Jan 22
White sand, turquoise Caribbean water, limestone cliffs, freshwater cenotes, and the remains of an ancient Maya city make Tulum one of Mexico’s most distinctive beach destinations. There are prettier beaches in the Caribbean. There are larger Maya archaeological sites in Mexico. There are more elaborate resort towns along the Riviera Maya. But very few places …
Jan 21
Some beaches are beautiful because they have soft sand and clear water. Others are unforgettable because they seem almost impossible. Imagine a beach where the sand is black volcanic glass beneath towering basalt columns. Another where giant granite boulders look as though they were arranged by a sculptor. One has purple mineral streaks beneath a …
Jan 20
Black volcanic sand stretches beneath a wall of geometric basalt columns. Powerful North Atlantic waves explode against the shore. Offshore, enormous stone pillars rise from the ocean beneath skies that can change from blue to stormy gray in minutes. Reynisfjara Black Sand Beach doesn’t look like most people’s idea of a beach. There are no …
Jan 19
Enormous granite boulders rise from powdery white sand while impossibly clear water spreads across a shallow tropical lagoon. Palm trees lean between the rocks. Narrow passages lead from one tiny cove to another. And every few steps seems to reveal another scene that looks as though it were arranged specifically for a travel photograph. This …
Dec 31
Powder-soft white sand, extraordinarily clear turquoise water, and a broad Caribbean shoreline have made Grace Bay Beach one of the defining images of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Located on the northeastern coast of Providenciales, Grace Bay delivers the kind of tropical beach travelers often imagine when planning a Caribbean vacation. The seabed slopes gently …
Dec 30
White limestone cliffs plunge into impossibly blue Ionian water while the rusting remains of a ship sit stranded on a pale beach hundreds of feet below the surrounding plateau. Few coastal landscapes in Greece are as instantly recognizable as Navagio Beach on Zakynthos. Also known as Shipwreck Beach and sometimes Smugglers Cove, Navagio became one …
Dec 29
Few beaches manage to look almost unreal even when you’re standing directly on them, but Whitehaven Beach in Australia’s Whitsundays is one of them. Stretching for approximately seven kilometres along the eastern side of Whitsunday Island, Whitehaven is famous for sand so brilliantly white that it creates an extraordinary contrast with the aquamarine water of …
Nov 16
California has more than 800 miles of coastline, and no two stretches of it seem quite the same. Drive long enough along the Pacific and you’ll encounter beaches backed by redwood-covered mountains, enormous sandstone cliffs, hidden Malibu coves, colorful pebbles, natural arches, strange spherical boulders, tide pools filled with marine life, and broad Southern California …
Oct 04
Alabama may have one of the shortest coastlines of any Gulf Coast state, but it makes remarkably good use of every mile. Along the state’s southern edge, fine white quartz sand meets warm Gulf water while dunes, bays, lagoons, maritime forests, wildlife refuges, and barrier islands create far more variety than first-time visitors often expect. …
Sep 06
Rain-darkened Sitka spruce tower above a winding road, mist drifts between forested headlands, and enormous sea stacks rise from the Pacific below. Then the trees suddenly open and one of the most recognizable views on the Oregon Coast spreads out in front of you. This is Ecola State Park, a spectacular stretch of protected coastline …
