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THANKS TO the great exchange rate, there are fantastic bargains currently available in the US. Although many people opt to spend their American holidays in cities or theme parks, the US has some incredible beaches. If you fancy some stateside sun, sea and sand, there is a guide to help you decide which one to visit there.
Dr Beach, aka Dr Stephen Leatherman, is the expert that names the US’s top beaches every year. As the head of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, he judges beaches by an astonishing 50 different criteria from sand colour and softness, wave size and condition of the water to lifeguard protection, views and crime.
Here are this year’s top US beaches, according to Dr Beach himself!
1. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks, North Carolina
Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach on Ocracoke Island is 275m of beach at the southern end of the Outer Banks, a thin chain of barrier islands along North Carolina’s coast, 42km from the mainland.
Outer Banks has 22km of unspoilt sand, a lovely, quaint village behind it with bed and breakfasts and inns and is very peaceful. Difficulty of access keeps it pure. The drawback is that you will need a boat or
 Caladesi Island National Park is considered the second best beach in the US |
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private plane to get there.
2. Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida
Accessible only by boat, Caladesi Island State Park sits out in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, more than a mile from Dunedin.
This is a super, sandy beach with crystal clear water and it is very shallow with no waves. Despite being near an urban environment, Caladesi teams with wildlife. There are more than 300 species of birds – you can see great blue herons and roseate spoonbills – and guided tours.
3. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York
To get from Penn Station in New York to Coopers Beach, on the eastern tip of Long Island, you have to take the Long Island rail road and
 An 11km stretch of sand puts Coopers Beach in New York in the number three spot |
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change at Hicksville.
Upmarket and tranquil, Coopers Beach stretches for 11 sandy kilometres, three kilometres from Southampton. The town itself has an American colonial feel.
4. Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Hanalei Bay is an impressive horseshoe of white sand with mountains and waterfalls all around, which is just idyllic.
It is no surprise they filmed South Pacific here. Film stars still drop by – last year Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox had a holiday here and Ben Stiller has a house on the island, as does Pierce Brosnan. Hanalei village is a funky little place and a real native hangout, with lots of Hawaiian culture. It’s quite rural and very friendly.
5. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Despite being known as the playground of presidents, playboys and Gordon Brown (who spent his honeymoon here), Cape Cod still has its fair share of quiet, natural beaches.
Glacial cliffs fall away to the huge sandy spit that protects Coast Guard Beach and gives the water some extra warmth. Even so, this is the coolest beach in terms of temperature in the survey. It is a great place in fierce heat – it is known as the ‘free air-con’ of Cape Cod. That is probably why it is so popular with Brits.
6. Hamoa Beach Hamoa Bay, Hana,
West Maui
Hamoa is a tiny beach that was Hemingway’s favourite. It drips with vivid flowers and bougainvillaea. At Hamoa, also a favourite of Hawaiians, snorkelling, diving and body surfing are popular. Tobey Maguire and Cameron Diaz have been spotted there this year and celebrity residents include Kris Kristofferson and Woody Harrelson.
7. Main Beach, East Hampton, New York
The south coast of Long Island comprises 160km of soft white sand known as the Hamptons.
Despite huge desirability, there has been little development so it remains uncrowded and large dunes hide the green farmland behind Main Beach. This is where you will see the stars and the new money, with their huge mansions. Even so, it is surprisingly down to earth and people don’t put on airs – possibly because it is West Coast in feel. Famous residents include Steven Spielberg (whose guests have included the Clintons), Puff Daddy and Martha Stewart.
8. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California
This is a world-class beach with a Mediterranean-type climate. It is very flat, which is ideal for kids and because of the mica, it shines so brightly you need sunglasses. It is as warm as you are going to get. You can swim, surf, sail, body board, fish, play beach volleyball, explore tide pools and fly kites. It is also home to the Hotel Del Coronado, known as the Del – a National Historic Landmark built in 1888.
9. Lighthouse Point Park, Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona is famous for cars on the beach but Lighthouse Point Park is an oasis. This is a lovely spot with great restaurants and a lifeguard, amid a lot of development. You can walk everywhere and the forest goes right up to the ocean, with Spanish moss hanging from the oak trees.
10. Siesta Beach, Sarasota, Florida
This 300m wide beach is famous for having the finest, whitest sand in the world – it’s like icing sugar and gets its fineness and softness because it’s made of quartz rather than coral. When you get tired of sitting on the sand, the beach is a popular spot for water sports and volleyball.
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