I have lived on both the east and west coasts. Right now I live less than a mile from the beach in Ventura, CA.
But I have to say that by far, my favorite beach is Assateague in Maryland. It is a nature preserve, so no boardwalk or hotels. Just miles of sand and ocean. You can camp just on the other side of the sand dunes. Wild horses and deer roam the campsite. I love it there. I’m not much for the tourist beach with tacky gift shops and people everywhere. I like a beach with some solitude.
The campground has a playground area for the kids. And there are a few restaurants close-by. Ocean City is just a short drive or bike ride away. So one can get their fill of boardwalk and shops if they want it. But at Assateague, the attraction is the lack of attractions!
The runner up is Chincoteague on the Virginia side of the nature preserve.
