Adventure Traveling Guide

 
Carova Beach, Outer Banks, NC
Location: 27 miles southeast of Virginia Beach
Part of what keeps this area so underdeveloped is the lack of paved roads; Highway 12 stops north of Corolla. Four-wheel-drive is a must, as the only route to this 12-mile stretch of beach is a ride on the sand or a primitive […]

Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, Fla.
Location: 27 miles southwest of Fort Myers
The secret’s out about the beauty of Sanibel Island’s beaches, but you’re sure to find a stretch of sand to call your own when you make the quarter-mile trek to Bowman’s Beach. Sanibel Island is also regarded as one […]

Roque Bluffs, Maine
Location: 75 miles northeast of Bar Harbor
Getting to Roque Bluffs is half of the fun. From Route 1 in Machias, follow Roque Bluff Road for 6 miles past lobster traps, blueberry barrens, dense forest, and finally through a thicket of beach roses where you’ll come upon one of Maine’s true hidden gems. The […]

Trunk Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Location: 5 miles north of St. John Airport
Probably the most photographed beach on the list, Trunk Bay is the quintessential Caribbean getaway. Sparkling white sands, crystal-clear water, and swaying coconut palms make this beach the perfect Honeymoon spot. The laid-back Caneel Bay Resort is nestled in […]

Carmel Beach, Calif.
Location: 54 miles south of Santa Cruz
Hidden by cypress groves and set against the waters of the electric-blue Pacific, this cozy crescent of fine white sand has played muse for writers, artists and romantics like Jack London, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Ansel Adams. Gallery-hop along cobblestone sidewalks and flower-filled courtyards en route […]

Lumahai Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Location: 63 miles north of Kauai
This sandy stretch of Hawaiian beach is ripe for romance. Approach the beach via the hidden nature trail and emerge to view some of the state’s most dramatic scenery- waves pounding the surf against lava rocks with a lush, green forest backdrop.

Main Beach, East Hampton, NY
Location: 105 miles east of NYC
The Hamptons are known for A-list parties and well-heeled residents, but you don’t have to be famous to access the same waters that Diddy and Martha swim in. The brisk Atlantic surf and rolling dunes are the perfect backdrop for stargazing. Tip: Hit Montauk’s Lobster Roll […]

South Beach, Miami
Parties spill onto the sand form the many swanky beach-facing hotels. South Beach remains the top destination for the bronzed and beautiful. But, the beach is only part of the appeal, thanks to non-stop action offered at the restaurants, hotels, and bars lining Ocean Drive.

Fire Island, NY
Location: 60 miles east of New York City
It’s telling when so many hardened New Yorkers consider Fire Island a magical place. The island teems with lush gardens, timid deer, and the rarest of all: high-powered New Yorkers relaxing. Cars are restricted, and boardwalks wind through the 32-mile-long island through sunken […]

Bioluminescent Bay, Vieques, Puerto Rico
Location: 55 miles southwest of San Juan
Just off the eastern shore of Puerto Rico sits the island of Vieques, home to hundreds of unspoiled beaches. The real draw is the fluorescent light show in the bioluminescent bay. Millions of microscopic algae flash neon blue-green when disturbed, surrounding swimmers […]