America's Best Beach

Looking for the perfect sandy setting for your wedding? Dr. Beach has made his 2009 pick for the #1 best beach in America and the winner is … Kauai’s Hanalei Bay. I have to agree, it’s gorgeous — a two-mile curve tucked into the island’s north end. And there’s no resort better placed to enjoy it than the St. Regis Princeville, situated on a bluff overlooking the bay. I stayed here a few years ago during its previous incarnation as Princeville Resort and remember especially loving the outdoor pool deck, where I could laze in my chaise and watch surfers ride the waves. Thanks to a major renovation and rebranding as St. Regis, the hotel should be better than ever when it reopens this fall. (They’re currently accepting reservations for October 1, 2009 and beyond.) Expected upgrades include overhauled guest rooms and a new restaurant from Jean-Georges Vongerichten. For weddings, the hotel can arrange a beachside ceremony on the sand, of course, or a more formal celebration on a pristine terrace overlooking the ocean. Sounds like it’s time to plan a return trip …