Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
From my experience (SF to SD, NJ to FL), west coast beaches are usually cloudy and the water is cold, even in summer. You often have to climb down a cliff and the sand is covered with kelp. East coast beaches are perfection in the summer. My favorite are in SC state parks, south of Charleston. Palm trees, white sand, warm water and lighthouses. Hurricanes can mess them up bad tho, with years to recover.
Never been to the gulf coast but I hear the waves are small and the water too warm.
I once came upon a beach on the eastern end of Lake Ontario that was very nice. White sand will little trees, some small waves, no salt to wash off.
Never been to Maine or the PNW. I imagine people just go there for the scenery. I envision them wearing windbreakers and long pants.
Oh, I see a BIG argument coming soon on this thread. .
After going to all the other areas, I live where I think is the best. Others will not agree, but most others have never been to the areas they are bashing. To each their own, and frankly ANY beach is better than none at all. Even a 10' wide beach on an 5 acre pond is so much better than sitting in traffic.
Saltwater/Freshwater who cares as long as we each have found the beach we want to be at. I may not agree, but don't bash my choice because it is different than yours, and I won't bash yours because it is different than the one I made.
I have to go with Gulf beaches as well. They improve in quality the farther east you go. The gulf beaches range from white sand and clear blue waters (Florida) to Muddy brown water with coarse brown and dirty sand (Texas). I'd say Mississippi would be the mid-point in quality. You get white sand and clear skies with muddy water.
My Favorite are gulf coast beaches from south FL, to AL. The sand is usually pure white and soft. Best sand in the US. The water is nice and blue and in some areas, its crystal clear.
In my opinion its a toss up between the East (NY to FL) and the Gulf (TX to FL). I've never been to a Gulf Coast beach yet but I can tell from the previous responses I would probably like them. There are a lot of things to do along East Coast beaches but in a lot of areas you have to walk very far in the hot sand, hot weather, and hot sun to get to the water. The West Coast beaches are beautiful but they often look cloudy and the water is very cold.
I was not impressed by the beaches in Mississippi. That part of the gulf looked like a muddy lake. Like others said, I've heard that they get much better eastward - Orange Beach, Panama City Beach, etc.
I've been to some of the beaches in the Los Angeles area. They don't seem better or worse to me than the beaches of the Carolinas, just different. Chilly water, big waves, coarse sand, very large and expansive beaches in some places, small with rocky cliffs in others.
The current water temperature in Naples, Florida is 89 degrees. As my daughter says, it's like swimming in a hot tub. When the air temperature is in the 90s, that is not refreshing at all.
I live on lake Ontario and while its nice and everything, you can't surf on the great lakes. Fishing is nice though.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
. 
