Coastal Living recently ranked the top fifteen coastal towns that they deemed were the happiest in the country. It shouldn’t be too surprising that four were in the Bay Area. Can you guess which ones?

Topping the list at #3 is Sausalito with Tiburon not far behind at #5 and Half Moon Bay (7) and Stinson Beach (12) also making appearances.

“In honor of our 15th anniversary, we are excited to share a list of the ‘Happiest Seaside Towns’ in America,” said Editor-in-Chief Antonia van der Meer. “By ranking the top 15 happiest seaside communities, we draw attention to places where life is good and the beach is close by. These towns boast a blend of such criteria as sunny days, walkable neighborhoods, easy commute times, healthy beaches, and more – plus that indescribable coastal vibe.”

I don’t know how many fog-less days Half Moon Bay actually has but it definitely is cute. All the Bay Area picks are great coastal destinations, especially if you enjoy wearing three layers of clothing and a wool hat while you enjoy the coastline.

Here’s the rest of the list:

1. Kiawah Island, SC

2. Naples, FL

3. Sausalito, CA

4. Lake Bluff, IL

5. Tiburon, CA

6. Laguna Beach, CA

7. Half Moon Bay, CA

8. Chatham, MA

9. Jupiter, FL

10. Lahaina, HI

11. Marblehead, MA

12. Stinson Beach, CA

13. Cohasset, MA

14. Duxbury, MA

15. Solomons Island, MD

In order to compile the list, the magazine calculated fifteen years worth of coverage, votes on their social media channels, and ranking on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index among other data. That being said, it’s curious as to why Carmel or, say, Mendocino weren’t included on this list.

For more about the list, go here.

[via Coastal Living]

Image courtesy of the City of Sausolito

• Tag: beaches, coastal towns, Half Moon Bay, lists, Marin, Sausolito, Stinson Beach, Tiburon