Top 10 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in America
 |
| Illustrated picture. Photo: Mixi |
With its 23 coastal states, America is home to some of the most varied coastlines in the world. We take in 10 of its most scenic seaside towns. From the quaint, historic coastal communities of New England to the rugged Pacific Northwest and subtropical climes of the Gulf Coast.
List of 10 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in America
1. Paia, Hawaii
2. Cape May, New Jersey
3. Carmel By-the-Sea, California
4. Asbury Park, New Jersey
5. Nantucket, Massachusetts
6. Bar Harbor, Maine
7. St. Michaels, Maryland
8. Cannon Beach, Oregon
9. Coronado, California
10. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Which are the Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in America?
1. Paia, Hawaii
 |
| Photo: Soul Of America Travel |
Formerly a booming sugarcane plantation town, Paia today is home to a much more relaxed pace of life and unlike many Hawaiian resort towns has avoided over-commercialization. While it might be small, Paia is noted for its cosmopolitan ambiance and boasts a charming downtown dotted with colorful storefronts home to restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. But the town is perhaps most famous for Ho’okipa Beach Park. Dubbed the ‘windsurfing capital of the world’, Ho’okipa attracts pro wind and kite surfers from across the globe while the beautiful white sands of Paia’s Baldwin Beach Park are perfect for more relaxing recreation like shore fishing and swimming.
2. Cape May, New Jersey
 |
| Photo: Hotels |
Boasting the title of the USA’s oldest seaside resort, Cape May in New Jersey is home to the biggest collection of beautifully preserved Victorian buildings outside of San Francisco. In fact, in 1976 the whole town was designated a National Historic Landmark. Simply walking its streets and shorefront populated with colorful ‘painted ladies’ is a delight for any history and architecture buffs, while discerning foodies won’t be disappointed either. Dubbed the ‘culinary capital of New Jersey’ by The New York Times, Cape May offers an eclectic and classy dining scene too. Stay true to the town’s Victorian roots by seeing the sights from a horse-drawn carriage.
3. Carmel By-the-Sea, California
 |
| Photo: Discover North America |
Located on California’s Central Coast, Carmel Beach is one of the most picturesque locales in the United States. The Scenic Bluff Path is a beautiful walking trail with views of the rugged coastline and soft white sands of Carmel Beach below. It’s also a hot spot for surfers, and the views are even more spectacular from the water extending from Pebble Beach to the north and Point Lobos in the south. In town, visitors and locals alike can wander the streets lined with English cottages and Mission-style architecture. Shop at upscale international or locally-owned boutiques or visit one of the town’s notable art galleries.
4. Asbury Park, New Jersey
 |
| Photo: The New York Times |
In the not-so-distant past, Asbury Park was best known as a dated Springsteen reference—a once-great tourist destination turned as stale as months-old saltwater taffy. The tide has shifted. AP's iconic boardwalk vibes have now made way for a "Brooklyn on the beach" feel, an energy that extends into the city's legendary (and recently returned!) music scene. Want to drink? Asbury Festhalle and Biergarten is on point for al fresco imbibing, holding rank alongside the always-lively Johnny Mac's and the delightfully divey Bond Street Bar atop the list of the 50-plus bars in town. Wanna try out vintage pinball? The Silverball Museum Arcade has more than 600 machines. A bustling art scene, a longstanding LGBTQ community, and (obviously) a beautiful beach make Asbury Park worth fully greeting again, boss.
Must eat/drink: For a solid middle ground between fancy and beachy-casual, check out Moonstruck for a Mediterranean menu in a classic Jersey shore Victorian home. Asbury Park has one of the most low-key yet top-notch pizzerias in the country at Talula's, and Pop's Garage is a cheap-as-hell beachside favorite, slinging two-for-$6 tacos and $3 happy hour beers.
 Top 10 Most Beautiful Coastal Cities in the World Living in a most beautiful coastal city is an awesome feeling. Check out the list of the 10 most beautiful coastal cities in the world ... |
5. Nantucket, Massachusetts
 |
| Photo: Marinas. |
Nantucket translates to “faraway place” in the Wampanoag language and, you’ll feel worlds away when visiting this chic island getaway. Located 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the island was once the hub of a thriving whaling industry. Walk the charming cobblestone streets lined with beautifully restored homes and boutiques. Surfers and those who appreciate quiet, windswept beaches should head to the Cisco, Surfside, and Miacomet on the south side of the island. Bring your Nantucket reds for an evening out with a spectacular sunset at Brant Point Grill in the White Elephant Hotel. Traveling as a couple? Check out the 10 most romantic islands in the United States.
6. Bar Harbor, Maine
 |
| Photo: TripSavvy |
Located on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine, Bar Harbor was one of 19th-century New England’s most popular summer resorts and remains a much-loved tourist destination today. The beautiful Acadia National Park is on Bar Harbor’s doorstep offering over 50 square miles of mountains, lakes and coastline perfect for hiking, biking and camping and plenty of boats offer fishing trips and nature-spotting tours out of the town harbor. After a hard day exploring the rugged island community, visitors can relax at the lively bars and seafood restaurants that populate Bar Harbor’s bustling downtown.
 Top 10 Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in the World Wonderful coastal towns are definitely dreaming destinations for thousands of people, especially under the Covid-19 restrictions. Check out right below the 10 Most Beautiful Coastal ... |
7. St. Michaels, Maryland
 |
| Photo: TripAdvisor |
St. Michaels is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and the Chesapeake Bay. The small town is rich in maritime history, and one of the highlights of a visit is the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. This impressive collection of artifacts and vessels includes the Hooper Bay Lighthouse and a working shipyard. Stroll along picturesque Talbot Street with its Colonial-era buildings and colorful storefronts. Splurge on accommodations at the Inn at Perry Cabin, an iconic luxury resort, after you arrive by water from Annapolis onboard a Hinckley Talaria 55 yacht while sipping champagne. Here’s how every state, including Maryland, got its name.
8. Cannon Beach, Oregon
 |
| Photo: cannonbeach |
Cannon Beach is situated 90 miles northwest of Portland on the Oregon coast. The views along this stretch of coastline are breathtaking with Haystack Rock standing 235 feet above the sandy beach as the most recognizable landmark. Visitors staying in one of the upscale oceanfront resorts can easily stroll to the village with its lively art scene, Cannon Beach Distillery, and chef-owned restaurants serving locally sourced ingredients from the Pacific Northwest. Cannon Beach is also close to Ecola State Park, a perfect destination for surfing, tidepooling, and wildlife viewing—head there in winter or spring to catch the migration of the gray whales. Just like Cannon Beach, these 16 “summer” destinations are even more beautiful in winter.
9. Coronado, California
 |
| Photo: Marc Lyman |
Where: Situated along the crescent of San Diego Bay just across from San Diego's downtown district in the southwest of California in San Diego County.
What: This seaside resort city is like an island although it's still connected to the rest of California via a sandy causeway known as the Silver Strand that stretches for around seven miles. Coronado Beach has always been known as one of the best on the west coast with numerous festivals, restaurants and attractions, particularly along Orange Avenue, offering a great deal of choice after a good day spent skimming sand dollars or braving the surf.
Highlights: Coronado is extremely welcoming to families visiting California and provides an island ambience even though you're still connected to the mainland. Bike hire gives visitors an ideal means of getting around with water taxis and regular ferries offering excellent alternatives if getting on or off Coronado, especially when compared to the often busy bridge from San Diego. There's loads of artisan workshops and galleries down by Ferry Landing with the Hotel Del Coronado and the Babcock and Story Inn offering a fine array of craft beer and old school charm along with those scintillating views over the Pacific.
10. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
 |
| Photo: Bluegreen Vacations |
Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head is a Lowcountry resort town and barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is 20 miles (32 km) northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and 95 miles (153 km) southwest of Charleston. The island is named after Captain William Hilton, who in 1663 identified a headland near the entrance to Port Royal Sound, which mapmakers named "Hilton's Headland." The island features 12 miles (19 km) of beachfront on the Atlantic Ocean and is a popular vacation destination. In 2004, an estimated 2.25 million visitors infused more than $1.5 billion into the local economy. The year-round population was 37,099 at the 2010 census, although during the peak of summer vacation season the population can swell to 150,000. Over the past decade, the island's population growth rate was 32%. Hilton Head Island is a primary city within the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort metropolitan area, which had an estimated population of 207,413 in 2015.
The island has a rich history that started with seasonal occupation by Native Americans thousands of years ago and continued with European exploration and the Sea Island Cotton trade. It became an important base of operations for the Union blockade of the Southern ports during the Civil War. Once the island fell to Union troops, hundreds of ex-slaves flocked to Hilton Head, which is still home to many of whom are descendants of freed slaves known as the Gullah (or Geechee) who have managed to hold on to much of their ethnic and cultural identity.
WildlifeThe Hilton Head Island area is home to a vast array of wildlife, including alligators, deer, loggerhead sea turtles, manatees, hundreds of species of birds, and dolphins. The Coastal Discovery Museum, in conjunction with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, patrols the beaches from May through October as part of the Sea Turtle Protection Project. The purpose of the project is to inventory and monitor nesting locations, and if necessary, move them to more suitable locations. During the summer months, the museum sponsors the Turtle Talk & Walk, which is a special tour designed to educate the public about this endangered species. To protect loggerhead sea turtles, a town ordinance stipulates that artificial lighting must be shielded so that it cannot be seen from the beach, or it must be turned off by 10:00 p.m. from May 1 to October 31 each year. The waters around Hilton Head Island are one of the few places on Earth where dolphins routinely use a technique called "strand feeding", whereby schools of fish are herded up onto mud banks, and the dolphins lie on their side while they feed before sliding back down into the water. Particularly prominent in the ocean waters surrounding Hilton Head Island, the stingray serves as a fascination and painful natural encounter for many beachgoers. Small stingrays inhabit the quieter, shallow region of ocean floor just beyond the break of the surf, typically buried beneath a thin layer of sand. Stingrays are a type of demersal, cartilaginous fish common to the South Carolina coast as well as other areas on the Atlantic shoreline. Typically, stingrays avoid contact with humans unless they are accidentally stepped upon, a situation often ending in a stingray injury, where the stingray punctures the human with its poisonous barb. While these injuries are extremely painful, they are not usually life-threatening as long as they are properly attended to by a medical professional. The saltmarsh estuaries of Hilton Head Island are the feeding grounds, breeding grounds, and nurseries for many saltwater species of game fish, sport fish, and marine mammals. The dense plankton population gives the coastal water its murky brown-green coloration. Plankton support marine life including oysters, shrimp and other invertebrates, and bait-fish species including menhaden and mullet, which in turn support larger fish and mammal species that populate the local waterways. Popular sport fish in the Hilton Head Island area include the red drum (or spot tail bass), spotted sea trout, sheepshead, cobia, tarpon, and various shark species. |
For more interesting news of KnowInsiders, check out right below!
 Top 10 Most Popular Cars in America and Every State 2021/2022 Which cars have Americans loved to drive the most this year and next year? Check out the top popular cars in the US and every ... |
 Top 10 Biggest & Best Shopping Malls in America Today Gigantic, Immense, Humungous – There is something about the USA that brings these words to mind. Check out the 10 biggest shopping malls in America ... |
 Top 10 Most Famous Temples in America Since Hinduism has become one of the major religions in America, this country has been a place for many beautiful and majestic temples. Here is ... |
