20 amazing American beaches

— -- Give real life the slip and wile away the hours on a dreamy coastline of sugar-white sand, a lakeside beach with endless rock formations, or a top-secret cove. Check out these 20 awe-inspiring beaches that America has to offer, from Alaska to Washington state (and nearly everywhere in between).

Shell Island

Florida

Sitting in the Gulf of Mexico, this seven-mile-long barrier island is only reachable by private boat or shuttle. Since there are no places to grab a snack on land, pack a picnic lunch and enjoy Caribbean-like waters teeming with bottlenose dolphins.

Anini Beach

Kauai, Hawaii

Anini's strong currents make it one of Kauai's most popular windsurfing spots. Intense waves batter the far-off reefs, but calm, shallow waters and crowd-pleasing food trucks make this beach a destination for pint-sized beachgoers, big-wave enthusiasts, and food lovers alike.

Natural Bridges State Beach

Santa Cruz, Calif.

This state park shows off a magnificent mudstone natural bridge that rises dramatically out of the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy year-round swimming on the small beach, and, in the fall, catch the annual monarch butterfly migration.

Cannon Beach

Oregon

Just about 80 miles west of Portland sit Cannon Beach and its famous Haystack Rock, a 235-foot sea stack. In summer, swim and explore tide pools packed with starfish, crabs, and sea cucumbers. Winter brings to the area an especially bleak, windswept quality that photogs love to capture.

Old Orchard Beach

Maine

Perennial family favorite Old Orchard Beach is packed to the gills with old-fashioned fun (and tourists, but don't let that stop you). A long pier houses shops and state-fair-style food, while New England's only beachfront amusement park entertains thrill-seeking visitors as it's done since 1902.

Secret Cove

Lake Tahoe, Nev.

Find Tahoe a tad crowded? Then take a hike. (Well, a short one.) A moderate three-quarter-mile jaunt through the Nevada wilderness brings you to Secret Cove, a private, unspoiled utopia of rocky coastline and cerulean water. A word to the wise: Signs warn that clothing is optional in this tucked-away haven.

Montauk Point State Park

New York

Nicknamed "The End," Montauk, just two hours from New York City, is the perfect break from the busy city dweller's workweek. The hamlet's 1796 lighthouse is perched on the easternmost tip of Long Island, overlooking pleasant public beaches.

Isla Blanca Park

South Padre Island, Texas

Warm, inviting waters await visitors to Texas' tropical coast, where the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre Bay meet. Isla Blanca Park is the island's crown jewel, with endless sandy beaches and prime jetty-fishing perches.

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Michigan

Michigan may not have access to an ocean, but along the shores of Lake Superior, you'll find soaring geological formations like sand dunes, waterfalls, and the famous Pictured Rocks (mineral-stained sandstone cliffs). The serene beaches and coves are best explored via sea kayak.

Aquinnah Cliffs

Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

The teeny-tiny beach town of Aquinnah boasts brightly colored clay cliffs with fossils tucked in their dramatic red striations. Take a stroll on the shoreline against this stunningly steep, millennia-old backdrop.

Second Beach

Washington