Down by the seashore life gets a little bit easier—no matter where you are. Beautiful scenery, balmy sun rays and the delicate scent of ocean air are the perfect remedy for any of life’s curveballs. All over the world beaches make it easy to be grateful for the simple things and know how to get visitors to unplug from reality. Sway a little from the Jones Beach beaten path and add these eight to your bucket list.
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Wharariki Beach, New Zealand
image: twitter.com/purenewzealand
Wharariki Beach can be found on the northern tip of the south Island of New Zealand and has become well-known for the Archway Islands, featured frequently in New Zealand landscape calendar photos. To get there, visitors must walk 20 to 30 minutes from the parking lot at the end of Wharariki Road.
Glass Beach, Hawaii
image: facebook.com/pages/glass-beach
Sea glass lovers, this one’s for you. The shoreline of Glass Beach is covered with millions of brown, aqua, clear and green sea glass pebbles from old bottles, flasks, windshields and windows that have been weathered by moving ocean for about 10 to 30 years.
Railay Beach, Thailand
image: twitter.com/hashtag/railay
Railay is a secluded paradise that is only accessible by boat due to the surrounding cliffs. These high limestone cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the relaxing coastal atmosphere makes it a timeless destination.
Matira Beach, French Polynesia
image: triggerphoto
At the southern tip of Bora Bora Island, visitors will come across a mile of pristine white sand known as Matira Beach. The environment is very cheery with eye-opening snorkeling, safe swimming and natural shade from palm trees. Plus, the western-facing beach is lauded for its over-the-water bungalows and beautiful sunsets.
Shipwreck (Navagio) Beach, Greece
image: facebook.com/navagiozante
Legend has it the picturesque beach got its name back in 1980 when a boat was shipwrecked after hitting rocks in bad weather. The boat was being chased by the Greek Navy who suspected it was carrying contraband cigarettes. Located on the North West coast of the Greek Ionian island of Zakynthos, the remote beach is only accessible by boat (how ironic).
Whitehaven Beach, Australia
image: facebook.com/fotofavolose
The water is perfectly cool, the white sand inviting and among the whitest anywhere on earth. Composed of 98 percent silica, the sand on this serene beach doesn’t retain heat and has a fine, powder-like consistency. Visitors luck out because even in the hottest part of the day, they can comfortably stroll along its 4.5 miles of sand beside the sparkling Coral Sea.
The Baths, British Virgin Islands
image: cdwheatley
The Baths is a group of large granite boulders that border the coast at the southern tip of Virgin Gorda, forming secret shallow pools perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Playa del Amor, Mexico
image: twitter.com/trippypiaces
Locals refer to this one as the “hidden beach.” It’s encircled by a remarkable rock ring forming a natural eye for the sun and sky.