3 California beaches ranked among the best in the world
If you’re looking for a summer travel destination or just a mental break from the recent record-breaking storms, there’s a new ranking of the world’s most amazing beaches – 12 of which are in the United States, and three of those 12 are in the Golden State.
Travel guidebook publisher Lonely Planet consulted with writers and contributors across the globe to determine which beaches were worthy of making the cut, Senior Director of Content Laura Motta said.
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The top spot in the new “Best Beaches” book is The Pass, located in New South Wales, Australia, notable for a “right-hand point break that turns this stretch of pinkish-cream, pillowy-soft sand into a surer’s paradise.” In second and third place are Rio De Janeiro’s iconic Ipanema Beach and Thailand’s Ao Maya, respectively.
Depending on your ideal vacation, your ranking may differ, of course.
If you’re after a family vacation, you may want to consider Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, miles inland from the Pacific Ocean.
“You’re going to have that crystal clear blue water, but you’re also going to have a log of activities,” Motta said. “You can go kayaking, you can actually even go snorkeling and scuba diving which is really cool because that water is so clean.”
If it’s romance you’re after, Motta recommends Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia.
“That whole area in general, it’s just kind of slow-paced, relaxing with beautiful scenery,” Motta said. “I think that Driftwood Beach is a place that, if you want to take some of the most beautiful couples’ photos ever, you can have the perfect backdrop with all of that driftwood.”
When it comes to the best U.S. beaches to make Lonely Planet’s top 100 ranking, here are the top 10:
1. Driftwood Beach in Golden Isles, Georgia
2. Grayton Beach in Grayton Beach State Park, Florida
3. South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida
4. Venice Beach in Los Angeles, California
5. El Matador State Beach in Malibu, California
6. Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California
7. Cannon Beach in Oregon
8. Sand Harbor in Lake Tahoe, Nevada
9. Assateague Island National Seashore in Maryland/Virginia
10. Hanalei Bay in Kaua’i, Hawaii
You can see the full list on the Lonely Planet website.
If you’re considering a trip, you may want to start looking at flights, as 2024 is projected to be a favorable one for travelers. Domestic airfare, rental cars and hotel costs are all forecast to fall in 2024 after a year of “historically high prices,” Kayak’s Chief Economist Jake Bouvrie said in a statement.
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also predicts a travel boom that could see a historic number of air travelers in 2024, exceeding 4.7 billion worldwide.
“Beach vacations are obviously super popular with families and it’s February, so maybe never mind spring break, you may want to start thinking about summer right now,” Motta advised.
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