Beach

10. Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

Poipu Beach

Poipu beach is not only beautiful but the best family oriented beach out there. There are so many activities here that can keep your family entertained for hours such as diving, surfing or even going up on a helicopter ride to see the crescent shaped beaches from above. Poipu is nice and shallow creating a perfect natural wading pool.

9. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janiero, Brazil

Ipanema

The infamous Ipanema Beach in Rio brings in thousands of tourists annually. Although, unlike many other tourist swarmed beach, Ipanema also attracts its locals during the summer months. Keep in mind that Bikinis are taken to a whole new level on Ipanema, less is definitely more here.

8. Clifton Beach, Cape Town, South Africa

Clifton Beach

Going to the beach to tan, play in the sun and seen or bee seen? Then this is where you need to be. The Atlantic waters are so cold you are better off on the sand. Separated by boulders, Clifton Beach is made up of a series of white sand beaches. The area is dotted with interesting cafes and restaurants, all perfect places for people watching.

7. Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar, Tanzania

Nungwi Beach

Birthplace of rock legend Freddie Mercury, Tanzania is also home to Nungwi Beach, one of the most romantic beaches in the world. Bringing your loved one here for long walks amongst the banana palms and coconut trees while staying at a luxury resort overlooking the white sands wins you brownie points for life!

6. Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Is., Queensland, Australia

Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach is the most famous beach on Whitsunday Island. The pure white sands on this beach are a product of dead coral that has been ground down over time. The Whitsunday Islands themselves are made from dead coral that came from the Great Barrier Reef. The beach is surrounded by beautiful green forests and creates a stunning view.

5. Matira Point, Bora Bora, Tahiti

Matira Beach

Bora Bora boasts many beautiful beaches but the best by far is Matira point. The water is an unbelievable turquoise blue and is very romantic. Bora Bora is known as the romantic island for a reason!

4. Phi Phi Is., Thailand

Phi Phi Island

The beaches on Phi Phi Island are remote and perfect for you to live out your “Stranded on Paradise Island” daydream…to the extent that this daydream involves reggae bars and restaurants that is. Phi Phi Island is actually two islands in southern Thailand, Ko Phi Phi Don, where Long Beach, or Hat Yao in Thai, is located, and Ko Phi Phi Leh which is much smaller and not as ‘developed.”

3. Larvotto Beach, Monaco

Monaco

One of the most glamorous beaches in the world, Larvotto is renowned the world over for its topless sunbathing amongst the who’s who of the European elite. It is in the center of everything that Monaco is known for.

2. Pink Sands Beach, Harbor Is., Bahamas

Pink Sand Beach

The name says it all! Pink Sands Beach’s mile wide pink beach is perfect for those looking for a private and intimate getaway. With a backdrop of a blue sky, “picturesque” is an understatement

1. Anse Source D’Argent, La Digue, Seychells

Anse Source D'Argent

Anse Source D’Argent is simply paradise on Earth when it comes to beaches. The soft sand, calm waters and rock formations topped with beautiful greenery creates a stunning beach unlike any other. Coming to the Seychells is one thing, but being on this beach is another world altogether.

This post is by Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents.

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

A fisherman enjoys a with pretty view of Naples' pretty beaches as he drops a line from the mid-point of the municipal fishing pier

Of all the natural attractions available around Naples, Florida, the area’s beaches are everyone’s favorite. One of the more popular is Naples Municipal Beach, located at the end of 12th Street, just two blocks from Naples’ lovely, upscale downtown. Aside from the sparkling sandy beach, gentle breezes, calm waters, and statuesque coconut palms lining the shore, the Municipal Beach is also home to the recently renovated Naples Pier, which extends 1,000 feet into the Gulf of Mexico.

Stroll to the end of the pier for an excellent panoramic view of the six miles of beaches that stretch from Gordon Pass on the south side to Doctors Pass on the north side. It’s also a great spot to try your hand at fishing. Pelicans often beg leftovers from the fisherman, and dolphins, stingrays, and many varieties of fish can also be seen from the pier. But without a doubt, the most popular activity, both on the beach and on the pier, is gathering in the late afternoon and early evening to watch the ever-changing but always spectacular sunsets.

Unlike many other Florida beaches, which are crammed with retail shops, restaurants, and refreshment stands, Naples’ beaches have little commercial activity. Private homes and condos line the beaches, and even these are not usually allowed to do weekly vacation rentals. As a result, any visit to the Naples Municipal Beach is a much more laid back experience than many other touristy beaches around Florida.

At 1,000 feet, Naples recently renovated fishing pier may be the longest and the nicest in the State

After the sun sinks into the cobalt sea, most visitors retrace their steps to downtown Naples, which charms all those who stroll along its banyan and flowering Poinciana-lined sidewalks. In addition to shops that feature couture fashions by top designers, Historic Fifth Avenue South also offers a wide array of dining selections and numerous hotels and other accommodations.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Better known for world famous crabs, the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland is also one of the best beach getaways for many people in the Mid Atlantic region. The Bay is host to many events throughout the year but the most famous being St. Michael’s Classic and Antique Boat Festival which is generally every June in St. Michael’s, MD. If you can’t make it to the festival, you should still make sure to drop by the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for a good insight into Chesapeake culture.

The waters on the Chesapeake are calm and perfect for children to play in the water safely. In fact the waters are so calm it is a perfect setting for lots of activities; canoing, kayaking, water skiing and jet skiing whether you are an amateur or a professional. The winds pick up quite well in the Chesapeake area making for a great place to learn how to kite surf. Although not popular for beach combing, it is known that there is an astonishing number of shark teeth littered along the eastern shores of the Chesapeake which many people collect.

A perfect place for a picnic and a view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge is Sandy Point State Park. It is the closest beach to Washington, DC and an ideal location for a day at the beach. There is an entrance fee to the park of $5 for Maryland residents and $6 for non-residents. Take a look at the Chesapeake Bay Getaways Network for more general information on Sandy Point and the Chesapeake Bay area.

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Close your eyes. Think “beaches.” Quick – what comes to mind? Most people conjure up images of soft white sand beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast or turquoise waters lapping gently against honeyed sands on an exotic Caribbean island. Few would associate the word beaches with Maine, yet this most northern of states has one of the loveliest beaches in the nation.

On the eastern shore of Mount Dessert Island, in the center of Acadia National Park, is Sand Beach. Tucked between two rocky arms and backed by virgin pine forest, this crescent cove glitters like a pink diamond surrounded by emerald chips. Over eons, shore currents have deposited tons of sand that have eroded from the surrounding granite, mixed with broken bits of shells and the skeletons of crabs, mussels, sea urchins, and other marine life. The beach is ideal for sunning but only the heartiest of souls venture into the water, because it rarely exceeds 55 degrees, even on the hottest summer days.

Crystal clear emerald waters lap gently on the pinkish-tan sands of Sand Beach

Sand Beach is also a jumping off point for two of the park’s most popular hikes. On the far end of the beach a set of granite steps at the base of the cliff leads to the trail that loops around Great Head, a rocky monolith that forms one arm of the sheltering arms of Sand Beach. From the beach parking lot, another two-mile long trail leads along the coastal cliffs, passing Thunder Hole on the way to Otter Point. Other park visitors arrive at Sand Beach before dawn to witness the sunrise from this easternmost speck of land that enjoys uninterrupted views of the north Atlantic.

Looking back on Sand Beach from the coastal cliffs trail leading to Otter Point

The only access to Sand Beach is via the Loop Road of Acadia National Park, located near the famous seaside resort town of Bar Harbor, Maine. The per car entry fee is $20 between June 23 and early October, and $10 between May 1-June 22 and early October through October 31. The entrance fee is good for one vehicle for seven days, including the date of purchase. However, if you happen to be in the area in April, the fourth Sunday of that month each year is officially Car Free Day in Acadia.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Ann Weibel

There is really only one way to get a completely even tan and that is to take it all off on a nude beach and let the sun do the rest. Here are some of the best nude beaches in the United States in no particular order:

Black’s Beach, La Jolla, San Diego, CA

Surfing in Black's Beach

Black’s is famous for being the largest nude beach in North America. It is very popular with naturalists and surfers as well. The waves here get pretty big and so do the crowds. Black’s Beach is located north of La Jolla and south of Torrey Pines. Black’s Beach Bares is a volunteer organization which helps to ensure that Black’s remains clean, safe and fun.

San Gregorio, San Mateo, CA

San Gregorio Beach

The oldest nude beach in the US, San Gregorio beach is a privately owned beach with two miles of soft sand and cave cliffs. It is important to keep you location on the beach in mind. You may find yourself being cited by a state park officer if you stray south of the Hazardous Surf sign. The north end of the beach is popular with the gay community while the straight crowd migrate to the south end. The surf is rough here, therefore it is recommended that you do not swim in these waters unless you are a strong swimmer. For the latest on San Fransisco area nude beaches use the San Fransisco Bay Guardian Online as a resource.

Gunnison Beach, Sandy Hook, NJ

Gunnison Beach Nudity Warning

Gunnison Beach is the largest nude beach in the eastern United States. It is actually the only nude beach in the state of New Jersey. It the past, Gunnison Beach was a military installation set up in the 1800s to protect New York Harbor. The beach was where all the soldiers would go out to skinny dip and was opened to the public in 1972.

Mazo Beach, Mazomaine, WI

Nude beaches are not limited to either the west or east coasts, in fact they are not even limited to oceans! Mazo Beach in Wisconsin is located along the shores of the Wisconsin River between Mazomaine and Sauk City. The size of the beach depends on how high the water gets. It can be especially crowded in the summer months if the water is high with hundreds of people tanning. Nudity on this beach is a highly contested issue amongst some citizens in the area and bills have been introduced to the Wisconsin legislative branch aimed at banning nudity on the beach, none of which have been passed as of today.

Little Beach, Maui, HI

Secluded Little Beach

Known as Puu Olai Beach, this 1/8th of a mile long beach is separated from Big Beach by Puu Olai, an outcropping made of volcanic rock. This small beach was a favorite amongst traveling hippies during the 1960s and is now popular with naturalists from across the US. Visitors to Little Beach encountered opposition from local law enforcement, but a ruling in the 1980s by District Court Judge John Vail allowed for nudity on the beach since the beach itself is not easily accessible to the public. For more information take a look at the Friends of Little Beach site.

Please remember to check all the laws regarding nudity on beaches before pursuing that perfectly even natural tan. If being naked in public is a little too adventurous for you, try looking into nudist resorts. Here are a few examples in California and Hawaii.

By Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Although park literature states that there are no lifeguards at Caladesi, the main beach near the concession stand does provide a lifeguard in the summer months, as well as a beach rental shack

In 1921, a hurricane roared onshore just north of Tampa Bay, Florida, battering the area’s fragile barrier islands. The force of the storm opened a new inlet between the Gulf of Mexico and the inner Sound, slicing the barrier island in two between Honeymoon Beach and Clearwater Beach.

Cut off from easy access, the tip of the island that was home to Clearwater Beach was so remote that locals began thinking of it as a separate entity which eventually became known as Caladesi Island.

The northern tip of Caladesi, with its spectacular white sand beach, is a 30 minute walk from the main beach. Photo courtesy of Florida State Parks.

A lesser visited and relatively unknown beach destination for many years, Caladesi Island entered the spotlight when it was discovered by Dr. Stephen Leatherman. Every year since 1991 Leatherman, better known as as “Dr. Beach,” has been ranking America’s top ten beaches. In 2008 he named Caladesi the best beach in America. Fortunately, the Florida Park Service began acquiring the property on Caladesi Island in 1966, ensuring that it will be preserved in its natural state for generations to come. Today there are only three ways to reach Caladesi Island. Most visitors pay a $10 fee and hop aboard the passenger ferry for a 15 minute ride from Honeymoon Island State Park, but it can also be reached by private boat or by walking. From Pier 60 in Clearwater Beach, Caladesi is a little more than an hour’s walk.

Caladesi Island may well be the best beach in Florida for shelling

Getting there may be a bit of a chore, but it is definitely worth the effort. Caladesi Island has three miles of spectacular white sand beaches with shallow, calm waters that lend themselves to swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking. The exquisite clarity of the Caribbean-like turquoise water is best seen from the air, as in the above photo of the northern tip of the island.

Because the sand is not raked or manicured by machines, Caladesi’s beach contains more seaweed and beach rubble than found on other public peaches, but this also provides beach-goers with an opportunity to scavenge for interesting things that have washed up. Coral and ballast from old shipwrecks are occasional finds, but the real treasures are Caladesi’s abundant, unblemished shells, which are tossed up on the beach by the warm currents of the Gulf Stream. While collecting live shells is prohibited, a short stroll along the beach will net dozens of collectible specimens, including olive shells, conchs, cowries, clam shells, and sand dollars.

In addition to the beach, Caladesi offers numerous other activities. Rent a kayak and paddle through the mangrove tunnels on the bay side of the island or walk the nature trail behind the dunes for a close-up view of the maritime hammock. Boaters can enjoy day use or overnight stays in the 108 slip marina, or in calm weather, anchor offshore. Visitors who arrive later in the day are usually treated to spectacular sunsets.

Even on stormy days, Caladesi sunsets are spectacular

Facilities at Caladesi Island include a concession stand, covered picnic pavilions, picnic tables under the palms, restrooms, changing rooms, showers, and a drinking fountain. Equipment rentals, including chairs, umbrellas, beach wheelchairs, and kayaks, are available from the rental shack on the beach. Ferries run on the hour, every day of the week, beginning at 10 a.m. The last ride over to the island is at 3 p.m. each day, and the final return trip is 4 p.m. Visitors who arrive by ferry are limited to a four hour stay.

Photos not otherwise credited by Barbara Ann Weibel

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Early settlers called it Hog Island. But when New York developer Clinton Washburn purchased the island in 1939, he held a contest for newly married couples, offering the winners a free two-week “honeymoon” in thatched bungalows he had constructed, earning it the name Honeymoon Island.

Sea oats and cactus that carpet the dunes behind the beach glow golden in the setting sun

Today a short drive across Dunedin Causeway brings visitors to the beaches, mangrove swamps, and tidal flats that make up Honeymoon Island State Park. With its easy access to the gentle waters of the Gulf, its sugary sand, and facilities that include a snack bar, parking, pavilions, playground, picnic tables, restrooms, and showers, the island is popular with beach-goers.

Honeymoon Island is also a favorite of birders and hikers. Its position near the top of Florida’s barrier island chain makes it an important location for resting and foraging shorebirds. On any given day, the chances of seeing a giant osprey or great horned owl are excellent and the Park Service’s list of birds that have been spotted here is six pages long! Other indigenous wildlife, including mangrove tortoises, raccoons, and eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, are often encountered along the 2.5 miles of nature trails that wind through one of the few remaining virgin slash pine forests in South Florida.

A spit of hard-packed sand on the northern end of the island is a favorite spot for both shorebirds and birders

Because of the way the Gulf Stream meets the island, its four miles of beaches are a virtual treasure trove of shells, and the southern end of the island is a favorite spot for fishermen, who pull flounder, snook, trout, redfish, snapper, whiting, sheepshead, pompano, Spanish mackerel, cobia, ladyfish, tarpon, and shark from the waters of Hurricane Pass. Other popular activities in the park include kayaking and surfing. Between the sand spit and nature trail, kayakers paddle the waters of Pelican Cove and surfing is usually pretty good on the north end by Bathhouse 3.

Honeymoon Island State Park is located a mile north of Dunedin, Florida. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. until sundown. The entrance fee is $5 per car for up to eight people, or $3 for a single occupant car.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Ann Weibel

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

On the windswept shores of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State lies Ruby Beach, named for the rose-colored garnet fragments found in the coarse gray sand. This rugged, often fogged-in shoreline is part of Olympic National Park, which, with its mountains, glaciers, temperate rain forests, and wilderness coasts, is one of the the nation’s most diverse parks.

Sea stacks and high cliffs add to the almost surreal beauty of Ruby Beach

Although this is not a beach for sunning, surfing, or swimming, there is no lack of stunning scenery at Ruby Beach. Mounds of bleached driftwood have been tossed carelessly on the shore like handfuls of pick-up sticks. This log bone yard derives from forests up river where floods undermine the forest, cause trees to fall, and then deliver them to the ocean. Rocky ironshore at the water’s edge plays host to tidal pools where visitors can examine a host of marine critters struggling to survive in the ebb and flow of the tides. Offshore, sea-stacks thrust up from the depths, their tops covered with the barest vegetation.

A fog bank rolls in during a late afternoon at Ruby Beach

Because Ruby Beach is off the beaten track, the crowds are never large. As you wander the shore, duck into one of the cliff caves that are the backdrop for this rugged coastline. As you crouch in a small cavern that has been hollowed out by eons of crashing waves, it is easy to imagine prehistoric inhabitants eking out a living in this isolated spot. Any time of day is a good time to visit Ruby Beach, but do stay for the sunset, when the sinking sun glints off the crushed garnets, turning the sand a lovely shade of rose.

With dozens of activities to choose from in and around the park, you could easily spend two weeks investigating Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. However all the eco-zones within the park can easily be experienced in a single day. From the coast, you can ascend nearly a mile high to Hurricane Ridge, which offers a visitor center and nature trails. From Hurricane Ridge, a three-hour drive to the west will bring you to the Hoh Rain Forest, which also has a visitor center, picnic area, and short nature trails leading through the dripping tropical forest.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Ann Weibel

Coronado, California

Coronado Island has long been a family friendly destination. The beach here is a traditionally large California type of beach with soft powdery white sand. It is also home to the Hotel Del Coronado, a historic hotel where the Wizard of OZ was written.

The beach itself has been featured in movies such as Some Like It Hot starring Marilyn Monroe and in a music video by Dashboard Confessionals. It is not uncommon to see US Navy SEALS training on this beach, running in the sand while carrying a boat over their heads or perhaps being dangled above the ocean from a helicopter.

Walking north on the beach would lead you to San Diego, yet a bike ride is highly recommended especially in the summer months. The waters here are not that warm so be wary when running straight into the water! On the beaches closer to San Diego you will find a type of tourist often found here; seals. Generally found soaking up the sun in coves, the funny animals look like rocks at first but upon closer inspection it is obvious they are far from inanimate.

There are a lot of hotels on Coronado Island and with them a lot of tourists and the beach here is quite famous amongst families during the holiday weekends.

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Any list of the world’s most unique beaches would have to include the five beaches of Venice, Florida (Venice Beach, Nokomis Beach, North Jetty Beach, Brohard Beach, and Caspersen Beach) because they are the best places on the planet to dig for petrified shark’s teeth. These ten million year old fossilized shark teeth range in size from one-eighth inch long to three inches long and represent at least ten different species, several of which are extinct.

The main boardwalk entrance to Venice Beach

For eons, sharks have died in the Gulf of Mexico. Their carcasses sink to the ocean floor and are covered by layers of sand and silt, where they decompose, leaving only their teeth and jaws. Sharks have seven rows of teeth; each row consists of 40 or more teeth. The front row is used to feed until they wear out, at which time they are shed and a new row of teeth moves up and into place. Since a single Tiger shark can produce as many as 24,000 teeth in ten years, that means literally billions of teeth have been deposited in the Gulf.

In addition to fossil hunting, Venice Beach offers crystal clear turquoise waters

Thousands of years ago, sea levels were much higher and most of south Florida was underwater. Unlike other areas of the state, in the Venice area the wave action was much calmer, which allowed the teeth to remain in place rather than being swept far out to sea. Since the waters have long ago receded and the coastline in this area is now being eroded, sharks teeth are exposed by every major storm, earning the town the right to bill themselves as the “Shark Tooth Capitol of the World.”

Sorting through sand dredged from the beach in search of shark's teeth

Take a walk on any of Venice’s beaches and you will no doubt see people digging in the sand with long-handled steel sieves, hoping with each basketful to discover a prize fossil. Of the five beaches in the area, Caspersen is held by most to be the very best location to hunt for shark teeth. Venice Beach is such a popular shark tooth hunting spot that the town uses a picture of a fossilized shark tooth to form the “V” in Venice and holds a Shark’s Tooth Festival each April. Venice is located on Florida’s Gulf coast, midway between Sarasota and Naples.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Ann Weibel