Nothing beats a sundrenched coastal escape Life's a beach 48 visitusa.org.uk THE U.S. mainland, its offshore territories and its many isles have miles of beautiful coastline to explore, and a wealth of exciting marine activities both above and below the waves. Whatever you seek – from R&R to kite-surfing or diving – there’s a beach that’s perfect. saddle, the island is a watersports Mecca, while turtle lovers can watch hatchlings being released during summer. ISLAND ESCAPE Just 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide, what Nantucket Island in Massachusetts lacks in size it more than makes up for with great holiday experiences. Surf, sail, bike or walk your way round its dune-backed beaches and then head to the historic downtown featuring galleries and restaurants. VINTAGE VIBES Ocean City, a seaside town in Maryland, has a three-mile-long wooden boardwalk with two amusement parks, restaurants and shopping, and an historic carousel that dates from 1902. OCEAN WALKS Beachwalker Park, Kiawah Island, South Carolina, is a nature-lover's coast: visitors can bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets,. or walk or bicycle down the finegrained sand beach to Captain Sam’s Inlet, to see thousands of birds and perhaps even dolphins. ACTIVE ADVENTURES Lazing on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama’s whitequartz sandy beaches at Gulf Shores are a magnet for watersports enthusiasts, with kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and jet skis. There's also deep sea fishing and great diving on an artificial reef, plus parasailing and an adrenalinpumping zipline course at nearby Orange Beach. SADDLE UP Gallop on horseback along a wonderfully wild stretch of golden sand on South Padre Island in Texas. Out of the Nothing beats an amazing sunset over the sea, and CALIFORNIA’S PFEIFFER BEACH in Big Sur yields the perfect Instagram opportunity. The perfectly positioned Keyhole Rock – which lets the day’s last rays shine through its arch – and striking purple sands at the north of the beach just shout out: ‘take a picture of me’. Crowned the U.S.A’s Best Beach by 'Dr. Beach' in 2018, KAPALUA BAY on the island of Maui in Hawaii more than lives up to its title. A calm sea laps on a sheltered, crescent sweep of sand, protected by two reefs that offer excellent snorkelling. Bliss! Pictured Main image: sunset at Huntington Beach, California; Above: Lanikai, Oahu, Hawaii
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NjAzNTM3