Beach activities in USA
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A
Baker Beach
Down craggy bluffs, past wind-sculpted Monterey pines and cypress trees, beckons a mile-long stretch of sandy beach, with fishing spots galore and full-frontal nudity at the north end (gay men and straight girls). The views of the Golden Gate are spectacular, but huge crowds come weekends. The all-gay local beach is further north, at Marshall’s Beach (aka Marcia’s Beach), immediately before the bridge. Ask around for directions, but never climb the dangerous rugged cliffs north from Baker to reach it. Take pathways, and find the stairs.
reviewed
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B
Sand Dune Park
Kick off your flip-flops for an impromptu workout on these steep, 100ft sand dunes hidden on a residential block near the intersection of Rosecrans and Highland Aves. Who knows – you might just see a Laker working on his quads too. Whether you run, walk or crawl, it’s steeper than it looks.
reviewed
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Indiana Dunes State Park
Indiana Dunes State Park is a 2100-acre shoreside pocket within the national lakeshore; it’s located at the end of Hwy 49, near Chesterton. It has more amenities, but also more regulation and more crowds (plus the $10 vehicle entry fee). Away from its mobbed beaches, the park does offer secluded natural areas. In winter cross-country skiing is popular, while summertime brings out the hikers. Seven numbered trails zigzag over the sandscape: Trail 4 climbs up Mt Tom, the highest dune at 192ft; Trail 2 is good for spring flowers and ferns and is well-used by skiers; and Trail 8 surmounts three of the highest dunes, paying off with killer views of the region.
reviewed
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C
Wingaersheek Beach
Cape Ann has several excellent beaches that draw Boston-area sun-and-sea worshippers on any hot day in July and August. The biggest and best is Wingaersheek Beach, a wide swath of sand surrounded by Ipswich Bay and guarded by Annisquam Lighthouse.
reviewed
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D
Good Harbor Beach
Cape Ann has several excellent beaches that draw Boston-area sun-and-sea worshippers on any hot day in July and August. East of East Gloucester on the way to Rockport, Good Harbor Beach is a spacious, sandy beach.
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Bailly/Chellberg Visitor Center, Indiana Dunes
The park service has done a fine job of developing trails through a range of terrain and environments in the Indiana Dunes. The Bailly/Chellberg Visitor Center, about two miles south of the beaches, is the start of the Bailly/Chellberg Trail. The 2½-mile trail winds through the forest, passing restored log cabins from the 1820s and a farm built by Swedes in the 1870s. Among the diverse plants growing here are dogwood, arctic berries and cactus.
reviewed
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E
Carson Beach
- Boston, USA
- Activities › Beach
Heading west from Castle Island, 3 miles of beaches offer opportunities for swimming in an urban setting. L and M St beaches are adjacent to each other along Day Blvd, while Carson Beach is further west. They all have smooth sand, nice harbor views and decent facilities, but these are city beaches, so it’s not the most pristine setting in which to soak.
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Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center, Indiana Dunes
Lake Michigan's prevailing winds created the 21 miles of sandy beaches and dunes that comprise Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Behind the sands, large areas of woods and wetlands have become major wildlife habitats and breeding grounds for an incredible variety of plant life. The Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center provides details on beaches plus free hiking, biking, birding and eco-tourism guides.
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Echo Lake
A swimming lake just off the highway where you can also rent kayaks and canoes.
reviewed
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F
Daytona Beach
One look at this perfectly planar stretch of sand and you can see why it served as the city's raceway. Today you can drive sections of the beach, tide permitting, to a strictly enforced top speed of 10mph. There are six well-signed beach entrances from Ormond Beach (Granada Blvd) to Ponce Inlet (Beach St); between Seabreeze Blvd and International Speedway Blvd it's traffic-free. Tired of your boring old ride? There are a few transport options from beach-side vendors: rent anything from an ATV tricked out like a '58 'Vette convertible to fat-tired two-wheeled beach cruisers to recumbent trikes. If you're tired of wheels, beach-based vendors rent slick-bottomed boogie…
reviewed
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G
Ocean Beach
The park ends in this blustery beach, too chilly for bikini-clad clambakes but ideal for wet-suited pro surfers braving rip tides (casual swimmers beware). Bonfires are permitted in designated fire pits only; no alcohol allowed.
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Fort Lauderdale Beach & Promenade
Fort Lauderdale's promenade – a wide, brick, palm-tree-dotted pathway swooping along the beach and A1A – is a magnet for runners, in-line skaters, walkers and cyclists. The white-sand beach, meanwhile, is one of the nation's cleanest and best, stretching 7 miles to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, with dedicated family-, gay- and dog-friendly sections. Boating, diving, snorkeling and fishing are all extremely popular.
reviewed