How the Locals Score works
Every beach on this site carries a score from one to five coconuts. Here's exactly what it measures, what it doesn't, and how to tell us when we've got one wrong.
What it measures
How a beach compares to the other real, named beaches on this site, based on its reputation, typical crowd patterns, water and sand character, and practical drawbacks like parking or access.
What it doesn't measure
A scientific water-quality or safety rating. It also isn't yet built from a survey of people who've actually visited, that's the next version of this system. Treat it as an editorial read, not an official measurement.
The scale
Institution or hidden gem
People go out of their way for it. Locals mention it unprompted.
Well loved locally
Worth a special trip, strong on more than one front.
Solid and reliable
Locals use it regularly. Nothing sets it apart from the next beach over.
Fine in a pinch
A real, commonly cited drawback: parking, crowds, water quality, or upkeep.
Mostly skipped
Locals only end up here when nothing else is open.
How we keep it honest
- Selection isn't random. Every beach here was chosen because it's real, named, and well-established, which naturally skews scores upward. We'd rather tell you that plainly than pretend the distribution is perfectly even.
- Scores get reviewed. As we learn more about a beach, or conditions change, its score and reasoning can change too.
- You can flag one. See a score that doesn't match what you know? Email hello@localsbeach.com with the beach and what we got wrong.