Beach Destinations 

We’ve written on a range of topics on this blog. But there’s nothing more exciting than beach destinations. Yes, it can be frustrating writing on a destination and not actually being there. Note to self - let employer know that this post would be much richer in value if I could be at all of these places to report first-hand from the scene. While that is likely financially unworkable, we’ll stick to reporting from afar. 

This was an exceptionally difficult list to narrow down. This could easily stretch on for 10,000 words plus as our shared world has some absolutely precious beaches. But we’re here to write on a select few, so let’s jump in!

Clearwater Beach, Florida

When we think of Florida, Miami Beach (or more specifically South Beach) jumps to mind. But believe it or not, Clearwater Beach continually bests South Beach as a premier Florida beach. What makes Clearwater special is Caladesi Island State Park. This is a reserve, purposely undeveloped and accessible only via a ferry, no cars. As you can likely imagine, the beaches that border this park are otherworldly. It’s hard to find pristine beaches in the US where developers have not been allowed to enter. Clearwater has it, and combined with plenty of restaurants and top-notch hotels on the main beach, this Florida beach scene is the most diverse in the US, hands-down. 

Crete, Greece

Ah, Greece. No beach resort post would be complete without Greece, but the hard part was narrowing this down. A host of other resorts deserve mention here, but Crete is arguably the  best. While Crete has always been a major European destination, the sequel of the hit musical Mamma Mia! in 2018 brought a renewed surge of folks to Crete. This is where the storyline was set, and when you see Crete’s stunning beauty on full display in the musical, it’s hard to ignore. Ancient ruins, culinary flavor, and pristine beaches with shallow turquoise lagoons make Crete a worthy addition. 

St. Lucia

St. Lucia rose to fame as the ideal spot for honeymooners. We’re not sure how this came to be, but once it stuck honeymooner traffic to this tropical paradise has not let up. Over the past years St. Lucia has witnessed record highs in terms of visitors. Simply reading about the island makes you want to pack your bags. In addition to relaxing and taking in breathtaking scenery, St. Lucia features premier hiking and kayaking as well as hotels like the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort with over a half dozen swimming pools as well as a wellness center and spa. 

Praslin Island, Seychelles

Many of heard of the Seychelles, but 8 folks out of 10 would have no idea where to place it. Believe it or not, the Seychelles are a 115-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean, just off East Africa. The beaches are otherworldly, making tourism a huge driver to local economies. One of the most talked about hotels in the Seychelles is Hotel Cote d’Or. This is a prime destination on Praslin Island with amazing beach volleyball, canoeing, and archery available at a moment’s notice.   

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Another Stateside pick, South Carolina isn’t known for a lot. It’s the Carolina lying to the south of North Carolina, and home to a handful of notable universities. But South Carolina is frankly under-respected, and with Myrtle Beach, we’re bringing this great state back to the forefront. A family-friendly, affordable beach, there are a host of prime resorts and economic destinations up and down the 60 miles of sandy shores that Myrtle has to offer. Another positive here is events are popping year-round, with an obvious leaning towards those in the summer. 

You’re likely not engaged in a whole lot of traveling at the moment but keep this post handy when things start to open up again. It’ll be well worth it.

This was an exceptionally difficult list to narrow down. This could easily stretch on for 10,000 words plus as our shared world has some absolutely precious beaches. But we’re here to write on a select few, so let’s jump in!

Clearwater Beach, Florida

When we think of Florida, Miami Beach (or more specifically South Beach) jumps to mind. But believe it or not, Clearwater Beach continually bests South Beach as a premier Florida beach. What makes Clearwater special is Caladesi Island State Park. This is a reserve, purposely undeveloped and accessible only via a ferry, no cars. As you can likely imagine, the beaches that border this park are otherworldly. It’s hard to find pristine beaches in the US where developers have not been allowed to enter. Clearwater has it, and combined with plenty of restaurants and top-notch hotels on the main beach, this Florida beach scene is the most diverse in the US, hands-down. 

Crete, Greece

Ah, Greece. No beach resort post would be complete without Greece, but the hard part was narrowing this down. A host of other resorts deserve mention here, but Crete is arguably the  best. While Crete has always been a major European destination, the sequel of the hit musical Mamma Mia! in 2018 brought a renewed surge of folks to Crete. This is where the storyline was set, and when you see Crete’s stunning beauty on full display in the musical, it’s hard to ignore. Ancient ruins, culinary flavor, and pristine beaches with shallow turquoise lagoons make Crete a worthy addition. 

St. Lucia

St. Lucia rose to fame as the ideal spot for honeymooners. We’re not sure how this came to be, but once it stuck honeymooner traffic to this tropical paradise has not let up. Over the past years St. Lucia has witnessed record highs in terms of visitors. Simply reading about the island makes you want to pack your bags. In addition to relaxing and taking in breathtaking scenery, St. Lucia features premier hiking and kayaking as well as hotels like the Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort with over a half dozen swimming pools as well as a wellness center and spa. 

Praslin Island, Seychelles

Many of heard of the Seychelles, but 8 folks out of 10 would have no idea where to place it. Believe it or not, the Seychelles are a 115-island archipelago in the Indian Ocean, just off East Africa. The beaches are otherworldly, making tourism a huge driver to local economies. One of the most talked about hotels in the Seychelles is Hotel Cote d’Or. This is a prime destination on Praslin Island with amazing beach volleyball, canoeing, and archery available at a moment’s notice.   

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Another Stateside pick, South Carolina isn’t known for a lot. It’s the Carolina lying to the south of North Carolina, and home to a handful of notable universities. But South Carolina is frankly under-respected, and with Myrtle Beach, we’re bringing this great state back to the forefront. A family-friendly, affordable beach, there are a host of prime resorts and economic destinations up and down the 60 miles of sandy shores that Myrtle has to offer. Another positive here is events are popping year-round, with an obvious leaning towards those in the summer. 

You’re likely not engaged in a whole lot of traveling at the moment but keep this post handy when things start to open up again. It’ll be well worth it.