My favorit Beaches are on the Outer Banks Of N.C. I love the wild animal preserve and the wild Mustangs that walk along the beach. Also the deer and fox and the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets. It truely is heaven!

It's hard to believe that no one has mentioned the Lake Michigan Riviera; the Indiana Dunes State Park & National Lakeshore...a 17,000 acre playground with 8 miles of pristine beaches on an inland sea of fresh water...

Carl Sandberg wrote, "The Dunes are to the Midwest what the Grand Canyon is to Arizona and the Yosemite is to California, They constitute a signature of time and eternity”

The best beach is between 150 and 300 feet from ocean to boardwalk. Boardwalk means amusements for about 8 to 12 blocks and then just a walk made of boards. The air is 85 to 90 degrees with a light sea breeze every day and a few floating clouds from time to time. There are kiosks to rent beach umbrellas, covers, etc. Summer workers stroll up and down the beach selling bottled water or water ice at reasonable cost. There are no or low cost beach tags to help defray beach maintenance costs. There are lots of people on the beach and in the water, but the beach area is not overcrowded. The water temperature is between 70 and 75 degrees. Bermuda anyone?

I'm from Michigan, so I don't get to the ocean beach much. There is a nice beach in Michigan called Higgins Lake Beach and the water is spring fed. The water is crystal clear and there is a sand bar that reaches far into the water. I love walking the beach with the warm sand between my toes and chilling with my girlfriends while enjoying a few cold beverages and snacks from the picnic basket. We bring volleyballs if there are enough of us to play. I have traveled to Florida and enjoyed Daytona Beach when we went for Spring Break apx. 15 years ago. It was "crazy beach" fun back then. Now, I would just enjoy a vacation to a warm climate and a beautiful beach!!!

The best beach is any beach where my husband and I were together!!! From N Wildwood, Nj to McKenna Beach on Maui to Elbow bay beach in Bermuda. Too numerous to list.

Formentera Spain

I am with Aniz, Crane Beach Barbados, just there at Easter and we were nearly all alone. I like diving off the cliff and body surfing. My wife likes the pinkish sand to sit and read her books.
The resaurant at the top of the cliff, great easterly view, is nice to relax and have a rum or a Banks before going back to the room.

I have been to beaches in Los Angeles, San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, Ensenada on the Baja and in Floridas as well as I lived in Hawaii on the island of Oahu for a few years...Waiamea is my fav as well as the North Shore but on the mainland the Fort DeSoto Beach Park near Tampa was my favorite...Loved it! the sand is almost white and when the tide goes out, all the itty bitty sand crabs come flying out of the sand it is amazing to watch...The darn Racoons there are a big as i have ever seen and daring as well...we had one try to steal our picnic lunch while we were in the water...

The best beach for families is Siesta Key, FL. The water is clear, aqua and shallow, and the sand is the BEST! I also love Naples, FL and just about anywhere in the Carribean. You can never go wrong on St. John, USVI. I highly recommend it!

I have traveled around to a lot of famous beaches, Hawaii, Mexico, Nice, Grand Cayman, all over the Carribbean, etc. To me... there is no better place than Destin, FL. near the bridge on 4th of July (my birthday by the way!)hanging out in that beautiful water all day and then watching the fireworks over the bridge!! The most beautiful day ever!

I have seen the two most beautiful beaches in the world, the first one is in LUQUILLO pUERTO rICO AND the other one is EL TORRENTE DE PAREIS in Mallorca, Spain. Astrid Capllonch

Barefoot beach in Bonita Springs Fl or Siesta Key in Sarasota FL!!!

the most pleasent beach is luquillo puerto rico,miami florida,clearwater tampa,acapulco mexico

Edisto Beach, SC.

A good, old fashioned, family beach and dog friendly beach. No hotels,one grocery store, lots of seafood and a golf course. The Lyons Club does bingo during the season - with the old fashioned cards! Rent a house from Kapp/Lyons (www.KappLyons.com) and spend a week or weekend. Just an hour from Charleston, so that's a good day trip. Check out fishing and shelling excursions at Edisto Watersports and Tackle.

One of my favorite beaches is Ceasar's Beach a short walk across the lagoon from Ceasar's Hotel southeast of Monrovia Liberia. The surf is awsome but short. There is seldom anyone there and it may be the cleanest body surfing beach in the world. One word to the wise - watch out for the rip. It can be very treacherous.

Fire Island, New York and NOT Jones Beach or any beach you can drive to. . . beaches like Water Island, Davis Park or the Fire Island Pines that one needs a boat or ferry to get to. They are clean, quiet and secluded. Keep the Hamptons! Their beaches are overcrowded and full of "wannabees." Fire Islanders walk to the beat of a different drummer (our own!)

MEKENA BEACH. On the Island of Maui, is one of the most "Post-Card" type of beach that brings people to here. It's also called "Big Beach" by some locals. This is where we go to experience the BEST of The Best in Hawaii. The sand is comforting to the feet and the colors or the waters are in every shade of Blue you can imagine. Mekena has a variety of people that go there, families, locals, friends and of course many tourists that can find it. Over a small hill to the right can be found "Little Beach" which takes you back to the 70's. It's Clothing Optional which, for some, can be invigorating! What an ideal place on Earth that only Mother Nature has put her hand on. Many times voted one of the Best Beaches on Earth! Everytime we go there, we feel such Peace and Serenity.

The beach I enjoyed the most was the beach on Catlina Island. My young son felt comfortable going in the ocean because the waves were gentle and there were stairs. There are good eating places availble and quaint hotels at a reasonable price. There is a glass bottom boat and a tour bus to travel around the island. One can get there by boat or seaplane or helicopter.The water is warmer than along the California coast. Truly a wonderful place to go and relax.

My husband and I have found the most wonderful beach (or island) we have ever seen and have never felt more welcome to the family as in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

We have been there 4 times now and plan on going again. We have reserved the same beach bungalow on the beach everytime. The beach (lagoon) is so calm and warm and most of the time we have the beach to ourselves.

Our first visit was in 1993 and this last fall we met up with friends from Scotland we met in 1993 there. What a great reunion.

In 2005, we decided to renew our vows after 40 years of marriage and decided Rarotonga was the place. We were greeted by Islanders who had become good friends and met 2 couples from Australia who stood up for as our witnesses.

We have been to many places in the world but have never felt so safe and loved.

P.S. We still keep in touch with the couples from Australia and the couple in Scotland. Friends for keeps!

Aruba, St. Kitts, Antigua for the winter trips, but in the summer you have to be on Cape Cod, especially Truro area. Also Keenebunk and Wells in Maine. Very nice to walk.

The best and unfortunately not the safest beaches are on Long Island New York. My favorites: Robert Moses State Park and Hither Hills State Park.

In the St.Thomas,,the Beach is magens Bay,,its in a cove between 2 mountains ,,stunning veiws , very private,,its been named one of the top 10 beaches in the world by national geographic,,its a must see ,,,,,

I love the beach outside of Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. The beach near the Eldorado Resort, where our private balcony was just feet from the water was heavenly. The private beach borders a turtle sanctuary. We were allowed to walk down the portion of the turtle sanctuary as long as we did not venture close to the turtles. The sand was beautiful, the weather was perfect, the water was marvelous and it was the most romantic spot I have ever enjoyed in my life. Missing are the crowds and fast pace you get in Playa Del Carmen or Cancun. It is a very relaxing atmosphere. I love it. It is very similar to the beach as Talum.

Best beaches in my life - Captiva & Bermuda.

My wife and I recently returned from Aruba where we spent a week. Right across the street from our resort is Eagle Beach, which we were told by our bellman was the best stretch beach on the island. He was right. The sand was perfect and even at midnight the water temp was comfortable. There was a tiki bar and all the activities one would expect at a beach. On one of the local offshore islands the snorkeling was just incredible, beyond description. We intend to make this our annual retreat from the winters in Iowa.

Marie,

If you are willing to head a little farther north in Florida, my husband and I spent a wonderful week at a terrific B&B in Jacksonville Beach, FL. At the Pelican Path, http://pelicanpath.com/, they have only four rooms, which make it nice and quiet. The owners are locals and very knowledgeable about the area. They are also very friendly by the end of our stay they felt like family. The room we stayed in had a balcony right on the beach. We had a little gecko that made friends with my husband. Every time my husband went out he came crawling up and watched him. The dining room is also beach front with lots of glass. The breakfast they served daily was wonderful. I would highly recommend this place to anyone. It was my first time at a B&B and I would definitely go again!

I now have to endorse my local beach that has not yet been mentioned, Ocean City, MD. I love Ocean City, MD partly because I have fond family memories and partly for the great restaurants, but mostly because you have both the quieter upper beach and the boardwalk bustling lower beach. We stay at the upper end and head down to the boardwalk for a night out with the kids. I know there are several sites for Ocean City this is just one that I found www.ocmd.com.

For me it's a toss up between the beaches of Sanibel & Ft. Myers Beach. What is nice about Ft. Myers beach is 'timesquare'..you can walk down the beach, hit the shops and lunch at one of several nice places. If you get a chance, stay at The Pink Shell, very nice!

I love Orange Beach, AL. Ive been to almost every beach in Fl. I got married at Orange Beach, Al. The beautiful white sand is wonderful. The water is clean. The sunrises are beautiful and the town is just so great. It's a great place for families. Very small and local. Also has a restaurant (That belongs to Jimmy Buffet's sister)where you can drive right up in your boat.It's called Lulu's. Tacky Jacks and Live bait are great too.

1. Naples Beach, Naples, Fl. Not crowded, good fishing from the pier; 2. Estero Beach, Ft. Myers, Fl. 3. Ft. Lauderdale; South Beach, Miami, great place to relax and have a drink. Obviously I grew up in South Florida.The best beaches for sand is the Panhandle. That is why there is a "F" in Florida...FIRST IN EVERYTHING!!! GO GATORS. California beaches are ugly!!!!! & really unfriendly people!!!!!!!

The best beach died some years ago-the Bathtub in Stuart, Florida. I grew up there. A reef that is very close to shore created a very shallow swimming area at low tide-the mothers said it was as safe as your own bathtub. Every day in the summer my mother took us-I snorkeled and collected shells and ran on the exposed reef. Little did we know we were killing the coral. Sigh.

My granparents lived near Daytona, so that was a great beach as well. Shallow, and the sand makes the best dribble castles.

Now I add another beach to fond memories-Navarre in the panhandle of Florida. My husband introduced me to that area of the world and my son has grown up on those beaches.

For the best fried shrimp-try Juana-Juana's on South Padre Island. Weird beach, but great shrimp.

No beach, but great water-Key West, Fla.

My favourite beach is the one I grew up on- Crane Beach in Barbados. It has the most beautiful pink-white sand, it's enclosed by cliffs and away from the busy west and south coast of Barbados so you'll often have it to yourself. it's just gorgeous- if you ever go to Barbados, you must visit it

I love Coco Beach FL it's so beautiful and warm especially around June/July. It's a great trip kids will love it and adults too. It's half-an hour from Orlando and is Florida's surfing capitol!

We had fun in key west,siesta beach,kaanapali,waikiki,hana black beach,cancun,playa del carmen,
poipu,pasuquin,white rock and nasugbu,waimea,anahola,hanauma bay,hanalei,oneloa at makena.. BUT NOTHING COMPARED.....if you want to bathe among the Gods, the purity and almost paved and i mean,that compacted pure white sand kissing your feet,with no pebbles felt at all,for it's magnificent hue of torquise and blue palette,
DIVINE is the word.....it is TULUM,Yucatan Peninsula, by the ruins.Below the ruins.
Go. The Mayan gods are welcoming you.

A little beach on the West Side of O'ahu by Ihilani Resort we used to call 'John's Beach' because it was my son's favorite place. It is so good that the resort created five manmade lagoons just like the real one just down the road. It is near to the resort so that, if you want, you can meander along the tidepools to the hotel and have a cocktail or Sunday brunch. The lagoon is protected from waves which crash over lava rock tidepools. It's a great place to snorkel and take small children. We miss it, and all Hawaii's beaches.

Siesta Key, in Sarasota, Fla. with its deep, white. graphite sand that does not burn your toes is our family's fav beach. It is accessible and makes it possible to enjoy it, i.e., big and little places to rent, parking, restrooms, paths, guards. Big Olaf's Ice Cream Shop is the best. It is at the end of the Key in the Village. I remember a Sunday night when a regular group of entertainers drummed down the sun. No matter where we go, we always return to Siesta.

The beaches of Croatia. I love it there. The water is so beautiful. The country is still affordable, the people are great and most speak english. It makes it easy to travel there. It is not expensive to travel there from the US. Be sure to visit Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Mali Ston, and Korchula.

Check out Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The North Beach in Rehoboth is in a State Park so there are no condos or buildings, just sand dunes and two old lookout towers left over from World War 2. Its a popular beach for family and families and most of all, you can park right next to the beach. There are few beaches on the East Coast with decent parking.

Talented toes are a must at my favorite beach, Captiva on Sanibel Island in Florida. As you relax in the crystal clear water of the Gulf on the west side of Florida south of Ft. Meyers you'll see manatees and dolphins playing within view. But don't forget, with talented toes you can pick up beautiful shells under the sand in the shallow water. Cleaniness is a plus on the Captiva beaches as is a wide public beach area. Dogs are allowed, as long as you clean up after them.

This is a perfect relaxing get-away after six days at Disney World with grandchildren.

The beaches I love to visit is Ft Lauderdale its not real crowded and the water is clear and Sunny Isle in Miami its a nice quiet side of Miami you can always drive to the hot spots in South Beach and go back to the peace a calm of Sunny Isle also there is Key Biscannye that is quiet and a good Beach spot.

Mar Chicita on the central North coast of Puerto Rico is this quiet little inlet beach protected from the heavier surf. Vega Baja is nearby, much bigger, but also a wonderful experience.

Vanna White and I have the same beach on our minds. North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
I Love to sit out by the beach abd read. I love going into the water and riding the waves,
Morning and evening walks are really relaxing also.

The beaches of the Wildwoods, in New Jersey are the best. Soft, silky white sand and very clean.
Many different sports activities are held in North Wildwood.

Marie,
ahhh, Woody's.... there are still a few around! a few vacation tips for you and your daughter: big waves are not to be had on the east coast, except for hurricane season, and then they are not good for learning how to surf! I'm sure you'd like to keep your daughter around! Couple good areas for vacationing and surf lessons are (since i'm not sure of your time frame): Jersey Shore; Cape Hatteras, North Carolina; Jacksonville, Cocoa Beach, Sebastian and Jupiter, Florida. Most of Florida is "in season" now, so expect some crowds, but our weather is pretty good. Check your local surf shop for lessons and board rentals. There is no surf in the keys, but you can kayak, dive and fish. If you want to enjoy a really good surf contest, at easter the Ron Jon Easter Surf Fest is ON at Cocoa Beach, be prepared for crowds, but you could stay a few miles away, do your lessons at a smaller beach and have a good time at the festival - kids love it! Hotels can be found using other sites such as fodors.com, travelocity, orbitz.com, etc. good luck and remember the sunscreen!

My Favorite Beach is in Boca Grande Florida.
It is beautiful there. We go in May and the
weather is perfect. It is also the during
the tarpon fishing season. We rent a condo
on the beach and love it. The people are
very nice and the small town has great food
and shopping. There is also and neat lighthouse
to visit.

To Gidget: Cedar Cove Beach Resort on Anna Marie Island, Florida. (www.cedarcoveresort.com) Beautiful, white soft sand. Blue/green waters. Kayak with the dolphins, quiet, serene. Great place to de-stress! Great restaurants, and there's a lot to do. Check out their live webcam. Only problem is the waters are pretty calm and the surf isn't usually that great. Also, if you prefer a B&B setting, there's the Harrington House (www.harringtonhouse.com). Great homemade breakfasts and cookies every evening. Airport: You would fly into Tampa. Good luck.....happy travels!

Malibu - up the coastline just before you hit Ventura County. Sorry but I'm blanking on the hotels around there. Great vibe.

Of course you could shoot up toward Santa Barbara. AGain, I don't know the beach names but the surfers are out in force.

I AM A BEACH PERSON, IN NEED OF CLEAN, SERENE, BIG WAVES, MAYBE SURF LESSONS FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS NOW IN COLLEGE, AND JUST LIKE HER MOM, IS LOVING THE WHOLE SURF, BEACH, HER DORM IS DECORATED IN SURF/CHIC DECOR, IT LOOKS ADORABLE. HOW SAD I HAVE TO RELIVE MY LIFE THROUGH HER, I SURFED, LIVED AT THE BEACH, BUT THATS WHERE IT ENDED, I LOVED WOODY'S WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ONE NOW, ALL MY FRIENDS HAD ONE, SO GLAD THIS CLEAN WHOLESOME LOOK/LIFESTYLE IS ENJOYED BY MY DAUGHTER, I WOULD LOVE TO ENCOURGE HER, SO ANY BEACHES, NOT MEXICO, PREFERABLY FLORIDA, MAYBE THE KEYS, AS MANY PARTS OF FLORIDA ARE JUST TO CROWED, AND STRESSFULL, I HAVE THAT HERE IN NY, PLS. ANY ADVICE, IS APPRECIATED, WE ARE IN NEED OF A VACATION. WE ARE NOT THE CAMPING TYPE, SO INCLUDE HOTELS CLOSE BY. THANK YOU, GIDGET