Soft sands. Refreshing water. Sunshine (probably) and gentle breezes. From Maui to St Barts to Los Angeles, the places on this list are considered the cream of the vacation spot crop. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each picture-perfect shoreline is serving up.
St Barts
For such a small island, St Barts has a very diverse selection of beaches.
For those that love to hunt for souvenirs, Shell Beach, will keep you entertained as you sift through the myriad of colors and watch chic travelers step on and off the St Martin ferry.
For early birds, Anse des Flamands is the best beach for the first half of the day; the sun moves behind the hillside just after 3pm. Gouverneur, on the southern tip, is beautiful and secluded and completely quiet—which also means no public facilities, so pack your picnic basket.
Grand Saline, to put it bluntly, is a nude beach. Don’t feel ashamed if you like to keep your swim trunks on though—all are welcome at this beach, especially those looking to catch a decent surf break. And Baie de St Jean is the centre of action, with places such as celeb hotspot Nikki Beach lining the sand: perfect for those who enjoy the social side of St Barts.
Maui
Maui boasts over 30 miles of golden sand. Active beach goers who love to snorkel and surfwill be spoilt for choice, and those who enjoy a quiet spot can find their bliss too.
Snorkelers should head to Wailea Beach, a relatively busy, patroled beach that boasts calm, clear waters. Fleming Beach is a quieter alternative, on Maui’s north side, but there are still amenities aplenty to make your beach going a full-day affair – including showers, BBQs and shaded picnic tables.
Go further south and reach Makena Beach, which offers views all the way to Big Island on clear days.
Separated into Little Beach and Big Beach, Little Beach is a favorite for those who like to bronze in their birthday suit, while Big Beach has wonderfully calm conditions, perfect for swimmers.
And if you can’t quite decide what you want, Kanaapali is something of a one-stop-shop: snorkel over to Black Rock, surf at “the point”, grab a snack at a beachside stand, or hop onto a Scuba diving boat tour.
Los Angeles
Simply put, Los Angeles takes beach variety to a whole new level.
Boardwalk beach goers can check out Venice Beach, where rollerblading, people watching and hip cafes and food carts are everywhere.
Surfers can catch waves at Malibu Surfrider Beach; though the swell varies with the seasons and the weather, it’s considered to have some of the best conditions along the Cali coast. And for a taste of harbor life, Newport Beach, with the most expansive harbor on all of the West Coast, is the ideal place to take off for a day and enjoy the ocean.
If all of this potential action makes you yearn for a more typical beach day—lounging on the sand with a book—make your way to El Matador beach, a secluded spot of such natural beauty that photographers flock from across the globe to use it for their fashion shoots. Sit back among the statuesque rock formations and watch the waves roll in. But bring your picnic basket—the seclusion also means there’s little to no public facilities.
