5 Top American Beach Resorts If you are planning some surf and sand time in the summer, you may be already considering going beyond American shores for the best beach experience.  Although the U.S. has a shorter coastline compared to other countries, the top American beach resorts are still considered the most popular in the world.  Here are five of the most popular American beach resorts today. Long Beach, California One of the most crowded beaches on the American West Coast is Long Beach, which is only 25 miles from Los Angeles.  Although the beach is crowded all summer, you can take a quick stroll to the clean and rugged parts of the beach.  Long Beach is one of the many American beaches that has maintained its coastal recreational lifestyle.  Couples can view the sunset as they frolic in the ocean, ride a bike, or roller blade with friends.  Long Beach has a very romantic mood for the young at heart. You can also start your luxury cruises from Long Beach on Pacific cruises such as the Catalina Island Mini-Cruise.  Long Beach offers a laid back atmosphere for people who want to get away from the stress of an urban lifestyle.  The most popular hotels in Long Beach are the Westin Long Beach, Marriot Long Beach, and the Hilton Long Beach.  For simple dinners and feasts, eat at Roscoe’s House of Chicken, Kareem's Restaurant, or the Rivera's Mexican Restaurant. Virginia Beach Do not let the cold winter winds keep you at home.  Virginia Beach, located halfway between Maryland and North Carolina, is one of the more serene summer beaches in the United States.  Virginia Beach has slowly grown in popularity as a family destination without the hassle of the spring break party crowd found in Florida.  This beach resort is well regulated by the state.  Unlike other famous beach spots where tourists can do just about anything, Virginia Beach is very quiet and laid back. Aside from the usual beach activities, the most popular activities near Virginia Beach resorts are playing golf, adventure cruising, and fishing.  The top golf course in Virginia Beach is the Arnold Palmer's Signature Course.  This golf course is a garden with thirteen lakes, holes featuring stone wall structures, and large oaks.  After a round of golf, you can visit the Virginia Beach fishing docks and meet different groups that can guide you through fishing trips. Miami, Florida Beach Resorts Miami Beach is a strip of sun and sand detached from the mainland city and only connected by a series of bridges.  The city has a large migrant population with Spanish used as the day-to-day language in many of the hot spots.  Miami's diversity of people includes Cubans, Haitians, and other Caribbean islanders that have become second generation locals.  Its people are the reason why Miami Beach is one of the most colorful American beach resorts. Miami is a perfect destination for families, with facilities that cater to children and family activities.  There are great kiddies’ shows, dolphin watching, and family camping tours available here.  It is also the beach that is nearest to the Caribbean, so tourists can hop on a short cruise to see some of the world's most beautiful islands.  This American beach resort is also a hit for college student crowds especially during spring break.  The beach resort is vibrant with pastel-hued buildings and nightclubs that operate year round. Miami is also a perfect destination for tourists regardless of one's budget. A Miami Beach trip can be as affordable or expensive as you choose, depending on where you eat and sleep.  Affordable lodges or condo rentals are perfect for student budgets, while world class hotels like the Trump International Hotel is available for you.  Miami Beach also has rich cultural exhibitions and shopping outlets, making it one of the many world class city attractions in the U.S. Backpackers and nature seekers may label Miami as overrated because of all the commercial establishments that fill the blocks of the long beach strip. However, if you ask the locals, there are still a lot of hidden beach resort spots in Miami where you can appreciate the beauty of nature. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Myrtle Beach is a major tourist beach destination facing the Atlantic Ocean.  Myrtle Beach is well known for its numerous resorts, wide beach coverage, and a large selection of golf courses, seafood dishes, and shopping.  This popular beach is very accessible to big cities of the north such as New York, New Jersey, Boston, and Philadelphia.  During the winter holidays, people from the big cities go to Myrtle Beach to relax and avoid the stress of the big city lifestyle. Regular travelers from these big cities are called "snowbirds" because they move to Myrtle Beach during the winter much like a flock of birds migrating from a colder place to warmer surroundings. Given the lack of coastline in much of the U.S., beach resorts are always crowded.  Myrtle Beach is no exception.  If you are an early riser, you can watch the sunrise from the beach when there are fewer people.  Like many beach resorts, Myrtle Beach is also home to a chain of nightclubs and bars. Waikiki Beach Resorts, Hawaii They say that the beach is the reason why Americans claimed Hawaii as the 50th state.  Indeed, Waikiki on the island of Oahu is the most popular beach destination in the world.  The main attraction of Waikiki is the one and a half mile long stretch of pure white sand.  Behind the beach, Hawaii is packed with high rise hotels and establishments.  Recently, Waikiki is being redesigned to preserve the Hawaiian legacy of the place. Although Waikiki is the central attraction, you can drive from Honolulu to the other parts of the island for hiking, diving, and other outdoor activities.  If Waikiki is much too crowded for you, you can arrange an accommodation outside the city for a more relaxing atmosphere. With places like these, you do not have to fly to other countries to experience beach resorts.