Beach Ballot Bingo

Bethany, Cape May, Outer Banks--which is best? For a totally unscientific look at how area shore points stack up, we went to you

This much we now know.

"Ocean City, Md., has the liveliest boardwalk around. Sea Girt, N.J., is the perfect coastal resort for families. (Sea Girt?) And the most popular beach restaurant on the Eastern Seaboard can be found in Bethany Beach, Del.

Or so you say. After we asked you to nominate your favorite regional beaches in the 10 categories listed above, we were bombarded with responses – some obvious (go pony-gawking on Assateague Island), some inspired (camp at Cape Hatteras for $18 a night to save money), some just plain puzzling (shop at the Taj Mahal casino in Atlantic City?).

We've compiled the results below, along with excerpts from the e-mails and faxes we received. But we didn't just take your word for it. We asked area experts in each category to vote, too. So if you've ever wondered where Olympian Tom Dolan likes to bodysurf, or the president of Boardwalk Fries goes to play Skeeball, you've come to the right Travel section.

If there's one thing this survey has taught us, it's that each of you believes passionately that "your" beach is the area's best. But we hope our lists encourage you to check out other readers' favorites, too. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're on our way to Sea Girt.

BEACHES: Sunning and Swimming

Though finding a good beach in these parts isn't a herculean task, we wondered where a potential Olympian could go to hone his swimming skills. We asked Arlington resident and Olympic gold medalist Tom Dolan for his favorite swimming spot. "I love Bethany because it's not commercial and is a family town," he says. "As a little kid, I was a huge body-surfing fan. The good thing about Bethany is that the water does stay pretty cool, so it's very refreshing, even when it's really, really hot."

Dolan may prefer Delaware, but a majority of readers favor the Outer Banks for ray catching and wave riding. Still, just about every bit of beach from Cape Hatteras to central Jersey has a fan.

• Cape Hatteras, N.C.

"The beaches are beautiful, and we've watched whales and dolphins from the shore. There's not a heavy amount of boat traffic to ruin the view. Most important, the beach is clean and accessible, and the water is clear and nice."

– Matt Hupp, Annandale

• Kitty Hawk, N.C. "Even in the middle of the summer, you can go in the water or lie on the sand, and it's not wall-to-wall people. And you can actually have fun (Maryland beaches should have a sign saying 'No Fun Allowed') – play football, volleyball, Frisbee, etc., or boogie board or body surf without running into someone."

– Kim Collins, Mount Airy, Md.