The Best Beaches of 2012
I love the beach and my blog is all about beaches. However, unlike some other beach bloggers, I don’t include every beach I’ve ever been to in my annual best beaches list. This has its pros and its cons. On the downside, the beaches here aren’t necessarily my top 10 beaches ever. On the upside, every year I introduce readers to new beaches and don’t repeat the same information year after year.
In 2012 I visited multiple beaches in California, Florida, New York and New Jersey. Out of those beaches, these are my 10 favorites. Out of the many beaches I visited, these are my 10 favorites. And, while all of these are 5 star beaches, the two that would make my list of all time best beaches are Ed Walline Beach in Santa Rosa, FL and La Jolla Shores in La Jolla, CA. Which would make your list?
Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach, California
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Aliso Beach in Laguna Beach, California is one of the few, in my opinion, naturally beautiful beaches in Southern California. Flanked by cliffs on both ends of the pocket beach, Aliso Beach combines the amenities of a public beach with the beauty of a more secluded beach.
Balboa Beach in Newport Beach, California
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Balboa Beach in Newport Beach, California made my list of favorites primarily because of its amazing golden sand, which seems to glow in the sunlight. Other things I especially like about Balboa Beach are its cleanliness, the adjacent park, and its convenience to a small business district.
Cape May Beach in Cape May, New Jersey
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Cape May, New Jersey is a classic east coast beach in an historic beach town. In fact, many people consider Cape May to be America’s first seaside resort.
Although Hurricane Sandy caused some damage to Cape May’s beach, fortunately it missed the worst of the storm.
Ed Walline Beach in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Ed Walline Beach in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida is my favorite beach in the Florida Panhandle. All the beaches in the Panhandle have fantastic white, fluffy sand and warm, clear, emerald water, but Ed Walline Beach is wider, cleaner and within walking distance to restaurants and beach shops.
Grayton Beach State Park In Grayton Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Grayton Beach State Park in Grayton Beach, Florida made the list because of its natural beauty in a heavily touristed area.
La Jolla Shores in La Jolla, California
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
La Jolla Shores in La Jolla, California isn’t a particularly pretty beach, but the numerous water sports you can partake in more than make up for that in my opinion. I especially loved the opportunity to snorkel or scuba with leopard sharks and sea lions. It was awesome!
Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, New York
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All right reserved.
The beach at Robert Moses State Park in Babylon, New York is my favorite beach near New York City. It’s clean and not overly crowded despite its proximity to the city.
Unfortunately, due to Hurricane Sandy, Robert Moses State Beach is closed until further notice. Hopefully it will be open by summer 2013. Check New York State Park’s website for up to date information.
Russell Fields Beach in Panama City Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Russell Fields Beach in Panama City Beach, Florida is a beach for people who like activity. Not only can you enjoy the beach and all its activities, there is a giant retail, dining, and entertainment complex across the street.
Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, California
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point, California is part of the larger Salt Creek Park area. The beach is also home to the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel.
Wildwood Beach in Wildwood, New Jersey
Photo courtesy of Lisa Dworkin. All rights reserved.
The main beach in Wildwood, New Jersey is like a blast from the past with its boardwalk and surrounding “doo wop” architecture. The beach itself is exceptionally wide and one of the few free beaches in New Jersey.
Although Hurricane Sandy caused some damage to Wildwood’s beach, it fortunately missed the worst of the storm. I’m not sure how it affected the beach’s width, but we will see when warmer weather returns.
