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A vote for NJ here but based mainly on access. The NJ courts have done much more than NY, MA, and some others to challenge resident-only restrictions. The coastline should be a public resource. There's only so much of it and I don't think towns that happen to contain coastline should be reserving it for their own residents. What's worse, in Massachusetts and Maine (Va too?) private property continues all the way down to the low tide line and owners can keep people off their beaches, not only the dry sands part but the intertidal zone. NJ has lots of nice beaches and a variety of beach communities from wealthy and exclusive to working class. More importantly, the state courts have been active in dismantling different local exclusionary tactics. The West Coast states and Texas have been much more progressive in opening up their coastline and the beaches to a wider public than just the people privileged enough to afford coastal property or to live in a coastal community. States can purchase beaches for public use-- Mass did that to an extent at Salisbury, Nantasket, Revere, Horseneck in Westport, but beaches have gotten too expensive to make that feasible course of action. Better to reduce the rights of localities and private owners to exclude the larger public.
Obviously Florida
IMO best beach state in the continental US
It’s not even a debate. No West Coast states matches with Florida. The only way it would be competitive is it Hawaii was included. Then it’s a debate
Florida wins this for me, by far. And it's not because they have the best "overall beaches" in terms of actual sand, amenities, piers, things to do while hanging out at the beach. It's because Florida has the best *waters* of any of these areas on the east coast. Warm, good waves, and clear in parts of the Miami area and gulf coast side.
I have spent a couple of my last summer vacations in Hawaii, and the water there spoils you: clear, blue, clean, huge waves, warm.
I hate cloudy, cold, murky ocean water. No thanks. If I'm just going to the shore though, to walk on the beach, to eat, to drink or to just enjoy the sights and coastal vibe without the water, here are my top choices:
Accessibility to the beach front (less homes on the beach and more public space): Cape Cod, MA all the way
Proximity to large population centers (easy to get to the beach):A number of these could lead. I'll go with Long Island, NY or Jersey Shore, NJ, or Florida coasts.
Transportation access to the shoreline (is it easy/fast to get there): Long Island Beaches or Jersey Shore
Things to do on the beach (aka something like the boardwalk or activities right by the beach front): Jersey Shore, Myrtle Beach, Daytona Beach, Folley Beach, Virginia Beach, Rehobeth Beach, the list goes on...
Best Scenery: Cape Cod, MA-Provincetown
Best Sand (this actually differs and makes a difference): Siesta Key Beach, Florida
Best Water: Miami Beach, FL
Most Character/architecture: Provincetown, MA
Best Beach towns: Provincetown, MA
Most affordable to visit: Daytona Beach FL or Myrtle Beach, SC
Most expensive to visit: Provincetown, Hamptons in Long Island, NY
Your favorite beach town:Provincetown, MA or Folley Beach, SC
Favorite beach state:Florida all the way; second runner up is New York
Least favorite beach state: Virginia - not many beaches beyond Virginia Beach, but pretty shoreline near Maryland border
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