Next on our best beaches is Hapuna Beach in Hawaii. This is another wonderful sandy beach, 1/2 mile long and almost 200 feet wide during the summer months. Swimming conditions here are usually excellent. There is easy access to the water, full facilities, crystal clear water and beautiful scenery. Snorkeling is great at the south end of the beach where the fish are varied and there is a coral reef.
Ocracoke Island is accessible only by water or air, and is part of Hyde County. It is one of the barrier islands of the Outer Banks of North Carolina where the pirate Blackbeard is known to have once roamed. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore, with the Pamlico Sound on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other, its 16 miles of sun-swept wilderness beaches offer something for everyone.
Kailua Beach is often rated as the "Best Beach in the World," is a generally wonderful place to enjoy swimming and beach recreational activities. It has a very nice, fine sandy beach. There are generally no significantly hazardous ocean or beach conditions.Kailua Beach is a world-class wind surfing destination for pros and amateurs alike. There are several shops in Kailua town which offer rental gear and that can arrange for lessons.
Our final top ten beach is Cumberland Island. This island is 17.5 miles long and totals 36,415 acres of which 16,850 are marsh, mud flats, and tidal creeks. It is well known for its sea turtles, wild turkeys, wild horses, armadillos, abundant shore birds, dune fields, maritime forests, salt marshes, and historic structures. Visit Cumberland Island National Seashore for a natural experience: sun and sand, beautiful vistas and relaxing atmosphere.
Unlike beaches elsewhere that are made up mostly of coral, Siesta Beach's sand is 99% quartz. Even on the hottest days, the sand is so reflective that it feels cool underfoot. It's estimated that the sand on Siesta Beach is millions of years old, and started in the Appalachians and flowed down the rivers and was eventually deposited on the shores of Siesta Key.