Texas Beaches

Tourists don't normally associate beaches with Texas but there is no shortage of welcoming sand along nearly 400 miles of Gulf coastline and seven barrier islands.
Sea Rim State Park, though severely damaged by recent hurricanes is for nature lovers, Mustang Island State Park with its 5-mile stretch of powder sand, 30 minutes ferry from Corpus Christi, is great for weekends.

The finest beach is the popular resort of South Padre Island, with 30 miles of silky sand, calm water, mild weather and excellent nightlife, an ideal destination for spring vacations and very, very close to Mexico if you run out of tequila.
For absolute solitude, try sleeping on a primitive beach campground at Matagorda Island State Park and Wildlife Management Area.
Getting to South Padre Island: Take Interstate Hwy 37 south from San Antonio to U.S. Hwy. 77, then east on Texas 100. When your feet get wet, you're on the beach at South Padre Island

North Carolina Beaches

North Carolina enjoys 300 miles of coastline and barrier island beaches with clean blue waters.
The best beaches can be found along the Outer Bank such as The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the first protected seashore in the country and its 16 miles of wilderness beaches offer a wide variety of outdoor activities as well as historic interest. This is regarded as one of the country's best water playgrounds.

The beaches on the Pamlico Sound side are easier to swim in, with shallower, calmer waters than the Atlantic Ocean side and its powerful currents.
The most accessible beach is Carolina Beach State Park combined with the Freeman Park Recreation Area, providing countless sport options, entertainments and facilities, so this works well for family vacations.
Getting there: Carolina Beach is located off US 421 in New Hanover County on Dow Road, 10 miles south of Wilmington.

New Jersey

Although Atlantic City is well-known for the world's first and longest board walk, entertainment complexes and vast beach, the Jersey Shore hosts more than 90 miles of superb beaches in its 127 miles of coastline.

Some of the best beaches can be found at southernmost Cape May; in the small beach resort of Ocean City; local favourites are Wildwood & Wildwood Crest; less-known is Long Beach Island; then there's the tiny beach community of Seaside Heights on a barrier island; secluded Stone Harbour Point; and finally eco-friendly Island Beach State Park.
Getting there: the Jersey Shore is New Jersey's Atlantic coast

New York

Long Island, the biggest island on the country's east coast with 400 miles of coastline and only a short drive east of Manhattan [via the Brooklyn Bridge] embraces some of America's best beaches, known for their long stretches of sugar white sands, mild surf, clear refreshing water, colorful communities and flashing nightlife.
Prepare for crushing crowds in summer months, particularly driving along route 27.

The celebrated Hamptons Beaches, known simply as 'The Hamptons', is an entire area of the South Fork, where the glitterati have been spending their summers for more than 100 years.
Some favourites: East Hampton's Main Beach for July 4th fireworks; the large public beach in Jones Beach State Park; stylish Southampton's Coopers Beach if you do not mind sky-high parking fees; and Fire Island National Seashore for its natural beauty.
Getting there: a dozen major roads from New York City lead into Long Island, all New York airports offer transport there and ferries run the gauntlet too

Rhode Island

With Rhode Island's 411 miles of rugged coastline and stunning beaches it makes perfect sense to call the place the 'Ocean State'.
South County [the southern part of the state] has fine sandy beaches, many of them with protective dunes, as well as the stony and rocky kind shores that are the province of walkers.

Some of Rhode Island's best beaches are: Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, with half a mile of soft sand; Napatree Point with grassy dunes and the Victorian resort of Watch Hill in Washington; the local's favourite swimming spot East Matunuck State Beach, has a glorious view over the dunes of the Succotash Salt Marsh at South Kingstown in Washington; the Ninigret Conservation Area in Charlestown with 1,700-acre saltwater pond is great for both swimming and walking.
Getting there: Drive via Interstate 95, the main east coast major highway from Maine to Florida. Interstate Routes 95 and 195 offer access to most of Rhode Island's major cities from Westerly to Providence to Pawtucket to East Providence

Massachusetts

Cape Cod's National Seashore is a little far north to offer perfect, bathing-suit beaches, but is nevertheless home to some of the USA's most attractive coastlines, with an unspoilt, scenic shore that includes 40 miles of fine sandy beaches dotted with woods, rocky bays, handsome seaside towns and lively harbours, with terrific hiking and biking trails. Cape Cod beaches are washed by clean but very chilly waters and the air temperature is generally none too hot either.

If your prime interest is walking, try Gay Head Public Beach in Martha's Vineyard for its spectacular cliff views and hard packed sand. It has also an area set aside for naturists.
Getting there: From Boston take Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne. Follow Route 6 eastward to Eastham and Provincetown. From Providence, RI take I-95 north to, I-195. Follow Route 6 eastward as above

New Hampshire

Hampton Beach, far from natural but large and clean, this well-developed and lively stretch of soft sand is one of America's most loved beaches, with plenty of action day and night, from music concerts, regattas, and sand sculpting contests to food festivals, so expect large crowds particularly from July to August. There are several state parks with fine beaches and first class golf courses in the area, as well as other entertainment facilities such as cinema and shopping malls.
Getting there: Hampton Beach is 15 miles [24 km] south of Portsmouth