Scotland often feels bigger than it is. That’s in part because of its impact on the world – think Edinburgh’s cultural clout and or Speyside’s famous whiskies – but it’s also because of the sheer range of things to do here.
Two fascinating, but very different, cities dominate Scotland’s central belt, the expansive Highlands feature some of the world’s most beautiful landscapes, while islands pack in wildlife and echoes of the past. There are fine sights all over the country, but these are some of the top experiences in Scotland.
Get into the spirit of Edinburgh during the Fringe festival. Dan Smith Photography/Shutterstock
1. Experience the creativity of the Edinburgh Festival
The world’s largest arts festival transforms Scotland’s capital in August. Everywhere turns into a venue (literally: swimming pools, fudge shops and public toilets have featured in recent years), the streets throb with performers and festival-goers and pubs are packed until the small hours.
The Fringe, International Festival and Military Tattoo are the biggest events. If you want to see popular shows, booking early is essential, but there’s plenty of diversity beneath the headlines – seek out smaller venues for a unique experience that will make you feel you’ve been in a different city to the crowds.
Local tip: Missed out on tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo? Head to the top of Royal Mile and watch the troops parade down Castlehill, with bagpipes, brass sections, and colorful costumes, after the main performance at 10.30pm each night.
Glasgow comes to life after dark on Ashton Lane, a cobbled backstreet in the West End full of bars and restaurants. Getty Images
2. Get swept away by the music in Glasgow
By day, Glasgow’s grand architecture and resurgent museums are more than worth your time. But you may have the most fun at night, when glorious local scenes come alive and visitors to the city are treated with warm curiosity. Pubs host folk gigs, clubs judder to house and techno and the alt-rock scene bulges with talent. You can check out indie acts at King Tut’s, bounce on a historic ballroom floor at the Barrowland, check out a folk session at the Ben Nevis or get a sweat on at the Sub Club, which has been a temple to electronic music for over 30 years.
The colorful village of Portree, capital of the Isle of Skye. Getty Images
3. Find your own highlights on Skye
With its grand peaks, Gaelic culture and windswept beauty, Skye is the main draw in the Highlands. Rather than trying to cram its many highlights into a single itinerary – and risking getting stuck in a tourist traffic jam as you do so – it can be worth getting your perspective on this special island by choosing the part that most suits you and staying for a few days.
That might mean climbing the knife-edge ridges of the Cuillin Hills, exploring basalt sea stacks on the Trotternish Peninsula, eating roasted hake or devilled pigeon at the Michelin-starred Three Chimneys, or sipping ale at sunset on the little-visited Waternish Peninsula.
Planning tip: Stagecoach operates the main bus routes on the island, linking all the main villages and towns, but you’ll need your walking shoes if you want to go further afield.
4. Take in the lonely peaks of Assynt
Assynt, in the far northwest of Scotland, feels like a land apart. Here, isolated sandstone peaks rise like great monuments from the boggy moorland, giving the landscape an epic eeriness, and meaning the views from the top can – weather, of course, permitting – stretch for miles.
There are some excellent scrambling routes for which you’ll need some experience and a head for heights. An Teallach (1063m/3486ft) has a top-of-the-world traverse, Suilven (723m, 2,372ft) is a long, remote, broken-backed ridge, while Stac Pollaidh (612m/2008ft) reaches up like a ruined crown. It’s also the most accessible of the three. The coast here is also great for sea kayaking.
Local tip: The views from the roads that wind through this wilderness can be almost as good as the ones from the summits.
Detour to the impressive V&A Museum of Design on the Dundee waterfront. DigitalNatureScotland/Shutterstock
5. Soak up the culture on Dundee’s waterfront
Dundee’s docks once exported jute (a fiber used in textiles) around the world, but industrial decline in the 1980s hit the area hard. Regeneration came first in the form of the restored 1901 ship Discovery, which explored the Antarctic under legendary Captain Robert Falcon Scott and was built to withstand being frozen into the icepack.
In 2018, it was joined by V&A Dundee, a state-of-the-art museum whose slatted exterior looks like a spaceship crossed with a sea cliff. In between checking out top-notch visiting exhibitions at the V&A and stepping aboard Discovery, you can explore the city’s textile traditions at the Verdant Works or steer your own course through Dundee’s nautical heritage by going paddleboarding on the Tay.
6. Taste whisky in Speyside
Speyside, in Northeast Scotland, isn’t just about booze: there’s salmon fishing, historic railways and golf courses to experience in these parts. But most visitors are here for the region’s sweet and fragrant whiskies.
Marvel at the vast modern vats that make the stuff, the pleasingly battered casks (often previously used for sherry) that help give batches their unique flavor, and the streams and rivers that run down from the hills and into the distilleries, bringing a touch of local terroir.
There are plenty of great things to do here: you can stay overnight in classic lodges and sup your drinks in hushed, book-lined lounges, or stay at homely B&Bs where the morning smells of kippers and black pudding should add zest to any hangover you might somehow have developed.
Local tip: Speyside is home to the highest number of distilleries in Scotland, the most famous of which is Glenfiddich.
Step back in time in Orkney: the Neolithic Ring of Brodgar near Stromnness. Jiri Semerad/500px
7. Learn about Stone Age Orkney
The archipelago of Orkney, an hour’s ferry ride from Scotland’s northeast tip, has farmland, fishing villages and some of Europe’s greatest Stone Age remains. Skara Brae, a 5000-year-old settlement that lay preserved under sand dunes till 1850, brings the day-to-day world of Neolithic people to brilliant life.
Houses are connected by tunnels and filled with furniture – beds, fireplaces, dressers and cupboards. The stunning nearby tunnel tomb of Maeshowe, meanwhile, reveals this ancient people’s spiritual side. With its standing stones, giant flocks of seabirds and the mighty sea all around, modern Orkney remains a wild, evocative place.
8. Join the island adventures on Mull
Visiting the Hebrides is highly recommended. The islands are scattered off the west coast, one foot in Scotland, the other in the Atlantic. Mull is one of the finest of these islands, and once you get past its appealing towns (capital Tobermory’s chocolate-box harbor is something else), you can use it as a base for the wonderfully accessible outdoors. There are mountains, cliffs and achingly beautiful beaches, but a boat trip offers the greatest pleasures.
Nearby isles include Iona (whose abbey was a vital staging post in Christianity’s advance through Britain), Staffa (home to surreal pillars that inspired Felix Mendelssohn and Pink Floyd) and Lunga (where thousands of impossibly appealing puffins nest in spring and summer). It’s an especially fun thing to do for families – kids will love the excitement of the short boat trips.
Detour: There are dozens of operators around the coast offering whale-watching boat trips lasting from a couple of hours to all day; some have sighting success rates of 95% in summer.
Scotland’s most famous driving route heading over the Kylesku Bridge. Helen Hotson/Shutterstock
9. Drive the North Coast 500
Scotland’s most famous driving route starts in Inverness, the Highlands’ likable capital, and makes a great loop around the dramatic west coast and the wild, remote top of Scotland. You’ll pass superb seafood restaurants, distilleries (not all for whisky), villages, farmhouses and pubs.
But the star here is the scenery: lochs that look like they go on forever, huge sea cliffs, rugged mountains, lonely beaches, machair grassland and hills topped with heather. It gets busy in summer: the best time to go is the shoulder season, and a week will allow you to take decent pit stops, breathe in the sea air and treasure the shifting light and the contours of the land. If this doesn’t appeal, Scotland has other amazing road trips to get you exploring.
The West Highland Way is Scotland’s most popular through-hike but you can tackle a section. Shutterstock
10. Hike the West Highland Way
The West Highland Way takes you from the Lowlands to the Highlands, from the outskirts of Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, to the base of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis. It passes rivers, lochs, mountains and moorland, traveling on old cattle roads and railway lines – meaning that this is one epic journey on which it’s hard to get lost. For the more adventurous hiker, there are other less well-trod paths to also investigate.
The 96-mile (155km) West Highland Way takes most hikers around a week, although it’s possible to just take on parts of it. You can make it easier, by asking a tour company to drop your baggage at your hotel each night; or harder, by wild camping all the way and rounding it off with the climb up Ben Nevis (4413ft/1345m).
Local tip: Pre-book accommodation or campsites during the European summer as this is a popular through-hike. Some pubs and inns will only serve food to guests who are staying, so if you are wild camping make sure you carry enough food for meals between major towns.
11. Explore historic Edinburgh
Outside of festival time, Edinburgh is one of Britain’s most spectacular cities with plenty of things to do, and its Old and New towns provide a luminous history lesson. The Old Town is crowned by a mighty castle, from where the cobblestoned Royal Mile descends past tangled medieval wynds (alleys) and cozy pubs to the Scottish Parliament.
The neighboring New Town, a mere 200 years old, has Neoclassical streets arranged into an elegant pattern of squares, crescents and boulevards. The city’s hilly nature means that wherever you go, a new view can surprise you. The National Museum is the best of many, although you can also get a vivid sense of Edinburgh’s rich history just by strolling its streets.
With its impressive terrain of imperious mountains, volcano-ravaged landscapes and sumptuous rainforest, Washington state is understandably renowned amongst keen hikers.
It is home to the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail (part of the “Triple Crown” of US hiking), the headquarters of the American Alpine Institute and three pioneering national parks: iconic Mt Rainier, the primeval Olympic peninsula and the lonesome mini-Alaska of the North Cascades.
When you’re done pacing the state’s saw-toothed mountains and rain-soaked forests, you can stroll the less threatening fields and hedgerows of the bucolic San Juan Islands, or warm down on the pleasantly paved (and accessible) Burke-Gilman trail in urban Seattle. These are the best hikes in Washington state.
1. The Wonderland Trail is a challenging multi-day hike
93-mile loop, 10–12 days, hard
Backcountry endurance athletes will love the Wonderland Trail, Mt Rainier’s classic long-distance hike, a 93-mile pilgrimage that completely circumnavigates the mountain and logs a cumulative elevation gain of 21400ft. Conceived in 1915, the trail is well-marked and completed by between 200 and 250 hikers a year. Incorporating multiple ecosystems into its course, it reveals captivating vistas of Rainier and its 25 glaciers from every angle.
Longmire near Mt Rainier National Park’s Nisqually entrance is the most popular starting point for the multi-day extravaganza. Most hikers tackle the route in a clockwise direction in July or August after the snow has melted and the mountain’s famous wildflowers are in bloom. There are 18 backcountry campsites en route. Don’t worry if you’re new to backcountry camping and don’t know where to start. Our handy guide will ensure you have the time of your life.
2. The Enchanted Valley Trail is the best hike for wildlife-spotting
27 miles round-trip, 2 days, easy
Billed as one of the easiest and downright charming ways to delve into the roadless interior of Olympic National Park, this gentle, easy-to-follow trail stretches for 13.5 miles from the Graves Creek trailhead to a large riverside meadow, the site of a handsomely mildewed wooden cabin dating from the 1930s. Much of the early miles are through a wooded valley studded with a magnificent old-growth forest and bisected by the gurgling Quinault River.
After passing the O’Neil Creek campsite, the trees slowly thin out to reveal sheer cliff faces and peaks rising 2000ft from the valley floor. During the spring snowmelt, the precipice is drizzled by innumerable waterfalls (locals claim there are 10,000!), while the valley is decorated with a rich rainbow of wildflowers. You can camp by the enchanting but closed-to-public cabin before hiking back the way you came. Berry-seeking bears, shy deer and herds of elk are common in these parts.
The northern half of Washington is characterized by its wild, storm-lashed beaches, many of them protected within Olympic National Park. For a taste of this remote, elemental coast, come to Lake Ozette, 31 miles southwest of the town of Clallam Bay. It’s the location of a 2000-year-old Ozette-Makah village uncovered during a Pacific storm in 1970 (most of the archaeological site was backfilled in the 1980s).
From the lake, you can follow the 3.3-mile Cape Alava Trail to the westernmost point of land in the Lower 48. The trail, much of it across a raised boardwalk, delivers you to a rocky weather-beaten beach speckled with islets and sea stacks. Turn south here and – tide permitting – traverse the beach for 3 miles. Rocks, sand and fallen trees make it tough going (check tide charts in advance) but, halfway along, you’ll stumble upon the Wedding Rocks, the most significant group of petroglyphs on the Olympic Peninsula.
Loop back to the Lake Ozette trailhead by following the well-marked Sand Point Trail that plunges inland from the beach, completing an almost perfect triangle.
4. Cascade Pass to Stehekin Valley is a hike to an off-the-grid village
23 miles point-to-point, 2 days, hard
Bereft of road connections to the outside world, the remote Cascadian village of Stehekin is reachable only by boat or seaplane – unless you’re up for a bold backcountry adventure on foot. Three main trails head south off Hwy 20 to converge on the isolated community. The quickest and most spectacular is the 23-mile hike over Cascade Pass (reached via a steep 3.7-mile climb from the Cascade River Rd) that follows the route of a former Native American trading path switching back to the 5392ft subalpine saddle. The area is the current focus of a national park revegetation effort.
After ascending to the pass, the path continues down the other side into the Stehekin River Valley, where it joins briefly with the Pacific Crest Trail before descending to High Bridge. From here, you can catch a four-times-daily (in the summer and fall season) shuttle bus for the last 11 miles into Stehekin. Numerous backcountry campsites are available en route.
5. Desolation Trail is a great route for literary enthusiasts
7.9 miles round-trip, 7 hours, hard
Loaded with historical and literary significance, the Desolation Trail up to Desolation Peak (6102ft) in the North Cascades takes you to a historic fire lookout, built in 1933, the one-time refuge of American Beat writer Jack Kerouac. He worked as a watchman at this remote spot during the summer of 1956. The shortest ascent to the lookout from Ross Lake follows a steep, strenuous trail that gains 4475ft in less than 4 miles. The reward is stunning vistas of the twin peaks of Hozameen and, perhaps, echoes of the literary inspiration that prompted Kerouac to write Desolation Angels and The Dharma Bums.
To complete the hike in a day, you’ll need to catch a water taxi from Ross Lake to a trailhead on the lake’s upper eastern shore. Alternatively, the peak can be hiked via a longer 43-mile round-trip route starting from a trailhead at milepost 138 on Hwy 20.
6. Chain Lakes Loop has the best mountain views
7.1-mile loop, 4 hours, moderate
If you’ve grown tired of climbing through thick forests to peek-a-boo viewpoints, this hike will save you some grunt work. Set in a high alpine nirvana amid the lake-scattered bowls and slopes of Mt Baker and Mt Shuksan, the Chain Lakes Loop starts at Artist Point (5100ft) at the end of Mt Baker Hwy, enabling you to get above the treeline by car. It’s important to check the weather before you set off – snow can keep the road closed until early July.
The hike itself follows a moderate, well-trafficked route that’s spectacular from start to finish. From the parking lot, it traverses the lava walls of Table Mountain before dropping down to pass a half-dozen icy lakes surrounded by huckleberry meadows. Iceberg, Hayes and Bagley Lakes all unveil their glassy beauty. In the background, you’re treated to intermittent snapshots of Mt Shuksan (9131ft), the peak that launched a thousand calendar spreads, and Mt Baker (10,781ft), northwestern Washington’s omnipresent sentinel and one of the snowiest places on earth.
After passing the Heather Meadows Visitor Center, take the Wild Goose Trail back to Artist Point.
7. Dog Mountain Trail is the best hike for wildflowers
7.2 miles round-trip, 5 hours, hard
The toast of all Columbia Gorge hikes is a steep 3.8-mile climb up Dog Mountain, the best place in southern Washington for late-spring wildflowers. The uphill trek is unrelenting, but it ends in open fields full of balsamroot, paintbrush, lupine and more, framed by sweeping views over the mighty Columbia River, as wide as a lake at this point in its course. Oregon occupies the opposite bank and various Cascade volcanoes flash their brilliance in the distance.
The hike operates a permit system in the spring months to minimize crowds – book online in advance.
8. Bluff Trail is a good hike to do as a family
5.6-mile loop, 2 hours, easy
If your knees aren’t up to mountain scrambles or bushwhacking through Washington’s backcountry, try this bucolic stroll through a National Historical Reserve that embodies Washington state’s best parks, where the elevation change is minimal and the wildest animal you’re likely to see is a startled rabbit. Welcome to Ebey’s Landing, a 17,000-acre patchwork of working farms, historic blockhouses and coastal bluffs spread across two state parks on the western shores of Whidbey Island, 30 miles north of Seattle.
The reserve’s best walk, the Bluff Trail, departs from the Sunnyside Cemetery just outside the historic town of Coupeville near the island’s narrowest point. The white hump of Mt Baker dominates the eastern horizon, and the peaks of the Olympics march away to the west as you head through wheat fields to a coastal bluff where the trail loops past wind-contorted trees and flower-covered slopes. Zigzagging down to a beach backed by a lagoon, the path doubles back on a parallel route to the start. Interpretive boards, wildfowl and marine ecosystems provide distractions en route.
Tucked away in the forest on the southern side of Mt St Helens, Ape Cave is a 2-mile-long lava tube – the longest in the western hemisphere – formed around 2000 years ago in one of the volcano’s earlier eruptions.
It allows you to take an unguided cave walk up to 1.5 miles long (although there’s a shorter 0.8-mile option) and digest a bit of the area’s volcanic history as you go. Interpretive boards explain the basic geology, and forest rangers lead guided walks in summer. Bring good footwear, several torches/flashlights and a jacket (it gets cold even in summer).
Stairs aid entry to the cave but, once inside, passages are narrow and several lava falls must be climbed over, including one that’s 8ft tall. From the upper entrance, a forest path meanders 1.5 miles back to the parking area.
Planning tip: A permit system has been introduced to enter the cave, so book online before your visit.
10. Skyline Trail is the best route for glacier viewing
6.2-mile loop, 3.5 hours, moderate
Starting behind the historic Paradise Inn perched at 5400ft on the southern slopes of Mt Rainier, this gorgeous loop climbs approximately 1900ft, taking in the lofty lookout of Panorama Point, which provides some of the best views of Mt Rainier (in close-up), as well as the more distant Tatoosh Range.
Best done clockwise, the circuit incorporates glacier views, above-the-treeline paths patrolled by whistling marmots and expansive flower meadows replete with lupine, paintbrush, asters and bistort. Due to its famed beauty, the trail is well-signposted and trafficked. There are a couple of opportunities to cut corners and make the loop shorter.
Planning tip: Late July and early August are peak wildflower season and the best (but busiest) time to visit. Pick up a trail map at the Henry M Jackson Visitor Center next to Paradise Inn.
11. Heliotrope Ridge Trail is a top choice for glacier enthusiasts
5.5 miles roundtrip, 4 hours, moderate
Located on Mt Baker, Heliotrope Ridge Trail begins off Forest Road 39, where the dense forests quickly give way to expansive views of the surrounding peaks. Within 1 mile of a gentle ascent, you’ll cross the first of several small streams cascading down from nearby peaks and soon meander through wildflower-filled meadows, especially from late July to early August when the flowers are at their peak.
The moderate elevation gets more noticeable around the 2-mile mark, as you approach the treeline. The gain leads you gradually up to the edge of the Coleman Glacier, with blue ice caves offering a striking contrast to the surrounding landscape – you may even spot adventurous ice climbers making their way up the face.
12. Snow Lake Trail showcases the beauty of Alpine Lakes Wilderness
7.2 miles roundtrip, 3.5 hours, moderate
Within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Snow Lake Trail is a rewarding hike that provides picturesque lake views. The trail begins at the Alpental parking area near Snoqualmie Pass, immediately diving into a forested path lined with towering evergreens and dense undergrowth. The trail descends toward the lake and levels out around the 3-mile mark.
The lake is an ideal spot for a lunch break or a snack, and in the late summer months, you may even spot wild blueberries along the trail for delicious foraging. If you have the energy, continue past Snow Lake to Gem Lake, just over a mile walk, for a quieter spot.
13. Ptarmigan Traverse is Washington’s toughest hike
35 miles point-to-point, 5–7 days, extremely hard
If you’re a serious hiker with days to commit, the Ptarmigan Traverse is a legendary route winding through the Washington Cascades with some of the state’s most difficult and remote alpine terrain. This epic 35-mile trek, often described as Washington’s most grueling hike, requires a high level of mountaineering skill, route-finding expertise and experience with glacier travel.
The journey begins near Cascade Pass in North Cascades National Park and covers dramatic landscapes marked by towering peaks, steep inclines and expansive glaciers. The first major ascent takes you over Cache Col Pass, then traverses multiple glaciers, including the Dana, Middle Cascade and LeConte.
One of the most stunning sections is White Rock Lakes, where clear blue lakes reflect the jagged peaks that tower overhead, offering a backdrop for those able to reach this remote spot. The final portion of the traverse brings hikers over Spire Col and Dome Peak, two of the highest and most challenging points on the route.
14. Aasgard Pass is Washington’s toughest one-day hike
12 miles roundtrip, 8–12 hours, extremely hard
If you want to tackle a tough hike but only have a day to commit, the Aasgard Pass in the Enchantments Core Zone is hailed as Washington’s most difficult one-day hike, testing even the most experienced hikers. Starting at the Stuart Lake Trailhead near Leavenworth, this hike offers stunning rewards but demands intense effort.
The initial portion leads through lush, forested trails, climbing steadily until reaching Colchuck Lake at around 4 miles. From there, you’ll confront Aasgard Pass head-on. This brutally steep ascent climbs 2000ft in less than a mile. Snow patches here can linger well into summer, adding to the difficulty and unpredictability. But when you reach the top, you are rewarded with an entry into the Enchantments Basin, filled with sapphire-blue lakes, wildflower-dotted meadows and the occasional mountain goat roaming freely among the granite.
15. Rattlesnake Ledge is the best hike for beginners
4 miles roundtrip, 2 hours, easy
Still, Washington offers a number of trails that introduce newcomers to hiking in the state. One of the top trails for beginners is Rattlesnake Ledge, located in Rattlesnake Mountain Scenic Area near North Bend. The trailhead starts at Rattlesnake Lake and begins with a gentle incline, winding through a dense, shaded forest of towering cedars and firs.
The well-marked trail continues to climb gradually, providing several spots to stop and rest along the way. At around 1.5 miles in, the trail steepens slightly but remains easily navigable, with switchbacks helping to ease the climb. The path is wide, well-trodden and lined with ferns and moss until you reach Rattlesnake Ledge’s rocky outcrop. From here, enjoy the sweeping views before retracing your steps back.
16. Hurricane Hill Trail is the best hike in Olympic National Park
3.2 miles roundtrip, 1.5–2 hours, easy to moderate
For the best hiking in Olympic National Park, Hurricane Hill Trail is one of the state’s most-visited trails. Starting near the temporary Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center (the permanent building burned down in 2023), this hike takes you along a paved path that gently climbs through alpine meadows filled with wildflowers during the summer months.
The hike begins with a moderate ascent, but the well-maintained trail and gradual incline make it manageable even for beginners. After 1 mile, you’ll reach a ridge with views of the Olympic Mountains – on a clear day, you can even see as far as Vancouver Island.
Keep planning your trip to Washington state
Everything you need to know before visiting Washington state 12 of the best things to do in Washington state Getting around Washington state
From the Caribbean to the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Lonely Planet editors have picked the 28 best beaches in the US.
From Clearwater Beach in Florida to Venice Beach in California, the best beaches in the US can be found throughout the country. Whether you relish the calm waters of a small town’s public beach to vacation with the kids, or you imagine romantic evening strolls along endless stretches of white sand beach, Lonely Planet Editors aim to awaken your inner beachcomber with their top picks of the 28 best beaches in the US.
In our latest edition of Lonely Planet Best Beaches, you’ll find many more great beaches around the world. Caves and coves; driftwood-laden coastlines shrouded in mystical fog; offshore coral reefs and sprawling cliffside clear water pools — we cover 100 favorite shorelines across the globe
We are delighted to present to you our 28 best beaches in the US to help you plan your own dreamy beach getaway.
The spider-like branches of gnarled oaks draping the golden sands of Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia are eerily haunting. The trees pull you in for a closer look, whispering of mysteries from centuries past. You can maybe even envision tall tales of zombies here—The Walking Dead filmed scenes for its 10th season at this Georgia beach.
With that said, the scene is far from morbid. Kids can safely explore tide pools and climb onto sun-bleached tree trunks without fear of a zombie attack. Instead, you can expect a steady stream of brides and grooms smiling for wedding shots among the branches at sunset, making the most of the technicolor backdrop.
Once part of a maritime forest, the trees fell as the beach eroded and their roots were exposed to sun and salt. Some trees may be more than 500 years old while others have collapsed more recently due to storms and the relentless encroachment of the Atlantic.
2. Grayton Beach, Grayton Beach State Park, Florida
The sugar-white sands of Grayton Beach billow like delicate frosting, their ephemeral beauty ever-shifting thanks to winds and waves along the Florida panhandle. They’re a striking contrast to the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico lapping the shore.
But this one-mile (1.6km) strip of pristine sand, part of Grayton Beach State Park, is more than just a pretty Florida Beach. The beach’s dunes protect three coastal dune lakes, which are a rare natural phenomenon found in only four countries in the world. A 4.5-mile (7.2km) multiuse trail winds through the woods and along the 100-acre (40-hectare) Western Lake, the largest of the park’s coastal dune lakes. Its dazzling blue waters are open for kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding.
A sparkling confection of sunshine, style and beautiful people, South Beach embodies the good life. Just east of downtown Miami in South Florida, SoBe dazzles like a kaleidoscope paused.
Aquamarine waters lap luxurious white sands while the tidy greenery of Lummus Park and the Promenade unfurls just west. Candy-bright lifeguard towers bring whimsy to the beach, hinting at the vivid facades of Miami’s Art Deco Historic District. Built in the 1930s, art deco hotels along Ocean Drive are showpieces of geometry, color, and function. Caribbean flourishes and soaring palm trees add more aesthetic oomph while neon and nightclubs, in contrast to the more laid-back but still vibrant North Beach, bring late-night sizzle.
Cheap sunglasses are for sale in every direction on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, a 2-mile (3.2km) strip of creativity hugged by weed dispensaries, t-shirt shops and French-fry joints in southern Los Angeles – and that’s just the view on the inland side.
On the ocean side, palm trees frame the sandy beach and the Pacific, with views interrupted by bodybuilders pumping iron at Muscle Beach, basketball players shooting hoops on busy courts and skateboarders gliding skyward at the shiny skateboard park. Take a seat to watch the action. Jugglers, gymnasts and artists all vie for attention—and a few bucks—along the way.
A “pocked beach” in western Malibu, El Matador may be tiny but it packs an oversized visual punch. One of three small beaches comprising Robert H Meyer Memorial State Beach – the other two are El Pescador and La Piedra – El Matador hugs the base of craggy bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean beside Pacific Coast Highway (PCH or California Highway 1).
A dirt path drops down the rugged cliffside to a set of stairs that descend to the soft sands of the beach, where the real visual feast begins. A cluster of rocks and sea stacks extends from the cliffs edging the cove into the sea. The largest formations hide arches and caves, which are prime candidates for exploring and photography—as are the tide pools filled with sea life. The setting sun illuminates the rocks with a golden glow, casting shadows and revealing new treasures. On a quiet afternoon the effect borders on the sublime.
For several weeks in late December, coinciding with the winter solstice, the setting sun pierces Keyhole Arch with a luminous golden light. Staged at a sliver of coastline along the rugged Big Sur coast in California, it’s a spectacular ode to nature’s other-worldly gifts. And the spectacle becomes sublime when a wave crashes within the arch, its spray aglow with the ethereal light.
After rainstorms, the crescent-shaped beach may turn purple in spots due to the manganese garnet washed down from the coastline’s crumbly bluffs. Due to dangerous surf, Pfeiffer Beach isn’t recommended for swimming, and it can get windy – but walking, beachcombing and sunsets are superb.
Local tip: The Ambrosia burgers are great and so is the view at Nepenthe, a oceanfront restaurant perched high on a cliff between Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge and Castro Canyon on Highway 1.
Haystack Rock is a mood. A volcanic remnant formed by 17 million years of uplift and erosion, it rises 235ft (72m) above Cannon Beach. A basalt monolith, it was likely familiar to the Clatsop and Chinook tribes and the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which wintered near here in 1805 and 1806. Today Haystack Rock and the beach are popular destinations for beachgoers seeking wildlife and amazing sunset views.
Within the Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge on the Northern Oregon Coast, Haystack Rock is a haven for tufted puffins, seals and sea lions. At low tide, beachcombers can walk to its base and explore its tide pools, home to sea stars and anemones. Gray whales and humpback whales migrate along the coast in winter and again in spring. Held in June, the Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest is truly ephemeral—all the entries are washed away by high tide after existing for a mere five hours.
On a spring day, when the crowds are light and the snow still tops the Sierra Nevada mountains. Sand Harbor and its lakefront boulders evoke a land that time forgot. Crystal blue waters. Ancient white sand beaches. Jefferson pines that soar overhead. There’s an ageless and transportive tranquility here—at least until summer, when beach umbrellas and stand-up paddleboards disrupt the spell as the crowds roll in.
Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California–Nevada state line, is the largest alpine lake in the country and the second-deepest. The water is so clear that sometimes you can see objects as far as 70ft (21m) below the surface. You can appreciate that clarity at Sand Harbor, especially if you rent a kayak and paddle its small bay.
9. Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland and Virginia
With wild horses galloping across its windswept beaches, Assateague Island National Seashore exudes a surprisingly feral vibe, a rarity along the highly developed shores of the Mid-Atlantic. Thick maritime forests and rugged dunes round out the dramatic scene. A barrier island, Assateague hugs the coast of Maryland and Virginia on the Eastern Shore, a three-hour drive from Washington, DC. Beach camping is permitted, so city dwellers can easily dig into its untamed splendor—and wake up to gorgeous sunrises.
The park’s 37-mile (59km) beachfront is divided by the Maryland–Virginia state line. Low-key adventuring is a hallmark of the Maryland side, with hiking on nature trails, kayaking in bayside marshes and 4 miles (6.4km) of road cycling on Bayberry Dr. At Maryland’s Assateague State Park, which is tucked inside the national seashore, there is a bathhouse and, in summer, lifeguards. Stay at least 40ft (12m) away from the horses – they’re more bad-tempered than polite.
Local tip: More than 300 wild ponies roam the beaches and salt marshes. They’re beauties but stay at least 40ft (12m) away from the horses—they’re more bad-tempered than polite.
A doorstep to the heavens? At Kauaʻi’s Hanalei Bay, a 2-mile (3.2km) crescent of golden sand carved into the northernmost island of the Hawaiian archipelago, you’ll find one of the best beaches in Hawaii. Just west of Black Pot Beach Park, the photogenic Hanalei Pier juts into the soft blue waters of the bay. Framed by rumpled green mountains and blue skies brushed with clouds, the 300ft-long (91m) pier is the only thing keeping this North Shore masterpiece tethered to reality.
The beach is divided into four named sections. Kayakers and novice surfers flock to the area around the pier, where the surf typically features calm waters. Surf lessons are offered just west. Big swells draw experienced surfers to Waiʻoli (Pine Trees) Beach Park near the middle of the beach in winter. Swimming conditions vary by location and season but are typically best in summer. Sunbathing and snorkeling are also popular.
Local tip: It’s a short drive from Hanalei Bay to Smith’s Fern Garden. Board the boat for the 2-mile ride upriver on the Wailua River through the lush tropical landscape. Besides the view, on the boat performers in island garb share stories and sing traditional Hawaiian songs. Disembark for some serious photo taking and follow the short path to the grotto.
There’s something pleasingly untamed about Oneloa Beach, a broad strip of golden sand in the far southern reaches of Maui, the second largest island in Hawaii. This beach is part of Makena State Park, where lifeguards scan the Pacific, but the setting remains wild. A tangle of tropical greenery presses in on the sandy path that leads to the near mile-long (1.6km) beach—oneloa means “long sand” in Hawaiian—and the Pacific pounds the shore with waves that are an otherworldly shade of blue.
Beachgoers should be aware that shore breaks (steep waves that break near the shore) can be too brutal for swimming. But from atop the lava-rock promontory at Oneloa’s south end, views of the beach—which is flanked by the lush slopes of Haleakalā—are magnificent.
It looks like a giant emptied his pockets on the shores of Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park. Tree trunks are strewn like matchsticks. Sea stacks cluster like crumbled chocolates. And a colorful assortment of agates, garnets and sea glass add a touch of glitter to the captivating mess.
The sea stacks, reachable at low tide, are the public face of coastal erosion here. Once part of the mainland, they formed after a centuries-long onslaught by ocean waves, which also carved out their caves and arches. Flanked by forested sandstone cliffs, Ruby Beach is a wonderland for children, with tide pools hiding anemones, sea urchins, purple starfish and skittering crabs. The shore and its polished rocks – the agates give the beach its ruby coloring – also hold treasures for sharp-eyed rockhounds and seashell hunters.
13. Playa Tortuga, Isla Culabrita, Puerto Rico
As the name suggests, Playa Tortuga (or Turtle Beach) is a prime spot to view the local population of turtles who use this beach as their breeding ground every year. You can find this beach on Isla Culabrita, a tiny island off the shore of Isla de Culebra that’s part of the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge. And since you can only reach this beach by boat, that makes it feel much more secluded and tranquil.
Beyond the turtles, Playa Tortuga is great for snorkeling and swimming with the colorful tropical fish. If you prefer staying closer to shore, you can explore the tide pools, which locals refer to as “The Jacuzzi” due to the churn of warm water you’ll encounter here. Even if you just want to stroll along the powdery white sand and enjoy the views of the crystal clear water, you will surely love your time at Playa Tortuga.
14. Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
You might hear folks call this beach one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Once you make your way to Trunk Bay, which is part of Virgin Islands National Park, you will quickly understand why so many visitors are awestruck and mesmerized by this beach’s remarkable beauty.
If there’s any downside to visiting Trunk Bay, it’s that this beach can get quite crowded—especially when cruise ships head this way. As long as you can handle the crowds, you will be rewarded with an incredible underwater snorkeling trail, crystal clear turquoise water at the surface, pristine white sand on land, plenty of nearby amenities (including lifeguards and accessible restrooms), and some of the best views you’ll find anywhere in the Caribbean.
Local detour: Visit the ruins of the Catherineberg Sugar Mill, a former 18th-century sugar and rum factory with a large windmill tower, located in the Virgin Islands National Park. The ruins, from the Danish Colonial period of the island’s history, are among the largest and best preserved on the island.
15. Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach, California
Is this St. Tropez? Might this be Bali? Could this be Punta Mita? Nope, this is actually one of Southern California’s best beaches. If you time it right, Treasure Island can feel pretty secluded, despite this public beach’s location near this perennially busy stretch of Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. But even if crowds descend onto the shore from the highway and the nearby Montage Resort, you can still enjoy the perfect beach day here.
If you fancy a dip in the (admittedly cool) Pacific Ocean water, head to Goff Island Cove at the north end of Treasure Island Beach for calmer water that’s great for swimming and snorkeling. For longer walks on the sand, take the wheelchair-accessible ramp down to the main beach area and explore the shore all the way down to the busier Aliso Beach. And for a leisurely walk with great views, you can take the bluff-top trails by the resort—You might even find artists finding inspiration as they paint their newest masterpieces!
16. Cumberland Island, Georgia
Nestled along the southernmost stretch of Georgia’s coast, Cumberland Island (which is a National Seashore) looks and feels picture-perfect for nature lovers, adventure seekers, and those who simply want an idyllic beach day with minimal outside disruptions.
For 17 miles (or about 27.4km), Cumberland Island stretches out and reveals one of the Northern Hemisphere’s most unique natural wildlife habitats. Here, you can find some rare (and endangered) loggerhead sea turtles, where they come to nest May through September. Cumberland Island is also great for spotting wild horses, armadillos, and an incredible variety of birds who call this island home. Even if you’re not in the mood to spot wildlife, you can simply walk to the beach and stroll along the island’s wide open spaces full of dazzling white sand.
Local tip: The best time for sea shell hunting is during low tide. The most common shells are knobbed whelks, lettered olives, moon snails, pen shells and heart cockles. Less common but still a possibility are sand dollars, sea beans and sea urchins. Keep in mind, only unoccupied shells and fossilized shark’s teeth can be taken home.
17. Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Located about 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park not only offers an escape from the ordinary, but it’s also the perfect spot to experience a different side of the Florida Keys removed from the hustle and bustle of the touristy hotels and resorts.
So, what makes Dry Tortugas one of the best beaches in the US? Simply put, this is the closest beach to the US mainland that offers a Caribbean-like remote tropical beach experience. While you will notice Fort Jefferson, one of the nation’s largest 19th-century military forts and the largest brick building in the Western Hemisphere, it’s otherwise easy to find a welcoming stretch of white sand to stretch out and relax. And since Dry Tortugas is only accessible by boat, that simply adds to the charm and the allure of this uniquely coastal national park.
18. Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
Not to be confused with Sand Harbor Beach at Lake Tahoe (see above), Sand Beach may be the best spot to dip your toes in the sand at Maine’s famed Acadia National Park. If you plan to visit during the popular summer season, expect some big crowds here. But even if you come during the colder months, you will still be rewarded with gorgeous coastal views at one of New England’s most beloved national parks.
While it is generally safe to swim at Sand Beach, take note that the water tends to stay chilly year-round—yes, even during summer. For those who prefer getting their steps in on dry land, Sand Beach also offers easy access to great hike and bike trails. Pro tip: Like the rest of Acadia National Park, Sand Beach is a wonderful area to marvel at the fall colors during autumn leaf peeping season.
Detour: It’s only five miles to historic Bar Harbor, the largest town on Frenchman’s Bay on Maine’s Mount Desert Island. It’s a wonderful destination for trendy shops and restaurants as well as green spaces and pretty parks. While there, be sure to indulge in that Northeast speciality and consume a lobster roll or two.
19. Gray Whale Cove State Beach, California
Though it’s sometimes called “Devil’s Slide,” the views at Gray Whale Cove State Beach can be outright heavenly. Located about 20 miles (or 32km) south of San Francisco and 8 miles (or 13km) north of Half Moon Bay, Gray Whale Cove feels far removed from the massive sprawl of the Bay Area, even though it’s actually this close to the city.
With its perennially icy water and frequent rip currents, Gray Whale Cove isn’t really the ideal beach for swimming. But if you simply need a beach where you can leave all your troubles behind, the picturesque beauty of this beach is hard to beat. And yes, as the name suggests, this beach is a superb spot to find gray whales migrating northward during the spring season.
20. Seacliff State Beach, California
Why go to a beach that’s best known for its huge concrete freighter? In short, Seacliff State Beach seamlessly blends fascinating history with timeless natural beauty. Yes, it’s pretty easy to spot the SS Palo Alto from the beach. Yet considering this ship’s backstory as a “Cement Ship” meant to serve during World War I, and as a go-to venue for lively beach parties during the 1920s, the Palo Alto somehow feels right at home at this beach.
Beyond the SS Palo Alto, Seacliff is also a rare Bay Area beach that’s safe for swimming, and it’s a perfect place for family picnics and fun beach days with the kids. Due to recent winter storm damage, it’s always a good idea to check in advance to ensure that everything you want to do will be available. Still, this is one Northern California beach that’s always worth stopping for.
21. Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Yes, you really can find beaches in Texas. After all, the Lone Star State sits right by the Gulf of Mexico! And in the case of Padre Island National Seashore, you will discover 66 miles (or about 106km) of blissfully beautiful Gulf Coast shoreline nestled between Corpus Christi and the US-Mexico border.
Who knew that South Texas has its own 130,000+ acre expanse of white sand beaches, one of the last natural coastal prairies in the United States, a cherished sea turtle nesting ground, and prime opportunities to spot other animals like coyotes, deer, and ghost crabs? Well, now you do. No matter what you’re hoping to do at the beach, this beach is one that basically lets you see and do it all with classic Texas flair.
22. Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida
Florida has an abundance of scenic beaches, and this one Florida beach really delivers in unique, breathtaking scenery. Located in the heart of Florida’s Emerald Coast in Destin, Henderson Beach State Park doesn’t just have white sand beaches—It also has 30-foot (or 9-meter) high white sand dunes that must be seen (and felt) to be believed.
Not only can you marvel at the majestic dunes, but you can also hit the state park’s pet-friendly trail, throw a feast at the beach’s designated picnic and barbeque facilities, spot all kinds of wildlife (including dolphins, sea turtles, butterflies, and rabbits), and swim in the warm Gulf Coast water. And whenever you’re ready for more, you’re a short walk, bike ride, or drive away from all the rest that Destin has to offer.
23. Edisto Beach State Park, South Carolina
There may be plenty to cherish, and perhaps even worship, in the “Holy City” of Charleston. But when you want to go to the beach, you will need to drive out of town to reach one. So, where can you go for a proper Carolina-style beach day? Fortunately, one of South Carolina’s best beaches is a short drive away at Edisto Beach State Park on Edisto Island.
Edisto Island may only be about 45 miles (or 72km) southwest of Charleston, yet it feels a world away from the city. After all, Edisto has 4 miles (or about 6.5km) of wheelchair-accessible trails, magnificent live oak forests, a laid-back fishing pier and boat docks by Big Bay Creek, and 1.5 miles (or about 2.5km) of beautiful palmetto-lined beach that offers some of the most stunning sunrises on the Eastern Seaboard.
24. Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
Atlantic Beach may only be about 150 miles (or 241km) from North Carolina’s state capital of Raleigh, yet the vibes here let you feel like you’re very far removed from the hassles and hubbub of the Research Triangle metro region. Located on the barrier island of Bogue Banks, Atlantic Beach is a wonderful spot to head to the beach and enjoy as active (or chill) a beach getaway as you want.
For those who want to get or stay active, Atlantic Beach is great for parasailing, jet skiing, kayaking, swimming, and even surfing. (Yes, Atlantic Beach offers gnarly swells for surfing at Fort Macon State Park!) For those who want to stay chill, Atlantic Beach has plenty of wide, sandy beaches that are perfect for casual strolls and scenic sunbathing.
25. Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida
With a name like Siesta Key, it’s easy to assume that this Florida beach can be a pretty sleepy one. Indeed, this can be a very relaxing place, if that’s what you’re here for. But if you prefer a more active kind of beach vacation, Siesta Key has you covered, too.
Siesta Key has 99% pure quartz sand that manages to stay cool to the touch year-round, so you might find it quite easy to play all day at the beach. Even better, Siesta Key’s recent amenities to its public beach—including a new pedestrian esplanade, raised concessions, and more parking—means you can spend less time worrying about what you need, and more time enjoying the beach. And whenever you want to see and do more, you’re minutes away from all the world-class museums, art galleries, shopping districts, and restaurants that Sarasota has to offer.
Local tip: Beachcombers can hope to easily find such shells as Augers and Lightning Whelks. Sand dollars and horseshoe conchs are less common but get up early and beat the other shell seekers.
26. Melbourne Beach, Florida
Central Florida is chock full of incredible sights and sounds, from otherworldly fantasy lands at Orlando’s famed theme parks to a real-life space center at Cape Canaveral. When you simply need a good beach to take the family (or just yourself), where should you go? Luckily, Melbourne Beach offers an abundance of open sand to stretch out, along with cool, laid-back beach vibes to help you chill after a busy day at Disney World or Universal Orlando.
This might sound awfully cliche, but the best part about Melbourne Beach is how calm and relaxing it can be down here. Sure, you can keep yourself booked and busy at the area’s golf courses, parks, and nature preserves. But when you really need an easy day at the beach, it’s hard to envision a better place than Melbourne Beach to let it all go.
27. Hana Beaches, Hana, Maui
If remote beauty far off the beaten path is your thing, then follow the Hana Highway from Kahului to Hana. The 60 mile trip on a narrow two-lane road is known for stunning views of the lush tropical forests on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. If you’re so inclined to count, the two-to-four hour journey (and that’s just one way) has 620 sharp curves, 59 bridges traversing canyons far below, and more than 18 waterfalls.
It’s not for the faint of heart but that doesn’t stop a caravan of cars traveling on what is considered one of the most beautiful highways in the U.S. Because not only is the journey worth it, but Hana, a charming but very small village, has some of the most unique beaches including the Black Sand Beach at Wai’ānapanapa State Park, the crescent-shaped Hamoa Beach and the Red Sand Beach at Kaihalulu Beach. Hana Bay Beach Park is a community gathering place with black sand beaches, a dog park (if you brought Fido along), picnic tables, and grills.
Detour: In Keanae stop at the brightly painted Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread with its outdoor eating area for, obviously fresh from the oven, banana bread made with local fruit as well as Kalua pork sandwiches, coconut candy, and jars of Lilikoʻi Butter made with passion fruit. But one caveat, they often sell out shortly after noon.
Planning Tip: Plan on plenty of stops along the way. Several of the waterfalls such as Ching’s Pond and Falls, Upper Puohokamoa Falls and Haipuaʻena Falls have natural ponds for swimming. And, of course, you’ll want to take plenty of photos.
Local Tip: Mark your calendars for such special events in Hana as the Taro Festival in March, in celebration of Maui’s Taro Farmers and the Canoe Regatta in April, marking the official opening of the island’s Canoe Season, which marks the official opening of the local canoe season in April.
28. Opal Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan
Nestled on a curve of the Kalamazoo River as it flows into Lake Michigan, Saugatuck is a sizzling destination with streets filled with waterfront restaurants, marinas, boardwalk, shops, and art galleries. Known as the Best Place for LGBTQI+ travelers, the historic village is also famed for Oval Beach, one of the best beaches in the state.
A short distance from downtown, it’s accessible by car (though the parking lot fills up fast) but if you’d rather travel by foot, take the Saugatuck Chain Ferry. Dating back to1838 and operated by a hand crank, it is the only remaining chain-driven ferry in the U.S. It’s less than five-minute ride across the Kalamazoo River and then the real work begins. It’s a 250ft walk up the 303 wooden steps leading to the observation deck on Mount Baldy. Take a breather and enjoy the stunning view of Lake Michigan and then run down to the beach.
With its sugar sand shoreline, crystal clear waters and a backdrop of soaring dunes and whispering dune grass, it’s the prime place to lay down a blanket and soak up some rays. Lake Michigan can be nippy early in the season but usually by late June the water is warm enough even for less hearty types.
There are concession stands, bathrooms and a strict no dogs and no alcohol policy. Easily accessible from the parking lot, water wheelchairs are allowed.
Planning tip: Remember the cars your parents or maybe even your grandparents drove–the ones with lots of chrome and shark-like fins. Well, back in the 1940s to the 1960s, there were plenty of boats designed like that as well. Known as atomic boats, they were painted in Easter egg shades of lavender, pink, and blue. The boats went out of style and ended up abandoned in barns and old garages. But now refurbished you can rent one at Retroi Boats and take a spin along the river and towards the lake.
Planning tip: Saugatuck is no hidden gem but instead is a mega tourist destination. Don’t plan on just showing up. Make reservations.
