What does your great American beach look like? Is it pristine and unhurried, distant and exotic, or right around the corner? Depends on what you’re after.
- St. George Island is serene, unhassled and uncrowded – one of the best beaches in America. The 22-mile barrier island lies at the crook of Florida, where the panhandle starts to give way to the peninsula proper. This is a decidedly family-friendly enclave, a place that welcomes kids and pets alike. Anchoring the far eastern end of the island is St. George Island State Park, home of nine miles of sublime shore, sweeping dunes, sandy coves and salt marshes. The park sports hiking trails, boardwalks and observation platforms – the better to behold Mother Nature from.
- On the opposite side of the spectrum, as well the country, is SoCal’s Malibu Surfrider Beach. A quintessential Southern California slice of sand and sea, this is a place to see and be seen. Swim, surf, dive, slam-dunk your opponent in volleyball. The pier’s nearby, so too Lagoon Park. Lifeguards patrol the beach by day, and the smell of coconut-scented suntan oil commingled with salt air adds to the ambiance.
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach is about as exotic a salient of sea and shore as you can imagine. Located on the southeastern flank of Hawaii’s Big Island, this is one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet – and it’s not populated by all that many people. The shores are jet black, the product of volcanic activity. Coconut palms array the inland side of the beach, a beach upon which you just may see a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle basking in the sun. Don’t touch them, just watch – and don’t even think about taking some of that black sand back home with you. Punalu’u is almost perfect, but the swimming leaves a lot to be desired. Pack a picnic lunch, and your sense of wonder.
What’s your favorite beach, the one you retreat to when the weight of the world bears down hard? We’d love to hear from you.
(Image: chadh)
