Travel Tips

The classic conflict that comes up when the family is voting on the next great vacation outing is, Should we go to the mountains or the beach? Well if you review all that America has to offer, it wont get much easier because we have some of the most exciting mountains and the finest beaches in the whole world right here in the USA.

Maybe world travelers can speak of the great beaches of France or Europe but you dont have to fly over the ocean to be on some of the best beaches that can be had this side of heaven. And it stands to reason America would posses some of the most extraordinary and sought after beaches in the world. With an ocean on three sides of the country, the shores of Americas coast are literally thousands of miles long. So it isnt whether America has great beaches but which one to pick that is really a question.

Sometimes we here on the mainland forget that Hawaii is just as much America as Iowa or Massachusetts. But Hawaii has something very special to offer and that is the finest beaches in the world for swimming, surfing or just laying on the sand soaking up the rays. The only problem with Hawaiis beaches is that there is so much to do on the Islands and so much beauty everywhere you look that it is hard to take the time to really enjoy those beaches for all their worth. But they deserve a big part of your vacation schedule so take advantage of these idyllic beaches which you are enjoying your visit to the islands.

Just a short hop over the ocean to the mainland and you can be on the beaches of California which rival Hawaiis and, in fact, any beach in the US or around the world. California has such a long coastline that you can find almost every kind of beach terrain you can think of traveling up and down Californias coast. Not only that, the colorful and eccentric California population is always a great people watching experience as you relax on those beaches, especially on the well known beaches of Los Angeles like Laguna or Venice Beach.

But you dont have to be left without beach access if you live on the east coast because the shorelines of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Cape Code and even Maine are just as scenic and picturesque as any the west coast have to offer. Even in the middle of the hustle and bustle of city life in Boston, there are wonderful beaches nestled right in with the urban build up. Revere Beach, which lies just north of Boston, is a hidden treasure. With its long sandy shoreline, it is the delight for many a Massachusetts youth looking for a romantic beach or a place to just get in some good ocean fun.

We cannot end our discussion of great American beaches without mentioning the phenomenal opportunities on both the east and west shores of Florida. The perfect pure white sands that is as soft as cotton can be found on the west banks of the peninsula that are so pristine that they compare with some of the great beaches of Europe.

So if this summer sneaks up on your family and that battle of mountain or beach rears its head, you know that you dont have to settle for the mountains if the family has its heart set on some ocean side fun, some swimming, surfing, sailing and all the other great fun that can be had at one of Americas great beaches. From the Midwest, you literally have all the beaches we have discussed plus hundreds more that we will leave for you to get out there and discover. So get out those swim trunks and dust off that snorkeling mask. Americas top beaches are calling for you.

The Crystal Cove State Park, located in Newport Beach,
provides you with 3.5 miles of beach and over 2,000
acres of undeveloped woodland, which is perfect for
horseback riding and hiking. Offshore, the waters
are designed to be an underwater park.

Popular for mountain bikers inland, and scuba diving
underwater, Crystal Cove beach is a great attraction
for swimmers and surfers. There are also sandy
coves and nifty tidepools to explore. Offering you
sand, rocky reefs, ridges, canyons, and a lot to
do with your time, Crystal Cove ensures that you
never find yourself looking for something to do.

The park also features a couple miles of Pacific
coastline, wooded canyons, open bluffs, and plenty
of water. Giving Newport Beach more room for
opportunity, the park continues to be great for
swimming, surfing, or enjoying the sun.

During the winter months, Crystal Cove State Park
Rangers offer nature hikes. This makes winter fun,
for anyone who visits the park. Offering you
plenty to do and see year round, Crystal Cove State
Park adds more reason to visit or return to
Newport Beach.

Being one of the pristine beaches in Newport Beach,
Balboa Beach is found on the Balboa peninsula. The
beach faces the Pacific Ocean, and is actually
just a few blocks from the well known Balboa Fun
Zone and the yacht harbor.

In the summer, the beach is very popular for swimming
lessons. Balboa Beach is also well known for a 920
foot pier that was voted to be the best throughout
Orange County. The beach is also well known for it’s
no entrance fee. Although there is a parking fee,
the free admission more than makes up for it.

Along Balboa Beach you’ll find a bike path and even
places for bonfires. Surfing is also welcomed here,
although it’s banned from 11 AM to 6 PM in the
summer months. Bodyboarding is also great here,
along with swimming. During the summer, there is a
lifeguard on duty during the hours of daylight.

With plenty of sand and warm sun here, Balboa
Beach is one of the superb beaches in the Newport
Beach area. If you visit Newport Beach in the
summer, make sure you drop by Balboa Beach and see
just how good life can be.