Best US City Beaches (PHOTOS)

While sand and the city might not seem like the best match for a day at the beach, the United States' shorelines offer incredible beaches nestled within some of the country's most prominent cities. Inspired by "No Impact Man" Colin Beavan and wife Michelle Conlin's trip to Fort Tilden beach in their upcoming eco-documentary, HuffPost Green decided to create our lineup of the best beaches in US cities to get you ready for labor day. Of course, we didn't get them all, so please share your favorite seaside urban getaways with us.

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Best City Beaches

 

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Fort Tilden (Queens, NY)

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Vote and Share Choose Your Top 5 Looks okay. Looks Awesome! Now Make Your Own Top 5 And Share with Your Friends RANK: AVERAGE:  OUT OF 10 For a hidden beach getaway nestled in New York City head to Fort Tilden, a former military base that is now converted to a state park. No Impact Man Colin Beavan reflects in his blog about his visit to Fort Tilden with his wife Michelle while filming "No Impact Man: The Movie": “I’ve been to beaches all over the world and this was one of the nicest. Swear to God! An abandoned white sandy beach right in New York City. The water was clean, the surf was up, and we saw a grand total of five people in two hours. […]Since we use no carbon-producing transportation, we rode bikes—it took two and half hours.”

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Comments

[Ramakrishna Arni]

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[balancedsolution]

every year it's a different beach. who comes up with these beaches? i mean there are thousands upon thousands of beaches worldwide.....

what constitutes a great beach?

who or what travel lobbyists are paying for these types of articles?

[LDnearthesea]

Glad my beach town wasn't mentioned. We have had way too many people move here in the last few decades, and unfortunately many have had way too much money. Mega mansions replaced modest cliff-side homes, and more Repugnantcans moved in!

[eastcoastprogressive]

I vote for South Beach where the great party atmosphere, great food, great bodies, warm weather year round, style, architecture and natural beauty are second to none.

[litalex]

I'm sure the Fort Tilden beach won't be so secluded anymore now that you've talked about it here, LOL.

And while I like Ocean Beach, it's also extremely windy. Definitely bring a jacket. (And if you want a bite to eat nearby, both the Cliff House and the Beach Charlet Brewery & Restaurant are pretty good.)

[Mij13]

I can't believe Coronado Beach in San Diego isn't included. One of the most beautiful beaches in Cal. with a view of the downtown skyline. It's also where Some Like It Hot was famously filmed.

[AtheistUS]

Manhattan Beach works great for me.

Wonder how San Francisco beach even made it to this selection. A beach where you cannot even swim because water is too cold.

[osusana]

The topic is BEST US CITY BEACHES, so Australia, Cabo, Cayman, etc. are not part of the equation, although they have fabulous beaches. As someone who lived across the street (Lake Shore Drive) from Oak Street Beach in Chicago, i can attest to the ultimate cool factor of the Oak Streek Beach! No, it isn't Florida or Mexico, and you'll rattle your bones if you try to swim in any other month but August, but the Chicago lakefront is unmatched, and I love to remember that I actually swam in Lake Michigan off the Oak Street Beach in APRIL of 1960.

[NewsMix]

I lived a block from Oak Street Beach and don't remember it looking like this. I was a cement beach person back then though. Now I live in Florida about a block from the ocean. It's absolutely beautiful. I bring my dog for sunrise walks sometimes. No dogs allowed, what a dumb rule. Thankfully, the police aren't in full force at that hour.

[Fonfax]

Fort Lauderdale at Galt Mile-uncrowded with nice backdrop of hi rise condos.

[openhand]

Cape Town, what other city in the world has:

2 oceans
and the option of sunrise at Boulders Beach (+- Indian Ocean)
and sunset at Clifton (Atlantic Ocean)
oh and the drive is 5 min from the CBD,
oh and the backdrop is Table Mountain.

[Tzippi]

Of course, if you're going international the best is Tel Aviv!!!

[Yves Papa]

My best in Frisco is Baker beach, just south west of the Golden Gate Bridge.
It is well sheltered by the cold ocean breeze by cliffs and the tall trees of the park. It is nice and warm, and can get nicely crowded. Great view of the Gate, the bridge and of all these passing ships.

It's were Burning Man was born.

Its northern section, which is more remote, is "clothing optional".

[Yves Papa]

You forgot Venice Beach, in LA.

[tonewheel]

Of all the cities located on the shores of the Great Lakes, Chicago stands alone. No other city takes advantage if it's lakefront like Chicago. From Oak Street beach up to North Avenue and beyond to Diversey harbor, no other city can boast what Chicago has.

I would argue that the lakefront is what truly makes Chicago the city that it is. And since the fall of the Gary steel mills and other major contributing polluters in the 70's, the lake is once again actually blue, and beautiful.

Personally, I have always preferred swimming in fresh water.

[colonpowwow]

Yeah, Milwaukee "ruined" its lakefront by having it all parks with the buildings all on the bluff above instead of running a choking freeway along it like Chicago has.

Best City Beach = Bradford Beach in Milwaukee

Bath house is one of the earliest examples of art deco architecture built in US. Check it out tonewheel

[tonewheel]

I can't compete with fib mentality.

[sasson]

You do realize we have beaches on the Southside right? And our beaches don't have 100 people per square foot of land.