​Life Is a Beach: 13 American Beaches You Need to Hit This Year by Donna John

Motel 6, those legendary roadside purveyors of clean, comfortable rooms where Tom Bodett leaves the light on for you, conducted a survey that showed a full 25 million Americans have never seen the ocean. And in a country that borders three oceans – with one state completely surrounded by ocean – that’s just a sad stat. Even if you have seen the ocean before, likely you haven’t been to every inch of coastline this great nation provides. And summer is the perfect time to fix either of those situations. Once you’ve decided to visit a beach, the big question becomes where. No matter where you live or where you’re going, here are the 13 beaches you should make a point to hit this summer.

Asbury Park, New Jersey: The Jersey Shore is always a time-honored summer beach trip. But once you’ve done Point Pleasant and outgrown Seaside Heights, perhaps it’s time to try something different. Bruce Springsteen’s launching pad has made a rise from ruin worthy of, well, a Springsteen song, where the once dilapidated beachfront is once again alive with sun-worshippers by day, live music by night. The Stone Pony is still going strong, and Downtown is now full of chic, modern restaurants, cocktail bars and interior design shops. Which some might call gentrification, but for a visitor make it a much more appealing choice.

Others that made the grade:

• Huntington Beach, California
  
• Surfside, Florida
  
• Waikiki, Hawaii
  
• Juno Beach, Florida
  
• Carolina Beach, North Carolina
  
• Orange Beach, Alabama
  
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
  
• Siesta Key Beach, Florida
  
• Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
  
• Lanai, Hawaii
  
• Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
  
• Coney Island, New York
  

Learn more about each beach via Thrillist!

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