best-beach-awards

Travel Channel's Best Beach Awards 2012

Filed Under: Caribbean, Mexico, United States

Just when you're daydreaming of getting away to somewhere warm, we give you 10 times the beach inspiration. We sifted through the sexiest beaches and island vacations to find your very best bets in 10 hot categories.

The wait is over and the winners have been unveiled. After over 1,200 votes, the Viewers' Choice: Best Overall Beach has been named and it's Lahaina Beach, Maui.

Best Party Beach

1. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
2. Paradise Island, Bahamas (Winner)
3. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
4. Panama City, Florida

Best Family Beach

1. Cape May, New Jersey (Winner)
2. Duck, North Carolina
3. Coronado, California
4. Poipu Beach, Hawaii

Best Romantic Beach

1. Lahaina Beach, Maui, Hawaii
2. St. Lucia
3. Pink Sands Beach, Bahamas
4. Matira Beach, Bora Bora, Tahiti (Winner)

Sexiest Beach

1. South Beach, Miami, Florida
2. Tahiti Beach, St. Tropez, France
3. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Winner)
4. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Best Beach Bars

1. Rick's Cafe, Negril, Jamaica
2. The Beachcomber, Wellfleet, Massachusetts
3. Duke's Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu
4. Tropicana Beach Bar, Mykonos, Greece (Winner)

Best Beach You Haven't Heard of ... Yet

1. Llandudno Beach, South Africa (Winner)
2. Todos Santos, Mexico
3. Rangali Island, Maldives
4. St. George Island, Florida

Best Beach for Adventure

1. Surfing in Playa Grande, Costa Rica
2. Kitesurfing in Cabarete, Dominican Republic
3. Sea Kayaking, Phanang Bay, Thailand
4. Cave Diving, Whangarei, New Zealand (Winner)

Best Exotic Beach

1. Anse Source d'Argent, Seychelles (Winner)
2. Nusa Dua Beach, Bali
3. Manafaru, Maldives
4. Nha Trang, Vietnam

Best Scenic Beach

1. Zlatni Rat, Bol, Brac Island, Croatia (Winner)
2. Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos
3. White Beach, Boracay, Philippines
4. Pantai Cenang, Malaysia

Best Beach Boardwalks

1. Santa Cruz, California
2. Atlantic City, New Jersey
3. Coney Island, New York
4. Ocean City, Maryland (Winner)