A beach in Washington state made a list of best beaches in the country, joining popular destinations in Hawaii, Florida and California.
Travel company Lonely Planet ranked Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park as the 12th best beach in the U.S. and the “best for tiny adventurers” in a survey posted in March.
Lonely Planet drew lines in the sand to come up with the 23 best beaches in the United States, recognizing locations for their “people watching,” “secluded beauty” and “sugar-fine sands.”
Here’s what to know.
Washington state beach ranks among best in the nation
Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park was the only beach in Washington state to make Lonely Planet’s list of best beaches in the U.S.
Located on the southwest coast of the Olympic Peninsula, Ruby Beach was described in fable-like terms. Its shores, Lonely Planet said, look “like a giant emptied his pockets.”
“Tree trunks are strewn like matchsticks, sea stacks cluster like crumbled chocolates and a colorful assortment of agates, garnets and sea glass add a touch of glitter to the captivating mess,” Lonely Planet reported.
Ruby Beach’s ranking as the 12th best beach in the U.S. places it among such destinations as Venice Beach in California and Oneloa Beach in Maui.
“Flanked by forested sandstone cliffs, Ruby Beach is a wonderland for children, with tide pools hiding anemones, sea urchins, purple starfish and skittering crabs,” Lonely Planet wrote. “The shore and its polished rocks – the agates give the beach its ruby coloring – also hold treasures for sharp-eyed rockhounds and seashell hunters.”
What is the best beach in the US?
Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia is the best beach in the U.S. and the “best for eerie photo opportunities,” according to Lonely Planet.
“The spider-like branches of gnarled oaks draping the golden sands of Jekyll Island off the coast of Georgia are eerily haunting,” Lonely Planet wrote. “The trees pull you in for a closer look, whispering of mysteries from centuries past.”
USA TODAY ranked Driftwood Beach as one of the best beaches in the South in 2023, noting its “striking” features and “surreal atmosphere.”
“Visitors can enjoy romantic nature walks and quiet contemplation, with the driftwood providing a stunning backdrop for memorable experiences and photo opportunities,” USA TODAY reported.
A couple on spring break walks along the Pacific Ocean at Olympic National Park near Forks, Washington on March 11, 2014, the three-year anniversary of the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that caused the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Scientists predict low levels of radiation from the Fukushima will reach waters off the Pacific Northwest as soon as next month, media reported. REUTERS/Jason Redmond (UNITED STATES – Tags: ENVIRONMENT ANNIVERSARY)
The best beaches in the US
Here’s a full list of the 23 best beaches, according to Lonely Planet.
Driftwood Beach, Jekyll Island, Georgia
Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California
El Matador State Beach, Malibu, California
Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California
Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland
Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i, Hawaii
Oneloa Beach/Big Beach, Maui, Hawaii
Ruby Beach, Olympic National Park, Washington
Playa Tortuga, Isla Culabrita, Puerto Rico
Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Treasure Island Beach, Laguna Beach, California
Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine
Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Henderson Beach State Park, Destin, Florida
Edisto Beach State Park, South Carolina
Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida
Oval Beach, Saugatuck, Michigan
Contributing: Margie Cullen, USA TODAY Network
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Washington’s Ruby Beach makes list of 23 best beaches in the U.S.