear water. While this beach is famous for its surfing, you can also swim and fish in these beautiful waters. But the thing that makes this beach most special is its bioluminescence. At night, disturbances in the water causes glowing algae called dinoflagellates to illuminate an almost neon blue. Very close to the beach, visitors can also do a bioluminescence tour at Kiwanis Park in a clear kayak. Also right on the beach is a giant Ron Jon Surf Shop, which is the perfect place to grab a souvenir of your trip or any beach-related items you might need. If you find yourself having a rainy day while there, you can visit a plethora of different museums, a dinosaur store, or take a short 25-minute car ride to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to watch a rocket launch or explore its Visitor Complex. With all of these different things to do, this location should definitely make the short list for your possible summer vacations.   

2. Myrtle Beach

      In the sunny Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Myrtle Beach is probably one of the most popular vacation locations in the U.S. With its sunny weather, bright white sands, and beautiful waters, this beach would definitely give you the beachy atmosphere you are looking for. But, if you happen to get sick of the beach, this location has a ton of different activities such as an aquarium, the SkyWheel, the boardwalk, an amusement park, and live shows. Commonly called “Broadway at the Beach,” the boardwalk has many interesting and beachy shops, museums, and even go cart that visitors can participate in. According to Airbnb.com, there are a ton of different places to stay, many of which have beachfront access. Another fun find at Myrtle Beach is Sunset Slush. This store has a plethora of different Italian ice desserts to choose from. They even have a cart that goes out on the beach to sell these desserts. Howe visits another beach each year that also has a Sunset Slush, and she shared with us, “I love getting a cold treat and enjoying them with my little nieces and nephews.” So, be sure to consider taking the 12 hour drive down to Myrtle Beach for your family vacation this summer.  

1. Lanikai Beach

     While this beach is probably one of the hardest to reach, Lanikai Beach in Kaliua, Hawaii is one of the most beautiful beaches the U.S. has to offer. The meaning of “Lanikai” in Hawaiian is actually “heavenly sea,” which is truly what this destination is. This beach has long stretches of soft sand and never-ending right turquoise waters. On this beach, many people like to watch the sunrise and sunset, kayak, attend luaus, and just enjoy the breathtaking scenery, which includes two small islands called Na Mokulua, just off the beach’s shore. Some visitors even like to kayak out to the islands to explore what they have to offer, which is mostly flora and fauna.

     So, with our top ten being complete, The Squire would like to thank Howe for taking her time to answer our questions. So, be sure to use your newfound knowledge of the U.S.’s best beaches, be sure to pick a heavenly location for your beach vacation this summer.