Big sand, big waves and big sunsets – welcome to the Pacific Coast! Whether in California, Oregon, Washington or Hawaii, the West Coast boasts some of the best sandy real estate in the nation, no matter what your beach style. 10Best readers have been voting daily for their favorites for the past four weeks, and the results are in.
Huntington Beach, previous winner of the title Best California Beach, took home top honors again, this time, competing against beaches in Oregon, Washington and Hawaii.
The top 10 winners in the category Best West Coast Beach are as follows:
- Huntington Beach - Huntington Beach, Calif.
- Kaanapali Beach - Maui, Hawaii
- Hulopoe Bay - Lanai, Hawaii
- Crystal Cove State Park - Laguna Beach, Calif.
- Cannon Beach - Cannon Beach, Ore.
- Rialto Beach - Olympic Peninsula, Wash.
- Carmel Beach - Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.
- Little Corona del Mar Beach - Corona Del Mar, Calif.
- La Jolla Cove & Shores - La Jolla, Calif.
- Coronado Municipal Beach - Coronado, Calif.
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Katie Dillon (La Jolla Mom), Veronica Hill (California Travel Tips) and Walter McLeod (Clean Beaches Coalition,) were chosen based on their extensive beach knowledge and experience.
Other West Coast Beach nominees included East Beach in Santa Barbara, Kaunaoa Beach on the Big Island, Kee Beach in Kauai, Lanikai Beach in Oahu, Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, Poipu Beach Park in Kauai, Oswald West State Park in Manzanita, Waianapanapa State Park in Maui, Wailea in Maui and Waimanalo Beach in Oahu.
Congratulations to all 10 winning West Coast beaches.
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The Experts
Katie Dillon
Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and... Read More
Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and lifestyle site, La Jolla Mom, named after her seaside community in San Diego. Before settling in La Jolla, she and her husband spent seven years as expats in London and then Hong Kong where her now 7-year-old daughter was born. Katie's knowledge of luxury travel stems from extensive first-hand experience--her family lived in a Four Seasons Hotel for most of their time overseas. She is also the San Diego editor for USA TODAY/10Best, a contributor to Four Seasons Magazine and never fully unpacked. You can follow her at @LaJollaMom on twitter and Facebook.
Katie Dillon

Katie Dillon writes the luxury family travel and lifestyle site, La Jolla Mom, named after her seaside community in San Diego. Before settling in La Jolla, she and her husband spent seven years as expats in London and then Hong Kong where her now 7-year-old daughter was born. Katie's knowledge of luxury travel stems from extensive first-hand experience--her family lived in a Four Seasons Hotel for most of their time overseas. She is also the San Diego editor for USA TODAY/10Best, a contributor to Four Seasons Magazine and never fully unpacked. You can follow her at @LaJollaMom on twitter and Facebook.
Veronica Hill
Orange County native Veronica Hill is the writer... Read More
Orange County native Veronica Hill is the writer and host of California Travel Tips, a YouTube travel series with over 25 million views and 25,000 subscribers. She is also the author of the best-selling California Essential Guide app on iTunes and Google Play, and recently launched a line of printable travel, camping and hiking planners on Etsy called Papier My Day. Her work has appeared in the Associated Press, Fodor’s, US Weekly, Rolling Stone, Food & Wine and other publications.
Veronica Hill

Orange County native Veronica Hill is the writer and host of California Travel Tips, a YouTube travel series with over 25 million views and 25,000 subscribers. She is also the author of the best-selling California Essential Guide app on iTunes and Google Play, and recently launched a line of printable travel, camping and hiking planners on Etsy called Papier My Day. Her work has appeared in the Associated Press, Fodor’s, US Weekly, Rolling Stone, Food & Wine and other publications.
Walter McLeod
Walter L. McLeod is founder of the Clean Beaches... Read More
Walter L. McLeod is founder of the Clean Beaches Coalition, America’s first eco-certification for beaches. He is the recipient of two White House Hammer Awards and is considered a national expert on energy and the environment.
Walter McLeod

Walter L. McLeod is founder of the Clean Beaches Coalition, America’s first eco-certification for beaches. He is the recipient of two White House Hammer Awards and is considered a national expert on energy and the environment.