ON BEACHES DREAM DESTINATIONS

I’m going to be honest with you — I’ve never really been a beach-y kind of gal.

I’ve never been comfortable in a skimpy bikini. I don’t enjoy lying in the sand for hours under the sun. I’m more likely to burn than tan. Therefore, I never used to consider beaches when choosing travel destinations.

Notice, however, that the above is written in past-tense.

I still don’t really like tanning, and I can’t sit still for more than half an hour no matter what the surrounding scenery looks like. But beaches have begun to grow on me in the past few years.

The more I travel, the more I realize that I don’t have to have a swimsuit-perfect body or a deep base tan to feel good on the beach. Hanging out at thermal spas in Europe and beaches in Central America has made me realize that living in a bikini and flip flops is actually a pretty amazing feeling — and not nearly as terrifying as it used to be.

So, with the summer travel season swiftly approaching in the northern hemisphere, I decided now would be as good a time as any to tackle the topic of beaches, looking at some of my favorites I’ve visited so far, as well as some I dream of visiting some day. Just be warned: this post may make you want to break out your swimwear ASAP!

5 Favorites:

Like I said, I haven’t been a huge beach person up until now. Meaning I haven’t been to a whole lot of amazing beaches. But, of the beaches and beach towns that I have visited, here are my top five:

5. Parga, Greece

This little beach town in Greece isn’t necessarily the most well-known or popular. In fact, it probably wouldn’t make most peoples’ “best beaches” lists. But, for me, Parga represented a welcome change from the rest of the Greek mainland (which I wasn’t a huge fan of), and a respite from the soaring temperatures last July. The town itself was colorful, easy to navigate, and full of very friendly people. The water was clear and cool, and not super crowded. This was the first beach I visited in Europe that I would want to return to — which is probably why it’s on this list.

4. Cottesloe Beach, Perth

My one and only brief visit to Australia took place in the dead of winter. Not exactly ideal beach weather. But, nevertheless, my uncle took me to see a few of the local beaches around Perth just to give me a feel for them. We visited Cottesloe Beach on a brisk Sunday evening, braving the wind long enough to admire the white sand and a spectacular sunset.

3. Port St. Joe, Florida

Every few years, my family has a big reunion down in the Florida panhandle. We rent beach houses, have cookouts, and catch up on years of socializing. The house my family rents is right on St. Joe Beach, and I can attest that the Gulf Coast beaches really are lovely.

2. The Split on Caye Caulker, Belize

This one technically isn’t a “beach” in the usual sense of the word. There’s not a lot of sand — just crumbling docks and jettys and some empty space near the Lazy Lizard bar. But it is THE place to go hang out in a swimsuit on Caye Caulker. This is one of the first places I’ve been where walking around town in nothing but a bikini and bare feet is completely acceptable. I loved the relaxed vibe of The Split — and the great sunsets.

1. Beaches in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

My favorite beaches so far? Definitely the secluded ones within Manuel Antonio National Park on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. These beaches are gorgeous and blissfully uncrowded — definitely my idea of Paradise.

5 Dreams:

And now for some of the beaches I’d most like to visit someday during my travels. I’m leaving out places like Hawaii and Bora Bora and the Seychelles and other pretty places in the South Pacific, simply because I think those are a given; everyone wants to go lie on a beach in Tahiti, don’t they? Some of my picks are perhaps a little less conventional:

5. Boulders Beach, Cape Town

South Africa is near the top of my travel wishlist these days. And one place I really want to visit there is Boulders Beach in Cape Town — but not necessarily for swimming. Boulders Beach looks stunning with its turquoise water and photogenic rocks, but it is also home to adorable African Penguins. Can you beat a gorgeous beach that also has PENGUINS? I think not.

Photo by dirtykoala, on Flickr

4. Zanzibar

A semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, Zanzibar is basically a handful of islands in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. I can’t say I know much more than that about Zanzibar (or Tanzania, for that mater), but I do know that I’ve seen some stunning photos of the beaches there — especially at sunset.

Photo by Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., on Flickr

3. Raglan, New Zealand

Even though I’ve been to New Zealand three times now, I have yet to make it to the laid-back surf town of Raglan. The more I read about its black sand beaches, though, the more convinced I am that I HAVE to visit next time, whether I surf or not.

Photo by itravelnz™, on Flickr

2. Thai islands

This one is a bit nebulous because I’ve seen SO many gorgeous pictures of beaches on various islands off the coast of Thailand. Whether its Koh Chang, Railay, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi, or any of the other Thai islands, I see amazing photos and immediately want to go to all of them.

Photo by plusgood, on Flickr

1. Whitehaven Beach, Australia

My top dream beach destination? It has to be Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands in the heart of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The photos I have seen of this iconic beach are nothing short of incredible. And the fact that it’s not completely packed with tourists only adds to its appeal.