These 5 U.S. Beaches Will Make You Forget You’re Still in America

Sometimes you just need a day (or a month!) at the beach, but the need to feel like you're someplace else can be almost overwhelming: You're tired of seeing the same big box stores, the same franchises, the same... well, everything. You want something different. On the other hand, getting away from all of this would usually require international travel, which can be a hassle. The following beaches are all U.S. destinations, but when you arrive, you'll feel decidedly someplace else.

1. Hanalei Beach - Kauai, Hawaii

Hanalei Beach, on the north shore of Kauai in Hawaii, has inspired legends and dreams for generations. It's no wonder it was used as the setting for the fictional island of Bali Hai in the film adaptation of South Pacific. The mountains that rise at the west end of the beach mark the start of the dramatic Na Pali Coast, and this is the view beachgoers enjoy when they visit Hanalei Bay. Several other beaches on this part of the coast offer similar views, including Ha'ena, Tunnels, Kepuhi, Wainiha, and Lumahai Beaches. Book a stay at the Hanalei Colony Resort for easy access to any of these gorgeous strands.

2. Dry Tortugas National Park - Florida

If you don't have your own boat, you'll need to take a ferry from Key West or the Florida mainland to reach Dry Tortugas National Park. Once here, though, you'll feel like you've been shipwrecked (for about 4 hours) in another time and place. Sure, kick around old Fort Jefferson and learn all about the history and such, but save plenty of time for the beach, because you won't want to pass up the mesmerizing blue waters of the Gulf framed by the picturesque fort in the background. You'll need to bring anything you'll need with you—including drinking water, as there is none on the island.

3. Shipwreck Beach - Lanai, Hawaii

From Shipwreck Beach on the Hawaiian Island of Lanai, you can look out of the impossibly blue Pacific waters, past the rusting hulk of an old freighter, to the islands of Maui and Molokai rising in the distance. On clear days, you can see all the way to Oahu. These aren't views you'd expect to see from your typical U.S. beach, but here they are, ready for you to drink in. That said, this is not the easiest beach to access. First, you have to get to Lanai, which requires a small plane flight from Maui or Honolulu or a ferry from Maui.

The beach is a half-hour from Lanai City, and after arriving, you have to walk about a mile down the 8-mile strand for the best views of the shipwreck. But believe me, it's so stunning that it's well worth the effort. Last time I was at Shipwreck Beach, I had to take a work call, and as I stood looking out at the view, I thought, "Nope. This isn't bad at all." You can visit Lanai as a day trip or choose to stay overnight, though lodging options are limited. In addition to the two Four Seasons Resort properties on the island, you'll also find Hotel Lanai, which is the most reasonable of the three.

4. Fort Zachary Taylor Beach - Key West, Florida

This is the only beach on the list that you can drive to from the mainland U.S. Although it's an island in Florida, Key West, a.k.a. The Conch Republic (it declared its secession from the U.S. in 1982), is really its own thing—and any resident will happily tell you as much. Folks here go about their business in a way that feels slower and more laid-back than their Mainland counterparts, and that vibe is reflected on the island's beaches, as well.

For truly different place feel, head to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach in the eponymous state park. There, you can take in the sun and the sparkling Gulf waters while ramparts of a pre-Civil War-era fort stand sentinel. Look for the famous signpost, to learn how far you are from all the places you aren't. The Orchid Key Inn is just a few blocks from the beach.

5. Trunk Bay - Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

This beach is the closest on the list to being outside the U.S., because you're not in a state anymore, you're in a U.S. territory. Plus, the U.S. Virgin Islands are so tantalizingly close to the British Virgin Islands that you could pretty much swim from the island of St. John in the U.S.V.I. to Great Thatch Island in the B.V.I.—the distance is just over half a mile at the isles' closest points. But you'd need a passport to do that, and you don't need one to sit on the gorgeous beach at Trunk Bay in Virgin Islands National Park. Besides, why would you even want to leave this spot with its pristine beach, excellent snorkeling, and unbelievably blue Caribbean waters? Everything just seems better here. I once got a cheeseburger and a Heineken from a concessionaire at Trunk Bay, and I swear it was the best burger and coldest beer I've ever had.

No matter which of these beaches you visit, you'll feel transported to someplace else—a place where you won't even be sure if you're in the same country in which you started (only without customs and security lines). Just make sure to pack a hat, sunscreen, towel, and Real ID—and bring plenty of water, because some of these spots have limited amenities.