The results are in, and TripAdvisor has named its ‘Best Beaches’ of the year for 2017. In years past the Top 20 beaches in America haven’t been so dominated by Florida. Typically, up near the top of this list, we’ll see some Californian beaches, Hawaiian beaches, and The Hamptons often make appearances. And though Florida didn’t sweep the awards this year it did capture 7 of the top 10 spots.
California BARELY cracked the top 20, only grabbing one spot. I think I’ve only been to the beach once on any of my trips to Cali in the past few years, but I have to think that they got snubbed here. Surely there’s a beach in the great state of California that’s better than Ogunquit Beach in Maine, a beach covered in rocks?
1. Siesta Key Beach, Florida
2. Ka’anapali Beach, Hawaii
3. Saint Pete Beach, Florida
4. Clearwater Beach, Florida
5. Panama City Beach, Florida
6. Hollywood Beach, Florida
7. Pensacola Beach, Florida
8. St. Augustine Beach, Florida
9. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Hawaii
10. Ocean City Beach, Maryland
11. Ft. Lauderdale Beach, Florida
12. South Beach (Miami), Florida
13. Wai’anapanapa State Park, Hawaii
14. Ogunquit Beach, Maine
15. Wailea Beach, Hawaii
16. Lanikai Beach, Hawaii
17. Henderson Beach State Park, Florida
18. Driftwood Beach, Georgia
19. Virginia Beach, Virginia
20. Santa Monica Beach, California
It just so happens that I live walking distance from the #1 beach in America, Siesta Key. Does this make me better than you? No. Maybe? Probably. Perhaps it isn’t my proximity to the best beach in America that makes me a better person, maybe it’s just the quality of life I gain from living here that improves my mood and in turn, transforms me into a superior being. I won’t waste too much thought trying to get to the bottom of this.
Most importantly, do I actually think Siesta Key is the #1 beach in America? No, I don’t. I grew up on Siesta Key, I live walking distance from the beach now after being up in NYC for the past decade. Several of my closest friends were lifeguards on that beach. In high school, we used to cruise the beach at night to pick up Spring Break chicks. In Elementary School I used to wake up at the ass-crack of dawn to go snorkeling with my brother at Point of Rocks (a part of the beach) for sunrise. I feel like I know this beach as well as anyone, and I don’t think that it’s the #1 beach in America. It’s hotter than shit in the Summer, unbearably hot, and there’s constant Red Tide these days because of all the golf course chemicals runoff into the water.
To see Trip Advisor‘s best International Beaches, Hotels, and All-Inclusive rankings for 2017 you can CLICK HERE.