Top Ten Beaches in the United States

It's a no-brainer: To find America's best beach to watch the sunrise, head east. In fact, head so far east that there's nothing between you and the wide-open ocean. Acadia National Park certainly fits the bill; the problem, of course, is that most of the park's coastline is rocky. So keep driving into the park until you reach the eastern edge of Mt. Desert Island, home to Acadia's only sand beach—called, appropriately, Sand Beach.

These are the only grains of sand you'll find among Acadia's 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline. But the reward is well worth the effort. Wake up while it's still dark and catch dawn's rosy fingers easing over the horizon.

Tip: Some park facilities close during the winter months, while July to September is the busiest time of year.