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10 great American beaches

In the last gasp of summer, there's still time for one more seaside escape. From a black-sand retreat on Maui to a hidden strand on Cape Cod, Travel & Leisure sifted through the country's 95,000 miles of shoreline to find these idyllic stretches. Let the relaxation begin!

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Butterfly Beach

Santa Barbara, California

This golden half-mile sliver, in the tony Montecito neighborhood, has head-on views of Santa Cruz Island and almost-as-reliable sightings of local celebs like Kevin Costner.

T&L Tip: The patio scene at Cava (1212 Coast Village Rd.; 805/969-8500; lunch for two $50) almost upstages the rock-shrimp tacos.

Check-In: Ask for the complimentary Beach Butler services (chair setup, two-way cordless phones) at the Four Seasons Biltmore (1260 Channel Dr.; 805/969-2261; fourseasons.com; doubles from $605).

More great American beaches

Waianapanapa Black-Sand Beach

Whitefish Dunes State Park

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