One of your best beach options while in Sydney is Coogee Beach, eight kilometers and only minutes from the central business district. A number of buses shuttle back and forth, so combine shopping and surfing for the perfect sunny Australian day. The nearby city of Ranswick has many restaurants, along with hostels and hotels. Ranswick is also home to the University of South Wales, and the Sydney Football Stadium.

With a wide swath of perfect white sand, Coogee Beach is only one of the many beaches on what’s now commonly referred to as “the Sports Coast”. With ample opportunity for sailing, snorkeling, and horseback riding, there are activities to be found for all. Body boarding is also a popular way to spend time enjoying the beautiful warm water.

Coogee Beach is also famous for its coastal walks. Clearly marked, each of the trails hugs the coastline, and the dramatic scenery provides for stunning pictures. The walks incorporate signs that share some of Coogee’s history. Even more impressive are the shipwrecks strewn along the beach, a testament to the tumultuous oceans habit of tossing ships around.

Nearby Botany Bay National Park offers even more opportunity for experiencing the unique natures scenes particular to this part of Australia. Botany Bay is also steeped in history, as it was one of the first sites visited by Captain James Cook. There is also a significant Aboriginal influence, with much evidence of their way of life before the European colonization.

There are also facilities for large groups of people, including picnic tables and barbecues. Kids will enjoy the playgrounds, with the ocean only steps away when it comes time to cool down. These convenient amenities make entertaining at Coogee Beach a great option for any special occasion.

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When you travel to the northeast corner of Duval County between Nassau Sound and Fort George Inlet, there are three islands that are side-by-side like alligators just sunning themselves. These islands are Big Talbot, Long, and Little Talbot Islands. The famous Highway A1A crosses them all, though it really only touches Little Talbot Island, the diamond in this chain of islands, when talking about beach access.

Big Talbot Island State Park is characterized by bluffs instead of dunes. You get to the beach by going down stairs. The sand is dark here, not the white beautiful stuff you may be used to. But it is interesting and worth a look because of the changing tides. They say shelling here isn’t good at all, and that’s because of the angle the beach jets out into the Atlantic.

Most people bypass Big Talbot for Little Talbot Island State Park. Narrow and elongated, it is the southernmost barrier is the extensive Golden Isles chain which began in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Boardwalks at both ends of the Little Talbot land lead to five acres of uncrowded beaches and so many dunes you can’t count them all.

There is a midway point on the island and you can actually get away from the noisy crowds this way. Hike here and your problem will be over. Few people come here, but it is actually quite nice!

Beach Index:

Location: Big Talbot – along Highway A1A at the south side of Nassau Sound, Big Talbot is between Amelia and Little Talbot Islands.
Parking: $2 entrance per vehicle (honor system)
Hours: 8 AM – sunset
Facilities: restrooms
Contact: Talbot Islands GEOPark 1-904-251-2320

Location: Little Talbot – 13 miles north of Jacksonville and seven miles south of Amelia Island along Highway A1A.
Parking: $3.25 entrance fee per vehicle. Camping fees March 1-October 31 are $15.75 without hookup and $17.88 with hookup. Rates drop rest of the year to $9 and $11 respectively.
Hours: 8 AM – sunset
Facilities: lifeguards (seasonal), restrooms, picnic tables, showers, and visitor center.
Contact: Talbot Islands GEOPark 1-904-251-2320

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Up the coast from Pinones Beach, after those dunes we discussed, the area gives way to luxury resorts and with good reason: the beach! Opened in 2009, the Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club features two miles of beach front! Their “St. Regis” hotel/condos will be sharing the Puerto Rican countryside with a magnificent golf course designed by none other than Robert Trent Jones Jr.

And things have been changing at Luquillo Beach. The Wyndham announced their purchase of the 600 room Rio Mar Beach Golf Resort & Spa which offers rooms at $459 in the low season, and $689 in high season. With room prices like that, imagine what Luquillo Beach is like?

Just across the bay from the Wyndham is beautiful Luquillo Beach. Some say it’s the nicest “balneario” on this coast. We found over a mile of nice hard fine sand lined by an old coconut plantation. Talk about gorgeous. Luquillo Beach is a Blue Flag facility.

There are lifeguards at Luquillo Beach, along with changing rooms, bathrooms, and a recycling station – nice! You’ll fine shaded picnic areas which also come in handy for the afternoon rain showers that develop off the El Yunque mountain rainforest. Sometimes a nice rain is cooling.

When you think you’ve seen it all, beachfront campsites are available. Now, we did this in Hawaii, and it was a great experience for the kids. Here in Puerto Rico, with the protection of the park, this is a treat. There are rentals for kayaks and jet skis.

One thing that touched us while here was the Mar Sin Barreras program. The name means Sea Without Barriers and these guys have special wheelchairs with balloon tires that make strolling along the beach with your handicapped loved one so very special.

Luquillo Beach – Beach Index:

• Sand – hard packed, nice to walk on, clean
• Facilities – full, a Blue Flag Beach
  
• Shade – grab yourself a place under the coconut trees
• Sports – full service at the beach, kayak, jet skis, swimming
• Notes – recommended

On the east coast there are spectacular islands with dramatic terrain. We found the best beach on Isla Palominos and it’s Next! >>

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Truely a gem on the Buzios Peninsula is a beach that is actually colored by a certain mineral. The Brazilians call the mineral “granada“, and we found that it contains a great deal of iron – thus the reddish color of the sand here at Praia do Forno, or Oven Beach. We think it is called oven because of the terrain, there isn’t much of a breeze here and it can get quite hot.

This one is a recommended beach.

Did you see the video yet? We can’t get enough of how clear the water is and how beautiful the red sand is. Again, we set the tripod up and took about 30 minutes or so of high definition video of this beach. It is simply incredible.

Only crowded on holidays, Praia do Forno has it all. It is easy to reach, has a nice snack hut facility and shade. Because the beach is in a semi-circle, you can spend time along each part of it and have a different experience.

For example, on the far right, you’ll have rock bottomed shallows that is generally warm.

As you make your way to the middle of the beach, the water is deeper and cool.

There are rock ledges underwater you can wade out to. Just take time to wear your beach shoes as there are a few anemones.

Toward the left, you’re in for a treat. Yes, there’s a nice rock outcropping that you can hang out next to, but venture out past the rocks and along the shore, and you’ll come to another, smaller beach that is even more red than Forno! This beach can only be reached by swimming around the rock (unless you’re Tarzan – and that’s not recommended).

Plan a day here and enjoy the beauty of Praia do Forno, or Oven Beach, named for the red sand and as we mentioned, because the reflection of heat off the rocks of the closed-in bay warm the air at the beach. Still, many boats (small ones) stop here to let tourists off and enjoy the sand and crystal clear water.

Get adventurous and walk down the right-side rocks. You’ll come to the staircase of an old home built on top of the hill. I wonder who could live in such paradise?

Hey, this next beach is a Bull’s Eye! >>

Praia do Forno – Oven Beach – Beach Index:

• Sand – the most unusual hue of red, caused by a mineral named “granada” which comes from local rocks. Sand is fine, with no shell or coral.
• Facilities – local snack shack has no restroom.
• Shade – trees and cliff shade the beach in late afternoon. Umbrellas at snack shack.
• Sports – a fun snorkel spot, varied marine life including starfish.
• Notes – mostly calm beach makes for a wonderful family beach. Recommended.

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This hotel was formerly the Secrets Excellence Punta Cana – now Hotel Barcelo Premium.

Overall a very nice holiday. The rooms are average, food was average but the beach is great. They say this is on one of the 10 best beaches in the world. The beach is groomed. Pool is good, games room is a good past time when it rains. The Tokyo restaurant has the best food. If you walk down the beach about 1 hr, you’ll get to a market, lot’s of anything you might need. Obs – If you leave a tip or candy or something on your pillow, you’ll get your room cleaned faster. Otherwise you have to wait until about 5-6 pm. Bring candy, that way you can treat even the adults you meet anywhere, and they will remember you. Just like a tip, it goes a long way. We brought US 1.00 bills to tip those who normally don’t get tipped, gardeners, laundry personnel, the coke guy, the pool guy, etc. it was well appreciated. We preferred this to vacationing in Mexico.

This world beach encompasses:

• beach dominican republic
• best dominican beach
• best of dominian

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