Jul 28
Japan may be famous for neon-lit Tokyo, historic Kyoto, and snowcapped Mount Fuji, but some of the country’s most memorable destinations sit right at the water’s edge. With thousands of miles of coastline, Japan is filled with seaside communities where beaches, fishing traditions, historic temples, hot springs, and spectacular ocean scenery come together. The best …
Jul 03
Planning a beach vacation should feel exciting—not like a last-minute scramble to remember sunscreen, swimsuits, chargers, and everything else you might need. Whether you’re heading to Florida, the Caribbean, a quiet coastal town, or a weekend getaway closer to home, this free beach vacation packing checklist will help you organize the essentials without bringing half …
Jul 03
Choosing where to stay in Destin can make almost as much difference as choosing when to visit. Destin is not a huge city, but its beaches, harbor, resorts, vacation rentals, restaurants, and attractions stretch along a busy coastal corridor. A hotel that looks only a few miles away on a map can feel much farther …
Feb 17
There is something irresistible about walking along the shoreline and wondering what the next wave might leave behind. A perfectly shaped seashell. A smooth piece of sea glass. A tiny fossil. A weathered fragment of pottery. Driftwood twisted into an unusual shape. Perhaps even a mysterious object that has traveled hundreds or thousands of miles …
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 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 …
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 …
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 …
May 27
Just south of Tokyo, Kamakura combines two sides of Japan that travelers often experience separately: centuries-old temples and shrines tucked among forested hills, and a relaxed seaside culture centered around sandy beaches, surfing, seafood, and sunsets. Once the political center of medieval Japan, Kamakura is filled with reminders of the samurai era. Tsurugaoka Hachimangu stands …
