27 Feb 2008 12:00 Africa/Lagos
America's Best Beaches Share Moment in the Sun
Sunshine State Reigns
NEEDHAM, Mass., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- TripAdvisor(R), the world's largest travel community, today announced the top 10 beaches in the U.S., according to TripAdvisor's Popularity Index and TripAdvisor editors.
1. Delightful De Soto: Fort De Soto Park's North Beach, Tierra Verde,
Florida
Just south of St. Petersburg, Fort De Soto Park's North Beach is a
portrait of tranquility, with a spectacular combination of soft white
sand, calm and clear water, and a laid-back atmosphere. In addition to
the beautiful wide beach, travelers can also enjoy the area's wildlife
and the 105 year-old fort for which the park is named. According to
one TripAdvisor traveler, "The beach was very clean, the water was
clear, and the whole experience was wonderful. Best beach we have been
to so far."
2. Saintly Shores: St. Andrew's State Park, Panama City, Florida
Another pristine beach on Florida's Gulf Coast, this mile-and-a-half
long beach has a child-friendly area in their calm "Grand Lagoon," and
visitors can also ferry out to nearby Shell Island for great
snorkeling. Nature lovers will delight in the remarkable variety of
plants and wildlife at this immaculately-maintained park. As one
TripAdvisor traveler stated, "My husband and I have traveled to many
beaches over the years but this was our favorite. It is beautiful,
breathtaking, and the wildlife we encountered was amazing."
3. Cool Kailua: Kailua Beach Park, Kailua, Hawaii
A classically beautiful Hawaiian beach, Kailua Beach Park features
gorgeous turquoise waters, powder white sand, and palm trees peppering
its broad coastline. With calm surf that hovers around 75 degrees on
average, visitors may never want to leave the water and the beach is
renowned for children and adults alike. As one TripAdvisor traveler
said, "When we arrived at the beach, it was the most beautiful, serene,
well-maintained area I've ever seen."
4. Peach of a Beach: Cumberland Island National Seashore, Cumberland
, Island, Georgia
Featuring miles of peaceful and quiet beachfront, Cumberland Island
Seashore has a uniquely isolated, undiscovered feel. The beach is
ideal for swimming, or to just enjoy a quiet time basking in the sun.
As one TripAdvisor traveler shared, "Cumberland Island is one of the
most beautiful unspoiled beaches on the east coast. The white sand that
extends for miles of endless beach is sublime."
5. SoBe It: South Beach, Miami, Florida
For a hip and sexy beach scene, South Beach is unparalleled. Enjoy the
stunning, warm waters at the beach, but don't forget to indulge in some
of the best restaurants, resorts, and nightclubs you'll find in the
country, just steps away. As one TripAdvisor member recalls, "We both
came back with a beautiful tan and wonderful memories."
6. Tunnels Vision: Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Another Hawaiian paradise, Tunnels Beach is renowned for its
outstanding snorkeling. This picture-perfect beach features cream-
colored sands, a protected half-moon reef, and unbelievable views-
particularly the sunsets. As one TripAdvisor traveler said, "I've never
seen a more scenic backdrop at a beach. The water is amazing; clear and
blue."
7. Drink It Up: Pensacola Beach, Pensacola, Florida
A popular family destination with gentle waves and soft sand, Pensacola
Beach offers an amazingly relaxed atmosphere. The huge beach's clean,
beautiful shoreline invites you to swim, boat, collect shells, or just
lay back on a chair with a good book. As one TripAdvisor member
commented, "This is a beautiful white sand beach with the absolute
clearest water you've ever seen."
8. Good Beach Hunting: Hunting Island State Park, Beaufort, South Carolina
Hunting Island beach is part of a lush and protected nature reserve,
and this secluded barrier island is home to an enormous variety of
wildlife. Great for hiking, biking and camping, visitors will also
want to check out the historic Hunting Island Lighthouse. According to
one TripAdvisor member, "Hunting Island State Park is one of the true
gems of the South Carolina coast."
9. Torrey Treat: Torrey Pines State Beach, San Diego, California
With stunning 300-foot sandstone cliffs towering over golden sands and
Pacific waters, this beach is a California classic. The state beach is
accessible through the lush Torrey Pines State Reserve, which features
remarkable wildlife and trails. As one TripAdvisor member says, "Make
sure to check out the Torrey Pines State Beach-amazing cliffs, clean
sand, and rolling waves-great for swimming and sunbathing."
10.Endless Stunner: Waimea Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii
A spacious, but popular beach, Waimea Bay Beach Park boasts clear
waters and soft, fine-grain sand. Renowned for its gigantic winter
waves made famous in surfing films, this stunning destination is best
enjoyed in the summer months, when its clear waters are at their
calmest. As one TripAdvisor member explained, "Gorgeous is the only way
to describe Waimea Beach. The sand was like golden powder, and the
water was as clear as a pool."
"These spectacular beaches stand out for their world-class sand, breathtaking water, and all-around relaxing environments," said Michele Perry, director of communications for TripAdvisor. "Many of these beaches are off the beaten path, so travelers should pack their beach bags and head there before word gets out."
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TripAdvisor(R) Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts nearly 30 million monthly visitors (source: comScore Media Metrix, Digital Calculator Report, July 2007) across eight popular travel brands, TripAdvisor(R) sites, bookingbuddy.com (TM), cruisecritic.com(TM), independenttraveler.com(TM), seatguru.com(R), smartertravel.com(TM), travel- library.com(TM) and travelpod.com(TM). TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors, five million registered members and 10 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 280,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com/), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie/), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr/), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de/), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it/), and Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es/). TripAdvisor(R) Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry, worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPE) .
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Source: TripAdvisor
CONTACT: Consumer, Brooke Ferencsik, +1-781-444-1113 x275,
brooke@tripadvisor.com, or Trade & Business, Brian Payea,
+1-781-444-1113 x388, bpayea@tripadvisor.com, both of TripAdvisor
Web site: http://www.tripadvisor.com/
