What is the best beach city in the United States?

Cold water on one coast, bathwater on the other, and a whole country arguing about which sand is worth the drive.

1

Los Angeles

Seventy-five miles of coastline, from Venice Beach to Malibu's surf breaks.

2

Miami

South Beach's art-deco strip and warm Atlantic water all year.

3

Honolulu

Waikiki's calm surf and Diamond Head rising behind the sand.

4

San Diego

La Jolla coves, Coronado's wide sand and the most forgiving weather on the coast.

5

Santa Barbara

Palm-lined city beaches under the Santa Ynez Mountains.

6

Charleston

Historic streets a short drive from Folly Beach and Sullivan's Island.

7

Virginia Beach

A three-mile boardwalk and the longest pleasure beach on the East Coast.

8

Myrtle Beach

Sixty miles of Grand Strand sand built for family holidays.

9

Key West

The end of the Overseas Highway, where the Gulf meets the Atlantic.

10

Malibu

Twenty-one miles of Pacific Coast Highway and the surf at Zuma.

11

Santa Cruz

A wooden boardwalk, cold water and the birthplace of mainland surf culture.

12

Newport Beach

Balboa Peninsula, the Wedge and Orange County's harbour town.

13

Clearwater

Powder-white Gulf sand and the calmest swimming water in Florida.