1. Key West, Florida
Key West, a U.S. island city, is part of the Florida Keys archipelago. It’s also Florida’s southernmost point, lying roughly 90 miles north of Cuba.
2. Punta del Este, Uruguay
Punta del Este is a resort city on a narrow peninsula in southeast Uruguay. Popular Brava Beach is known for its strong surf as well as “The Hand,” a giant sculpture of 5 fingers.
3. Sabah, Malaysia
Sabah is known for its beaches, rainforest, coral reefs and abundant wildlife, much of it within parks and reserves. Offshore, the Sipadan and Mabul islands are noted diving destinations.
4. Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan is an ancient city in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), southwest of Mandalay. Standing on the eastern banks of the Ayeyarwady River, it’s known for the Bagan Archaeological Area, where more than 2,000 Buddhist monuments tower over green plains.
5. Azores, Portugal
The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, are an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. The islands are characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas.
6. Shi Shi Beach, Washington
Part of Olympic National Park, this coastline features a trail leading to beach & forest campsites.
7. Bora Bora, Tahiti
Bora Bora is a small South Pacific island northwest of Tahiti in French Polynesia. Surrounded by sand-fringed motus (islets) and a turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, it’s known for its scuba diving.
8. Pfeiffer Beach, California
Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the drive. Just south of Big Sur Station on Highway 1 is unsigned Syca.
9. Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Ipanema is a neighborhood located in the South Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), between Leblon and Arpoador.
