The sun twinkles on the turquoise water off palm-fringed Waikiki Beach, the air heady with the perfume of coconut tanning lotion. "Aloha," smiles the waiter at Duke's Barefoot Bar as he sets down a Tropical Itch, an icy mixture of vodka, rum, and Curacao with a foot-long bamboo back scratcher sticking out.

That scratcher is yours to keep, but the most powerful itch you'll feel is the desire to linger forever on the bar's open-air patio above the white sand, listening to onstage music and watching coral and lavender colors streak the sky. Sure, it sounds cliched, but 50 million folk will be electrified to head to American beaches this summer.

The newest Amex Spending & Saving Tracker explains 42 p.c of all vacationers prefer to get close to the water, and 29 % of those are selecting their summer destination based on its vicinity to the beach. And from the sand, it's never far to a bar. The ideal way to chill "The beach bar is a perfect summer respite," asserts Jamie LaMarco, barkeeper at The Beachcomber, nestled in the dunes of Cape Cod, with a roofed deck open to the beach and a 45-foot bar. "You never have to change your attire, and you don't have to pack lunch or a cooler. It's where you find lifeguards, surfers, and beach bunnies of all shapes and sizes." In Partnership With You'll also find something going on whatever the time of day. The Beachcomber packs in a bunch at dinner time and is family-friendly till after nightfall, around nine p.m, when it morphs into an informal club with musicians playing anything from surf-rock to reggae to jazz. Such an easygoing vibe is characteristic of dodgy bars, surfer shacks, and even beach bars affiliated with exclusive luxury brands. Guests at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Fla, for example, trade business casual for swim-suits when hanging at the resort's Sand Bar no shirt, no shoes, no problem. It is your holiday, of course , and the point is to mellow out. So scratch your itch this summer at one of America's best beach bars, serving up refreshing cocktails and hand made beers.

Old Tony's Bar Thanks To OLD TONY'S BAR Redondo Beach Pier, California

The scene : This octagonal all-glass landmark on top of Old Tony's Bar pulls South Bay beach bums who come for the impressive sunsets, crashing surf, and 360-degree views of the coast.

A spiral staircase leading in to the Crow's Nest, as it's known, is coated with shots of celebrities who have joined the regulars for nightly live entertainment.

Signature drink : The Fire Chief, a grenadine Mai Tai with a kick from 3 different rums including a 151-proof floater, served in a take-home collectible cocktail glass embellished with Old Tony's symbol, $7.75

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company San Francisco, California

The scene : A surfer's refuge that is conveniently opposite to Mavericks break, known for some of the planet's hardest big-wave surfing. Hand made Mavericks Amber Ale and Mavericks Budgetary Alement are piped straight to the bar from the Half Moon Bay Brewery next door. Grab a terrace seat near the blazing fire pits in time to watch the sun set. Weekends are for live rock 'n ' roll and blues while "Brews & Views," a heated political debate, takes place monthly. Signature drink : Mavericks Amber Ale, as full-bodied and strong as the legendary wave for which it was named, $6.75 for a twenty-two oz bottle.

The Barefoot Bar, Duke's  Waikiki Beach, Hawaii

The scene: The dress code at this Waikiki hot spot takes its cue from the name: bare feet with bikini or surf shorts. Beach loungers drop in for the Jawaiian music, a mixture of classical Hawaiian mixed with groovin' reggae.

Named after Olympian Duke Kahanamoku, father of international surfing, the bar displays paraphernalia such as his original redwood board. Sip a Tropical Itch, Lava Flow, or draft beer served at a chilly 28 degrees while taking in drop-dead views of Diamond Head and Oahu's leeward coast.

Signature drink: Tropical Itch, with passion fruit juice, vodka, rum, and orange Curacao, served with a local bamboo back scratcher (yours to take home), $7.75.

Sand Bar Naples, Florida

The scene : You might not expect the funky two-year-old Sand Bar to be part of the opulent Ritz-Carlton Resort. The vibe here is casual and cool. Guests saunter up from the beach to sit on a bamboo barstool beneath a tiki roof. Nurse your drink and, with any luck, a school of dolphins will swim by before long.

Nature-themed data boards educate guests about other area wildlife like the loggerhead turtles that nest on the beach and the fauna in the resort's mangroves.

Signature drink : The Naples Nightfall, a mix of rum, peach schnapps, and tropical juices, $12.95.

Marshside Mama's Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

The scene : "Our bar is like Canterbury Stories ; there's a bit of everything," claims bartender Tyler Gerow of the honky-tonk Marshside Mama's. Owner Beth Shipman cooks up mouthwatering gumbo, shrimp, and grits, and there is often the freshest fish because fishermen pull up to the dock to drop off the catch of the day.

Although it is just a 45-minute ferry ride from Hilton Head, the ferry does not often run, so that the crowd is mostly local boaters. They rock out to live bands on weekends and follow the lead of owner Beth, who's known to yell out, "No whining, just dance. ".