{"id":23885,"date":"2017-08-31T22:00:22","date_gmt":"2017-08-31T22:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/?p=23885"},"modified":"2021-10-28T17:06:22","modified_gmt":"2021-10-28T17:06:22","slug":"americas-favorite-beaches-in-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expedia.com\/stories\/americas-favorite-beaches-in-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"America\u2019s favorite beaches in 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beach vacations capture something special when it comes to the pleasure of travel. The calming whoosh of ocean tides, the warm glow of sunbathing, and the joy of experiencing a slower pace of life, away from the daily grind. We love a good beach vacation, and as summer winds downs, we\u2019re looking for the best places to watch the sun set on our favorite season. <\/p>\n

In order to find all the right places, we analyzed tens of thousands of social media conversations to pull out trends in beach-goers posts and the Expedia 2017 Flip Flop Report<\/a>. This annual survey reveals beach-goers\u2019 preferences, pet peeves, attitudes, and desires when it comes to the best and the worst of a stint on the sand. This year\u2019s results show the U.S. leading the pack when it comes to favorite beaches, with Florida, California, and Hawaii yielding the highest numbers. <\/p>\n

When assessing the most important factors to beach vacationers, we found people talking the most across the web about these beaches and what they had to offer, from clean and safe to affordable and relaxing. People are loving these American beaches, so we rounded up some things to do in and around the most popular. Here\u2019s our list of not-to-miss beaches this year. <\/p>\n

Conversations across social media determined these are the most important beach-going factors, and the places to find them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\nCRITERIA<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DESTINATION<\/b><\/td>\nClean<\/td>\nSafe<\/td>\nFamily<\/td>\nPets<\/td>\nWeather<\/td>\nAffordable<\/td>\nRelaxing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Florida<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clearwater Beach<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Siesta Key<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Atlantic Beach<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Naples Beach<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miami:<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
South Beach<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Key Biscayne<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
California<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laguna\/Crystal Cove<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Santa Monica<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
San Diego:<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
La Jolla<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Coronado<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Santa Cruz<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hawaii<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kaanapali<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lahaina<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Poipu<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waikiki<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kailua<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n😎<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

 
\nFLORIDA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Clearwater Beach<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"sunset<\/p>\n

Clearwater ticks all the boxes in terms of what people seek in a beach. Bring your pets to this clean and safe beach town, where good weather and a relaxed atmosphere greet each guest. People also consider it one of the most affordable beach vacations.<\/p>\n

Families love this beach for adventures such as Captain Memo\u2019s Pirate Cruise, where parents can squeeze in dolphin watching while the kids get their faces painted and hunt for treasure with the pirate crew. This ride alone could make this one of the best beach vacations for families, but its charms don\u2019t stop at the end of the plank. <\/p>\n

Foodies love Frenchy\u2019s South Beach Caf\u00e9, where classic coastal fare like lobster tacos and fried calamari leave diners full and relaxed. If by chance you feel the need to further unwind, Clearwater Wine Bar and Bistro will do the job with a relaxed atmosphere and a glass of vino.<\/p>\n

Siesta Key<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"siesta<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just a show on MTV, it\u2019s one of America\u2019s most popular beaches. When you\u2019ve had your fill of chilling on your beach towel, rent a boat from CB\u2019s Saltwater Outfitters for a laidback day on the water, or let them take you on a parasailing adventure. <\/p>\n

One of the most fun restaurants in the area is Captain Curt\u2019s Crab & Oyster Bar, where regular live music accompanies fresh oysters, crab, and famous clam chowder. Thirsty travelers will find fun and fruity drinks at the outdoor bar, Sniki Tiki. For a delightful breakfast, Sun Garden Caf\u00e9 is your surest bet. <\/p>\n

Atlantic Beach<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"
Via Flickr\/Davide Santoriello<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>Relaxation is paramount at Atlantic Beach, where locals and travelers like to take life a little easier. Once you\u2019re done resting on the pristine white beach, go into Beaches Town Center for some retail therapy. Rejuvenate at One Ocean Spa, where the packages include a variety of healing and soothing remedies. <\/p>\n

Let your hair down at an Atlantic Beach must: Ragtime Tavern. Here you\u2019ll be met with a cold, handcrafted beer; friendly locals; and innovative cuisine. <\/p>\n

Naples Beach<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"\"
Via Flickr\/Cathrine<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>When in Naples Beach, do as the locals do and experience it by boat. The Naples Kayak Company will set you along a serene guided tour, or you can rent equipment and go it alone. <\/p>\n

Downtown Naples is just the right place to end a day soaking up the sun and strolling down the historical Naples Pier. Or, for a must-try Naples staple head to the south of town for Pelican Bend Restaurant & Marina. <\/p>\n

Miami<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miami\u2019s beach scene is famous, and these two stretches of sand are on the A-list. Miami offers so many great things to do<\/a>, we\u2019re surprised to narrow it down to two.<\/p>\n

South Beach<\/h3>\n

\"life<\/p>\n

Miami made our list of most stylish cities<\/a>, and trendy South Beach is the place to see and be seen.<\/p>\n