US beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world – and also some of the most unusual. So if you’re looking for magical with a little hint of other-worldly in the mix, check out our top 10 unique US beaches with kids. We promise you’ll never have seen anything quite like them.
10/10 Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California
A colorful spot, Pfeiffer beach has the distinction of having rare purple sand. The beach gets its distinctive coloring from quartz and manganese garnet that washes down from the hills. A hidden haven, it’s easy to miss if you don’t know it’s there. Though cold water temperature and rough waves make it less than ideal for swimming, kids will love climbing and scrambling up the giant rock formations found here.
9/10 Boneyard Beach, Bull Island, South Carolina
A stunning, but well-kept secret, this coastal spot is covered with the bleached out remains of trees that have been soaked in saltwater and dried in the sun. The effect creates a haunting forest that visitors can wander through, like something form another world. Explore this quiet escape in relative privacy and enjoy a day on a completely wild, undeveloped beach. Boneyard Beach is also a fantastic place to search for shells.
8/10 Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, California
This is one of the most unusual US beaches anywhere, because it’s blanketed in a rainbow of sea glass. The glass has been smoothed and shaped by the ocean waves over the last couple hundred years. Glass Beach also features an outcropping of rocks and the tide pools. This is a terrific family destination for an afternoon of searching for sea critters and admiring the different hues of sea glass. Add this spot to your bucket list asap—there is less glass on this beach as time goes on.
7/10 Singing Beach, Manchester-By-The-Sea, Massachusetts
At first glance, it’s easy to mistake this destination for just another one of the pretty US beaches. But it boasts a truly unique feature: the sand makes a creaking sound when walked on. The fun noise is thanks to the fact that the sand has silica as part of its composition, as well as the size of the sand particles. The beach is one of the main attractions of this small town and it is very clean and well maintained. Get here early since the parking lot fills up quickly.
6/10 Punaluu Black Sand Beach, Big Island Hawaii
Wildlife enthusiasts will love this spot that has the distinction of being a favorite place for hawksbill and endangered green sea turtles to sunbathe. The magical opportunity to spot the turtles on the sand could easily put Punaluu top of the best US beaches list for kids. Plus more marine animals await in the waves. Spinner dolphins and humpback whales can be seen just off shore. And kids will also love digging and building sand castles in the black sand.