Relax at one of calmest beaches in North America
Americans don’t have to travel too far to enjoy a beach with gentle, swimmable waters.
One destination is always on trend: the beach.
People ready to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life are looking to discover tranquility along a picturesque beach. After visiting family and friends, a beach vacation is the second-most popular type of leisure trip Americans want to take in 2024. For multigenerational travel, it’s the top choice.
There are a slew of health benefits to spending uninterrupted time by the ocean. Research indicates that being in such a stunning natural environment can reduce stress and anxiety, boost self-esteem and enhance mood.
While watching crashing waves is thrilling, there’s something particularly relaxing about being near gentle waters everyone can enjoy. Because of natural geography such as reefs and bays, some beaches are calmer than others.
The good news is Americans don’t have to travel too far to enjoy a beach with gentle, swimmable waters. There are plenty across Hawaii and the Caribbean and even on the continental U.S. coasts, such as Lewes Beach in Delaware and Cape Charles Beach in Virginia.
In October, Hawaii vacation resource HawaiianIslands.com analyzed more than 1.5 million English-written TripAdvisor reviews on the most popular beaches mentioning “calm waters” to come up with a list of the beaches with the calmest waters in North America.
“While it’s notable that Hawaiian beaches dominate the U.S. rankings for the calmest waters, we can also see that beaches scattered throughout the Americas dominate on a global level,” Brittany Betts, marketing manager at HawaiianIslands.com, told USA TODAY.
Check out the list below to discover beaches with the most serene waters accessible to all and start planning your next beach vacation.