Playa Samara in Costa Rica! Has the Pacific Ocean's best waves for learning how to surf.—Whitney Tressel, Associate Photo Editor
(Courtesy Sarah and Iain/Flickr)
Playa del Carmen, where the chest-deep water was still clear enough to see my pale pink toenail polish.—Lisa Schneider, Digital General Manager
(Courtesy procktheboat/myBudgetTravel)
Beaches on Long Island’s North Fork are the quieter, calmer cousins of Montauk and the Hamptons. Plus, they’re so close to world-class wineries, cheese makers, and bakeries that a beach picnic is practically mandatory.—Nicholas DeRenzo, Associate Editor
(Courtesy HBarrison/Flickr)
Miami Beach has all the tropical appeal of the Caribbean without a passport required. Breezy palm trees and water so clear and blue, you can see straight down to your feet. And year-round warm weather means no shivering while running from the ocean to the comfort of your beach chair!—Robin Honig, Research Chief
(Courtesy Fotomaya/myBudgetTravel)
Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos—the sand was as soft as talcum powder and I've never seen water in so many shades of blue!—Laura Michonski, Deputy Digital Editor
(Courtesy miranda13/myBudgetTravel)
Lighthouse Beach in Chatham, MA. Great White Shark watching!—Amy Lundeen, Photo Director
(Courtesy Dougtone/Flickr)
Montauk, my favorite little beach town at the end of Long Island, NY. It's just not summer without a day at the beach, lobster rolls for lunch, and a trip to Gosman's Dock for dinner.—Kaeli Conforti, Digital Editorial Assistant
(Courtesy Rory Finneren/Flickr)
Corona Del Mar, in Newport Beach, Calif. Of all the beaches I've been to, it captures the spirit of Southern California the best.—Rachel Mosely, Editorial Assistant
(Courtesy tracie7779/Flickr)
Having lived my entire life in New York and California, of course I love the ocean. But I’ve got to put in a word on behalf of lake shores! A little more than an hour’s drive from my home in the Hudson Valley, Lake Minnewaska is ringed by granite rocks and a pine forest that will remind transplanted Westerners of home.—Robert Firpo-Cappiello, Deputy Editor
(Courtesy Dougtone/Flickr)
Siesta Key, one of the laid-back beach towns along the Gulf Coast of Florida.—Danielle Contray, Senior Digital Editor
(Courtesy ksr8s/Flickr)