Ahh, beaches. Those idyllic stretches of sand that attract us like magnets for bathing, lounging, paddling, and picnicking. They provide the ultimate escape, be it for the day, evening or long weekend. America has many beloved offerings, with their famous piers, boardwalks, and amusements – they didn't always look this way.
Read on as we take a wander through the sands of time to reveal America's well-known beaches, then and now...
Driftwood Beach was once a thriving maritime forest, lining the shores of Jekyll Island. However, over time coastal erosion and changing sea levels caused the coastal forests to succumb to the elements, as the next image will reveal.
This photo, taken circa 1965, shows the entrance to Jekyll Island, when the park and its trademark beach became more accessible to vacationers.
These days, you still won't find a deckchair or sun towel on the island's unique beach. Instead, people come here to admire the abundance of wood that has been washed ashore, as well as the gnarled trees that add an ethereal beauty. Unsurprisingly, the beach is popular with photographers the world over. It's no wonder the otherworldly beach has consistently topped Tripadvisor polls to be named the country's best over the years.
Perhaps Kill Devil Hills' most famous claim to fame is its links with the birth of aviation – it was the site of the Wright Brothers' historic first flight in 1903. Chosen because of the consistent strong winds and the topography (the sand dunes provided a soft landing area), this part of North Carolina, near Kitty Hawk, etched its place in history.
Where does a name like this come from? One legend suggests the rum washed ashore from cargo vessels was apparently potent enough to 'kill the devil.'
These days, Kill Devil Hills Beach, with its six miles of wide, sandy Atlantic shoreline, has everything you'd want for a trip to the seaside. Popular getaways often feature fishing from Avalon Pier, lounging around with a picnic hamper, and building sandcastles on its dunes.
There is also the Wright Brothers Memorial to visit, as well as 123 acres of sand that make up Kill Devil Hills' Run Hill State Natural Area.
With such a beautiful seascape, Carmel Beach was always going to be a hit. Popular as an artistic retreat for the last few centuries, Carmel-by-the-Sea was officially recognized as a city in 1916. Author Robert Louis Stevenson took up residence here, and it's rumored that the stunning location inspired his famous classic adventure novel Treasure Island.
The sands were clearly inspirational to many, as this photo shows. Here American writer Mary Austin, among other artists, authors, and poets, have been snapped by photographer Arnold Genthe around the beginning of the 19th century.
These days, Carmel Beach continues to reward its visitors with golden sands against a backdrop of dramatic coastal scenery. Surfing is of course high on the list of must-dos here, along with sea-life spotting, hiking, and tide pooling. When the sun is setting over the Pacific, there's no better place to watch it.
In 1846, the USS Shark shipwrecked while crossing the Columbia River. Three cannons drifted ashore and became buried. One of them was rediscovered half a decade later, and the town of Cannon Beach was given its name. In the early 20th century, life here was much simpler, and friends and families traveled around by stagecoach, wagon, or on foot.
Small wooden cottages were erected here soon after, along with summer tent camps. This all helped shape the destination resort that Cannon Beach, pictured here in 1906, is today.
Regularly named in 'best beaches in the world' polls, and also on National Geographic's list of the world's 100 most beautiful places, Cannon Beach certainly still attracts plenty of visitors. Tourists flock to see Haystack Rock, one of Oregon's most iconic sights, and its array of wildlife – puffins, bald eagles, and pelicans provide a colorful spectacle.
Whale watching is also popular here, with the best time to spot them from August through September. Every June, there is a sandcastle competition that draws in the crowds.
Indigenous peoples made use of these shores, set on the edge of Lake Tahoe, (the largest alpine lake in North America) long before they were discovered by the European Americans in 1846. Back then the area was a prime spot for fishing and hunting.
By the 1870s, Sand Harbor had become a logging resource (as shown in this photo) and later on, was bought out by a San Francisco businessman. He eventually leased it to the Nevada State for public recreation.
As this present-day photo shows, beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters aren't just restricted to the coasts. There are equally beautiful gems to be found inland, in the mountains and forests. Sand Harbor's main beach, located on the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe, attracts more than one million visitors annually, and is popular for swimming, sunbathing, and scuba diving.
Clearwater, a translation of the Native American word 'Pocotopaug,' began to develop as a resort destination in the late 19th century, when tourists and settlers were drawn here because of the warm weather.
However, as the beach was situated on a barrier island, access was only possible by boat until 1917, when a wooden bridge nicknamed Old Rickety was constructed, shown in this photo from circa 1900. A few years later, this bridge became what is now the iconic Memorial Causeway.
Today, Clearwater isn't only one of America's top beach destinations, it's one of the best in the world. The Gulf of Mexico's crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches here make it a haven for sunbathing and watersports. Then there's Pier 60, where you can enjoy the many vendors, fishing, recreational parks, and of course, the nightly sunset festivals featuring live music and performances.
Back in the 1800s, Waikiki's famous beach was a favored retreat for royalty, who came to experience the calm waters and pristine coastline. As can be seen in this photo from 1907, the resort began to weave its Aloha charms to a wider, more global audience and started to properly develop at the turn of the 20th century, when the first hotels opened their doors.
Even today, Waikiki is a prestigious vacation hotspot, with newlyweds flocking here for their honeymoons, or travelers ticking it off their bucket list. In fact, Waikiki is one of the best-known and most visited beaches in the world, with over four million tourists annually. It's an ideal setting to learn canoeing, go surfing, or just paddle around, while the amazing array of restaurants and bars also attract tourists, day and night.
Assateague Island is a 37-mile barrier island shared by the states of Maryland and Virginia. It's always been known for its wonderful, pristine beaches and maritime forests, not to mention the views over the Atlantic. However, the island is perhaps most famous for the wild horses that have roamed freely here for hundreds of years.
The island in its current form, however, dates back to 1933. A raging hurricane during that year effectively split the island into what it is today. This photo shows the village as viewed from a lighthouse in 1905.
Remote as the island may be, it still attracts millions of visitors every year. Many come to admire the wild horses that continue to wander around the island. The horses live side-by-side with many rare species of migratory birds: in fact, the vicinity is recognized as a globally Important Bird Area.
Hiking, biking, camping (in the Maryland district only), and kayaking are all fun activity options here too.
Tucked away in Cape Cod's Falmouth region, facing Buzzards Bay, is Old Silver Beach, a popular spot famed for its warm waters. This image, taken in 1929, shows locals enjoying a summer's day. It's always been known for its white sands, but it wasn't until the rebuilding efforts following a 1938 hurricane, that it became a tourist hotspot.
The Old Silver Beach Club, a popular hotel which dates back to 1927, was destroyed in the hurricane. It was later rebuilt and transformed into the Sea Crest Hotel which, in turn, brought vacationers in from far and wide.
These days, Old Silver Beach still attracts locals and visitors but is divided into a section for each, separated by a rock jetty. Both can enjoy the clear waters and soft sands, and the beach has become a favorite with children, who can play in the shallows, build sandcastles, and search for barnacles and periwinkles on the jetty.
There are parking lots, food shacks, and bath houses in both sections. Arrive early (especially June through August) as it can get pretty crowded.