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Beaches

20 of the Best Beaches—and Beach Resorts—in Costa Rica

With two distinctly different coasts and hundreds of beaches, this Central American country has a lot to offer for seaside adventures.

July 11, 2025 02:13 PM

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Jessie Beck

Beaches

A Guide to U.S. Virgin Islands Beaches and Snorkeling

From St. Croix to St. John and St. Thomas, explore standout beaches and snorkeling spots across the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Sponsored by U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

Booking opens at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 12 for this exclusive stay. <br/>

Hotels

Airbnb Lists Hocus Pocus Cottage Ahead of Halloween

Two lucky mortals will get to stay in a recreation of the Sanderson sisters’ Salem cottage on October 20.

September 28, 2022 09:02 AM

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Bailey Berg

Aerial view of Beaches of Placencia in the Stann Creek District of southern Belize

Destination Spotlight

The Right Crowd-Free Beach for Every Month of the Year

Want a better beach trip? Go when everyone else isn’t. These destinations shine in the shoulder season.

October 7, 2025 10:31 AM

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Becca Blond

This beach in the Philippines is one of the best in the world, chosen by voters and experts.<br/>

International Beaches

7 Best Beaches in the World Right Now, With Fiery Rocks, Protected Waters, and an Island You Can Walk To

Find your escape this year in a quiet corner of the Caribbean or a mythical Greek shore.

February 25, 2026 02:45 PM

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Vanita Salisbury

Surfer with a surfboard goes into the ocean in winter in the background of mountains. Flakstad, Lofoten islands/Norway - 04 may 2019

Winter Sports

Après Ski on a Beach? 10 Places Where You Can Hit the Slopes and Sand in the Same Day

From California to Spain, enjoy snow in the morning and ocean waves in the afternoon.

December 5, 2025 03:01 PM

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Andy Cochrane

U.S. Beaches

7 Of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Rhode Island

The Ocean State’s beaches are still a well-kept secret. The state might be small, but there’s a sandy getaway spot for almost everyone here.

August 9, 2023 08:01 PM

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Bob Curley

International Beaches

This European Country Has 300 Miles of Coastline and Some of the Continent’s Most Underrated Beaches

Trade the packed beaches of Greece for the shores of this lesser-visited neighbor.

July 9, 2025 11:58 AM

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Joel Balsam

Rock formations at a beach, with turquoise and dark blue water in the foreground

Beaches

These 8 Beaches Have the Bluest Water in the World

Whether in Australia or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the water at these beaches is astoundingly blue.

January 13, 2025 02:31 AM

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Nicholas DeRenzo

Blue Water And Sky Lake Natoma And Rainbow Bridge Folsom California With Trees Reflected In Water People Paddling

History + Culture

This California Gold Rush Site Holds a Hidden Chapter of Black History

Visitors come to paddle, picnic, and bike along Folsom Lake, rarely realizing they’re standing on the site of a once-booming Black Gold Rush settlement.

February 6, 2026 12:43 PM

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Erika Mailman

Day time aerial view of Playa Balandra, an iconic beach in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

International Beaches

Hidden, Pristine, With Eggshell-Blue Water: These Are the 11 Most Beautiful Beaches in Mexico

Explore all the ways water shows off across Mexico.

November 12, 2025 08:40 AM

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Meagan Drillinger

A wooden deck around a small pool with a sand dune in the background and a thatched roof cutting into the top of the frame

Where to Travel Next

13 Great Beaches for Winter Sun

Warm up this winter on some of the world’s best stretches of sand, from close-to-home shores to more exotic beach destinations around the globe.

December 13, 2023 11:42 AM

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Lottie Gross

Beaches

Puerto Rico Has Nearly 300 Beaches—These Are the Least Crowded

Step into Puerto Rico’s bioluminescent waters, white sands, and bathtub temperatures—in solitude.

November 29, 2024 09:25 AM

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Terry Ward

Aerial view of Cortez beach with sand beach, with wooden piers, and beach houses on Anna Maria Island, Florida.

U.S. Beaches

7 Airbnb Beach Houses Still Available to Rent This Summer

Summer vacation rentals are booking up fast in the United States in 2024—but it’s not too late.

June 7, 2024 01:46 PM

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Lyndsey Matthews

Le Dune Piscinas is located on Sardinia's Costa Verde.

Stay Here Next

What It’s Like to Spend the Night Amid Europe’s Tallest Sand Dunes

Serene and secluded, Le Dune Piscinas feels a world away from the typical Italian vacation hot spots.

January 22, 2025 09:21 AM

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Jenn Rice

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