10 Great American Beaches

Heavenly Hawaii

Turtles and Volcanoes: Black sand -- derived from the soot of ancient volcanoes -- blankets the small bay at Punalu'u Beach in the Big Island. Here, giant hawksbill turtles frequently rise from the sea to lay eggs and bask in tropical sunshine.

Cliffs to Sea: Kalalau beach is not the easiest beach to get to and therein lies the perfect reason to visit. Kayak, catch a ride on the ferry, or if you're feeling adventurous, hike the beautiful 11-mile Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast to reach this Hawaiian gem.

Photos: Hawaii Tourism Japan (top); Kauai Visitors Bureau (kauaidiscovery.com) (bottom)