Washington’s Wave Wanderlust

Washington is the best state to go to the beach in America.

Vacation rental platform Lake.com found that Washington boasts the most beaches of any state, 1,550, and has 1,053.63 miles of beach. That includes “urban beaches” such as Burien’s Seahurst Park , Alki , and Golden Gardens , and Discovery Park .

Seahurst Park in Burien

Photo courtesy of City of Burien

Golden Gardens Park in Ballard

Photo by TIA International Photography, courtesy of City of Seattle

Discovery Park in Magnolia

Photo courtesy of City of Seattle

A few of our favorite beaches include Ruby Beach (recognized as among the world’s best on Lonely Planet’s list of the world’s best beaches); North Jetty (in Ocean Shores); and First Beach and LaPush Beach (yes, it’s a ways to LaPush, but well worth the drive).

North Jetty Beach in Ocean Park

Photo courtesy of Washington State Parks Foundation

Lonely Planet highlighted Ruby Beach as one of the top dozen in the United States, writing that it resembles a “ giant emptied his pockets on the shores,” with tree trunks, “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.”

The Lake.com study also ranked the state the ninth-best destination for a water sports vacation, based on access to public beaches, waterparks, online boat rentals and marine stores. Florida ranked No. 1.

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