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Category Archives: Beaches

One-of-a-Kind Beaches for Winter Getaways

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A nice beach can make a vacation, and there really doesnt have to be much more to it than soft sand, clean water, and plenty of space to spread a towel. But a truly special beach is harder to come by; it has to have that little something extra that makes it and your vacation one-of-a-kind. Here are seven beaches around the world that wowed us.

A national natural landmark, Bioluminescent Bay (also know, much less prettily, as Mosquito Bay) glows a breathtaking neon blue. A tiny micro-organism that sparkles when disturbed gives the bay its beautiful luminescence, and many tours take kayakers and divers out at night to watch the waters glow. Stay at W Retreat & Spa Vieques Island. This hotel has the modern, funky feel of the W brand with a tropical twist its right on its own private beach, the lobby and rooms feature bright colors and concrete floors, and the infinity pool overlooking the ocean has a pool bar serving up poolside drinks and meals.

The white-sand beaches of Playa del Carmen are popular nesting grounds for turtles, and tourists often go on boating and catamaran trips to swim with them. Some lucky vacationers can even watch turtles hatch and then scuttle out to the ocean. Stay at Esencia. The former estate of an Italian duchess, the ultra-luxurious Esencia oozes Mediterranean elegance and style. The hotels white-sand beach, complete with turquoise waters and thatched cabanas, is the nesting grounds for turtles, and hotel staff alerts guests when the eggs are hatching.

Accessed by an unmarked road, Pfeiffer Beach is one of the most beloved beaches in Big Sur, not only for its calm, remote location, but also for its unique purple sand. Pretty rock formations make for gorgeous photographs. Stay at Ventana Inn & Spa. Situated on more than 200 acres of picturesque oceanfront land, the Ventana Inn & Spa looks like a rustic cabin nestled in the woods yet it features 62 luxurious, streamlined rooms with wooden accents, refreshing pops of color, and modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. The hotel is a 10-minute drive from Pfeiffer Beach.

An ancient volcano eruption is to thank for Northern Irelands eerily beautiful Giants Causeway, a collection of basalt columns forming cliffs that plunge down into the chilly waters below. Stay at Bushmills Inn. The quaint Bushmills Inn in Antrim is quintessentially Irish in every respect: There are fireplaces burning peat or wood throughout the property, a fantastic restaurant serving locally sourced cuisine, Irish music performed certain nights at the Gas Bar, which is lit by traditional gaslight, and 41 cozy, cottage-style rooms. It is also a convenient spot for visiting Giants Causeway, which is only a 5-minute drive away.

Bermuda is known for its pink-sand beaches, and Horseshoe Bay Beach is perhaps the most stunning. It is ranked as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and is located in Southampton Parish, a gorgeous area with plenty of beaches, golf courses, restaurants, and resorts. Stay at Fairmont Southampton. Built in the early 1970s, the iconic Big Pink Lady on the Hill is easily the most recognizable hotel in Bermuda and, following a 21st-century renovation, its still one of the nicest.

Costa Ricas wildlife can be found freely roaming the beaches in the countrys many national parks, including Manuel Antonio. Visitors often spot sloths, howler monkeys, white-faced capuchin monkeys, and exotic birds. Stay at Arenas Del Mar Beach And Nature Resort. This propertys lush rainforest, two beautiful white-sand beaches on site a rarity in the area and diverse wildlife allow guests to truly connect with the nature that the resorts design so painstakingly preserved.

Maui has its fair share of gorgeous beaches, but Koki Beach with its red sand and epic waves is unique. The sand get its color from a red cinder hill nearby. Stay at Travaasa Hana. The Travaasa Hana, overlooking Hana Bay, delivers rustic luxury in the middle of Mauis lush, secluded east coast. The hotel does not have direct beach access, but offers a free shuttle service to Koki Beach.

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One-of-a-Kind Beaches for Winter Getaways

Town seeking options to keep beaches public

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YORK, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- While it is far from beach weather we've been having lately, Ronald Nowell, Chairman of the York Board of Selectmen, is anxious about future access to the town's beaches.

"It takes one private property owner to stake out his property and put up a sign and a fence, it is as simple as that," stated Nowell. "Any of those private property owners could fence off the sections of the beach, and there is not a thing we could do about it."

Nowell has been concerned about the situation for decades, but a recent ruling by the Maine Supreme Judicial Courtin favor of property owner's rights to limit access to Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunk has him looking for options to keep public access to the beaches in his community.

He says closing the beaches would not just be an inconvenience, but devastating to the local economy.

He says the town is already involved in a battle to restore access to the Cliff Walk, a path along the shore used by thousands each year, until a large section of it was blocked off by fences by two property owners.

"Who wants a common person walking across in front of their $5 million property? That's all it is about. It is a type of class warfare," said Nowell.

He says the situation with the path is different because each property along the path has a clause in itsdeed that guarantees public access.

He says the town will be meeting with its lawyers soon to determine how they will proceed to restore access to the path. An overwhelming majority of voters approved creating a legal fund to fight the closure last year.

"Nobody ever thought, over the last 300 years, that somebody would block the shore path," Nowell explained, and says it is part of his reasoning to investigate the beach access issue. "Nobody ever thought that, but they have."

He says the town has options, which may include buying the beaches, andso far he has not heard of any beach owner looking to block access, but says now is the time to start having that conversation.

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Town seeking options to keep beaches public

New Jerseys Top 10 Beaches Contest Resumes After Superstorm Sandy

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POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) New Jerseys Top Ten Beaches contest is back after a one-year break while the shore began its recovery from Superstorm Sandy.

Voting started Monday in the contest, sponsored by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium and Richard Stockton Colleges Costal Resource Center. Ballots can be cast online at http://www.njtoptenbeaches.org.

The contest was started in 2008 to encourage stewardship of and pride in the states beaches while promoting a competition for bragging rights among New Jerseys favorite beach towns. Previous versions asked beachgoers to share their favorite memories and photos of the Jersey shore.

New wrinkles in this years contest ask beachgoers to consider specific things about their favorite beaches, including how much it costs to access the beach and whether amenities such as parking and restrooms are available.

This year were asking people to take a little time to really think about the criteria that make the places they pick worthy of winning a spot on the 2014 Top Ten list, said Kim Kosko, a spokeswoman for the Sea Grant Consortium. We want them to realize how important our beaches and other coastal assets are and that were all responsible for their well-being. What we do today directly impacts the future of shore communities.

This years contest also ends the regional groupings that had allowed clusters of beaches to compete as a single unit in past years. For instance, Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood had for many years competed as a single entity, The Wildwoods. This year, each individual town will be voted on separately. The same goes for individual beach towns on Long Beach Island.

Voting runs through April 30. Winners will be announced on May 22.

The contest was suspended last year while parts of the shore struggled to recover from the damage Sandy caused on Oct. 29, 2012.

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New Jerseys Top 10 Beaches Contest Resumes After Superstorm Sandy

World Premiere of Beaches Musical, Co-Starring Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress, Begins Feb. 18

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World Premiere of Beaches Musical, Co-Starring Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress, Begins Feb. 18

By Michael Gioia 18 Feb 2014

Virginia's Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of Beaches, adapted from the 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, beginning Feb. 18 at Signature's MAX Theatre. Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress co-star in the roles originated on screen by Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler, respectively.

Directed by Signature artistic director Eric Schaeffer (Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), the musical chronicling a decades-long friendship between two women stars Davi (A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie and Umphress (American Idiot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom.

Beaches, originally scheduled through March 23, was given a week-long extension through March 30. Opening night is set for March 4.

Based on the 1985 novel by Dart (later adapted into the 1988 movie with Midler and Hershey), the musical features a book by Dart and Thom Thomas, lyrics by Dart and music by David Austin.

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"We've assembled an amazing cast along with a terrific creative team to bring this special story to life," said Schaeffer in an earlier statement. "Iris, Thom and David have created a magical world of memories and friendship in this heartfelt story for the stage in a very original way."

Joining Davi and Umphress are Clifton Samuels (Follies) as Michael Barron, Matthew Scott (Sondheim on Sondheim, Jersey Boys) as John Perry, Donna Migliaccio (Ragtime) as Leona Bloom, Helen Hedman (Signature's My Fair Lady) as Rose White, Brooklyn Shuck (Annie) as Young Bertie, Presley Ryan (NBC's "The Sound of Music") as Young Cee Cee, Maya Brettell (Studio Theatre's The Big Meal) as Teen Bertie and Gracie Jones (Olney Theatre Center's Spring Awakening) as Teen Cee Cee.

Rounding out the cast are Svea Johnson (Karen Lewandowski/Nina), Michael Bunce (Arthur/Melman/ensemble), Bayla Whitten (nurse/ensemble), Jamie Eacker, Heather Brorsen, Davis Hasty, Dan Manning, Ryah Nixon and Robbie Roby.

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World Premiere of Beaches Musical, Co-Starring Mara Davi and Alysha Umphress, Begins Feb. 18

Virginia’s Beaches – Virginia Is For Lovers

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Virginia Beach | Eastern Shore Norfolk | Hampton | Chesapeake Bay

Virginia Beach's well-maintained beaches are free. Lifeguards are on duty from mid-May through mid-September. Vendors scattered along the oceanfront cater to the good life by renting umbrellas, boogie boards and sling-back chairs.

Virginia Beach attractions include the Virginia Beach Ocean Breeze Waterpark and the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center.

Most of the city's visitors are drawn to the 3-mile oceanfront Boardwalk, where numerous hotels and restaurants overlook the beach. Many free, family oriented events take place every weekend from late spring to early fall, such as the Boardwalk Art Show & Festival and Sandstock: A Blast from the Past.

Visitors can rent bikes, tandems and roller blades or bring their own. Other biking and hiking trails can be enjoyed at First Landing State Park, which winds through the wetlands and along Broad Bay.

Some secluded beaches in the area include the North End and Sandbridge to the south, where large oceanfront houses are both owner-occupied and rented by the week. Vacation homes and rentals.

The 8,000-acre Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge harbors an amazing collection of animals. Five miles beyond the refuge is False Cape State Park, a remote oasis along the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors can board a tram at Little Island Park in Sandbridge and ride to the park, which is open from Memorial Day through October.

Other attractions at Virginia Beach include Mount Trashmore Park, the Cape Henry Lighthouses and the Old Coast Guard Station.

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Virginia's Beaches - Virginia Is For Lovers

Thai beaches an exotic spring-break alternative – Sun, 16 Feb 2014 PST

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KOH PHANGAN, Thailand A trip sampling the diversity of Southeast Asian destinations can take you from the sleek modernity of Singapore to the ancient temples of Cambodias Angkor Wat. And then there are the beaches of Thailand: relaxing, beautiful, and for the adventurous spring-breaker, a lot more exotic than Miami. Thai beaches offer gorgeous stretches of sand, water sports, nearby outdoor activities and cheap food anddrink.

Off the Andaman Sea are famed Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, which rose to international prominence after being featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, but the beaches along the Gulf

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Sunrise Beach in Koh Phangan, Thailand, is among the destinations that offer an exotic alternative to more traditional spring-breakspots. (Full-size photo)

KOH PHANGAN, Thailand A trip sampling the diversity of Southeast Asian destinations can take you from the sleek modernity of Singapore to the ancient temples of Cambodias Angkor Wat. And then there are the beaches of Thailand: relaxing, beautiful, and for the adventurous spring-breaker, a lot more exotic than Miami. Thai beaches offer gorgeous stretches of sand, water sports, nearby outdoor activities and cheap food anddrink.

Off the Andaman Sea are famed Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, which rose to international prominence after being featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach, but the beaches along the Gulf of Thailand have an equally renowned trio of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Each of these has its own charms and attractions, and regular boat service makes it easy to travel among them. All three have fantastic party scenes, as well and while not traditional spring-break destinations, American college kids would certainly feel at homethere.

As for the recent political unrest in Thailand, tourist numbers at the beaches were down midwinter as some visitors canceled trips, but those who went ahead found the islands as lovely and as much fun as ever. And due to cancelations, some hotels are even willing to negotiate roomrates.

This is the main transport center for the islands, with a fancy airport it even includes its own Park Avenue with designer shops and built-up infrastructure. While the island boasts gorgeous beaches all over its coasts, head to Chaweng Beach for a proper spring-break vibe. The beach is dotted with hotels for all budgets, open-air massage parlors where you can get an hour-long treatment for less than $10, and vendors peddling everything from corn on the cob and pineapple to beachwear and decorative woodenkeepsakes.

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Thai beaches an exotic spring-break alternative - Sun, 16 Feb 2014 PST

The irresistable lure of Thai beaches

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TICKS ALL THE BOXES: Why not lie back in a shaded hammock on the stunning Koh Samui.

A trip sampling the diversity of Southeast Asian destinations can take you from the sleek modernity of Singapore to the ancient temples of Cambodia's Angkor Wat.

And then there are the beaches of Thailand: relaxing, beautiful, and for the adventurous holiday-maker, a lot more exotic than Miami.

Thai beaches offer gorgeous stretches of sand, water sports, nearby outdoor activities and cheap food and drink.

Off the Andaman Sea are Phuket and Koh Phi Phi, which rose to international prominence after being featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach.

But there are also the renowned beaches along the Gulf of Thailand - Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

Each of these has its own charms and attractions, and regular boat services make it easy to travel to them.

All three also have fantastic party scenes.

KOH SAMUI

This is the main transport centre for the islands, with a fancy airport.

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The irresistable lure of Thai beaches

2014 NSW Junior State Cup – Manly Sea Eagles v Northern Beaches (18’s Girls) – Video

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2014 NSW Junior State Cup - Manly Sea Eagles v Northern Beaches (18 #39;s Girls)
Live streaming of the Manly Sea Eagles versus Northern Beaches Renegades 18 #39;s Girls game on day one of the 2014 New South Wales Junior State Cup in Port Macq...

By: TouchFootballAus

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2014 NSW Junior State Cup - Manly Sea Eagles v Northern Beaches (18's Girls) - Video


  1. Beaches