Feb 01
Wind-shaped dunes, seemingly endless Atlantic beaches, striped lighthouses, fishing villages, shipwreck history, and the wild waters of the Outer Banks make Cape Hatteras National Seashore one of America’s great coastal destinations. Stretching across a long chain of barrier islands along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the national seashore protects beaches on Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke islands. …
Jan 31
Few stretches of California coastline pack as much into such a small area as La Jolla Cove. Tucked between sandstone cliffs in the seaside community of La Jolla, this tiny San Diego beach offers clear Pacific water, snorkeling, scuba diving, sea caves, dramatic coastal walks, and some of the most famous marine-mammal viewing in Southern …
Jan 31
Surrounded by pink granite cliffs, evergreen-covered hills, and the cold blue waters of the Gulf of Maine, Sand Beach in Acadia National Park is one of the most beautiful—and unusual—beaches in New England. At first glance, it looks like a classic Atlantic beach: a crescent of pale sand tucked into a protected cove with forested …
Jan 31
It doesn’t take long to understand why Siesta Key Beach has become one of Florida’s most famous stretches of coastline. The sand is almost impossibly white. It feels closer to powdered sugar than ordinary beach sand, and unlike darker sand beaches that can become painfully hot beneath the Florida sun, Siesta’s quartz-rich sand remains remarkably …
Jan 31
Hanauma Bay is one of those places that almost seems designed for snorkeling. A broad volcanic crater curves around turquoise water. Coral reef begins close to shore. Bright tropical fish move through the shallows, and the surrounding ridges shelter a sandy beach that feels worlds away from Waikīkī—even though it sits on the edge of …
Jan 31
From Caribbean-white sand in Puerto Rico to sea stacks on the Oregon Coast, the United States has an astonishing variety of beaches. Some are made for swimming in warm, clear water. Others are spectacular because of their wildlife, surfing, geology, or surrounding national parks. A few look almost tropical enough to make you forget you’re …
Jan 31
Purple-streaked sand, enormous offshore rocks, crashing Pacific waves, and a natural stone arch that glows at sunset make Pfeiffer Beach one of the most unusual beaches in California. Hidden below Highway 1 in the heart of Big Sur, this isn’t a beach you’re likely to stumble across accidentally. The turn onto Sycamore Canyon Road is …
Jan 31
A soaring natural arch, pale volcanic cliffs, turquoise water, offshore rock formations, and a sheltered beach make Cathedral Cove one of New Zealand’s most recognizable coastal landscapes. Located near Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand’s North Island, the beach is officially known as Mautohe Cathedral Cove and sits beside the protected waters of …
Jan 25
Pink-tinged sand, turquoise water, swaying coconut palms, and towering coral-limestone cliffs make Crane Beach one of the most dramatic beaches in Barbados. Located in the parish of St. Philip on the island’s southeastern coast, Crane Beach feels noticeably different from the calm resort beaches lining western Barbados. The water has more energy. The cliffs are …
Jan 22
There are places that look almost too perfect to be real. Matira Beach in Bora Bora is one of them. A ribbon of soft white sand curves around the southern tip of the island while water shifts through almost impossible shades of turquoise. Palm trees lean toward the lagoon. Small fish move through the shallows. …
