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A new study from Coastal Living Magazine ranked the top 15 happiest seaside towns in America, and none of Los Angeles' beach cities made the cut.
Several NorCal destinations appeared on the list including Sausalito, No. 3, Tiburon, No. 5, Half Moon Bay, No. 7, and Stinson Beach, No. 12, but the the only happiness found near L.A. was Laguna Beach, which ranked No. 6.
The happiest seaside town, according to the study, is Kiawah Island, South Carolina, which boasts 10 miles of pristine fine-sand beach, wild-growing palmetto trees, rare birds and convenient proximity to the bustle of Charleston.
Seaside considerations were editorial and user-based, and the barometer for happiness was based on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the percentage of sunny days, healthiness of the beaches, walkability, crime ratings, financial security of the locals and geographical diversity.
