Beaches Near Denver

Denver sits in the middle of a landlocked state, at the confluence of the dry Southwest, the Great Plains and the massive Rocky Mountains. It comes as no great surprise then that the city is not a tropical, sugar sand beach destination. Nevertheless, there are some appealing beaches in close proximity to the city. Their under-the-radar status means they won't be crowded with spring breakers and other revelers. Instead, you'll likely find a few families and sun worshipers taking advantage of a warm day by the water.

Cherry Creek State Park

• Cherry Creek State Park is a favorite summer destination for Denver residents hoping to beat the heat. The park is located in Aurora, just 15 miles south of Denver on I-25. The main attraction is an 800-acre reservoir surrounded by golden prairie and backed by the towering Rocky Mountains. The park has a small sand beach for sunbathing or diving into the lake's refreshing water. The beach is backed by trees that provide some shade if the afternoon sun becomes too intense. Visitors come for a range of other activities, like sailing, boating, fishing and jet skiing. Hikers can access more than 12 miles of trails through the rolling landscape.

Bear Creek Lake Park

• Bear Creek Lake Park surrounds a small lake in Lakewood, 14 miles southwest of Denver. The lake, situated in rolling terrain, sits close to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. There is a small, semicircular swimming beach on the lake surrounded by deciduous trees that burst with color in the fall. The lake is popular with fishers, who angle for rainbow trout, saugeye, small-mouth bass and yellow perch. The park hosts a water ski school in summer, and visitors can take lessons or rent equipment for their own use. The park's 2,600 acres are crisscrossed by multi-use trails for hikers, bikers and horseback riders.

Chatfield State Park

• Also southwest of Denver, Chatfield State Park encompasses a horseshoe-shaped lake that backs up to the Rocky Mountain foothills. The lake is about 20 miles from Denver, in Littleton. The narrow beach, open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, leads gently to the shallow lake, making it ideal for visitors with small children or dogs. Other lake activities include water skiing, boating, fishing and model airplane flying. Visitors can rent boats or park their own at the marina. The park also features a floating restaurant in the middle of the lake; kayaks, canoes and motorboats can moor at the restaurant.

Farther Afield

• There are several beaches in Colorado located farther away from Denver. Blue Mesa Reservoir, a 20-mile-long lake near Gunnison, is a welcome oasis in this dry part of the state. Grand Lake, near Rocky Mountain National Park, is a scenic spot for swimming in warmer months, after the lake has thawed from a cold winter. Medano Creek, in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, sports a seasonal beach among the sand dunes; it is accessible after the snow melts. Boulder Reservoir, near the town of Boulder, is backed by the stunning Flatirons, a series of rock formations. Jackson Lake State Park offers one of the few places to swim in arid eastern Colorado.

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Beaches Near Ann Arbor, Michigan

If you look at a satellite photo of Ann Arbor, one of the first things you'll notice is the water: The image is shot through with the deep, cool blue of the region's umpteen inland lakes. In many cases, Michigan's local municipalities have constructed excellent beach-going facilities around these water features, trucking in soft sand, carefully managing the purity of the water and building plenty of shoreline amenities. During the summertime school holidays, the six parks within 25 miles of Ann Arbor attract droves of local families and college students, all eager to soak up some vitamin D and a hefty dose of outdoor playtime.

Independence Day County Park

• Independence Day County Park, located 10 miles from Ann Arbor in the city of Whitmore Lake, stays open year-round. In the summertime, it's a big draw for nature lovers: Its many trails lead visitors through wetlands, woodlands and prairie habitats. Sun-worshippers, however, head to the 300-foot-long sandy beach that fronts the park's central Independence Lake. Clean ablution facilities, picnic pavilions and a water-fountain playground sit close to the beach, and fishing areas are just a short walk away. Also close at hand is a launching ramp for low- and no-powered watercraft. A kiosk rents rowboats and paddle-boats.

Van Buren Park

• The industrial juggernaut of Detroit Edison constructed Van Buren Park -- located 10 miles from Ann Arbor, in Belleville -- in the 1940s, as a recreational destination for company employees and their families. Detroit Edison donated the park to the city in the 1970s, at which point the facility was developed to serve the greater community with several clean swimming beaches, picnic areas, sports fields, low-powered boating opportunities and tent camping spaces. There are several water access points around the park's Belleville Lake and French Landing Dam, but the main beach is the only one with an ADA access ramp.

Island Lake Recreation Area

• Perhaps the area's best known swimming destination, the Island Lake Recreation Area draws more than a million visitors per year. Located 17 miles from Ann Arbor in the town of Brighton, the park features extensive facilities for camping and outdoor recreation, for example, massive picnic pavilions, trout and bass fishing, almost 20 miles of woodland biking trails, several rental cabins and a 500-person outdoor event center. The park's two large, sandy public beaches -- prime territory for local co-eds to see-and-be-seen -- figure prominently in the park's appeal. Weekend warriors can rent a canoe on-site and take an overnight camping trip on the Huron River, which crosses the property.

Brighton Recreation Area

• Just 18 miles from Ann Arbor, the expansive Brighton Recreation Area spreads out around two wooded lakes in the city of Howell. Both the lakes are fringed with sandy beaches that feature picnic areas, sand volleyball and horseshoe pits for lakeside entertainment. One of these -- Bishop Lake -- has an ADA-accessible path down to the swimming beach. Brighton Recreation Area also offers canoes, kayaks and paddle-boats for hourly rental.

Camp Dearborn

• Camp Dearborn has been hosting local families for lakeside camping holidays for more than half a century. Located 22 miles from Ann Arbor in the city of Milford, Camp Dearborn's 626-acre property encompasses six lakes, all of which are swimmable. The main public swimming beach is a half-mile-long strip of sand with close-by picnic facilities and a large playground. Registered campers may enjoy the campground's private beach, swimming lake and heated pool. Paddle-boat and canoe rentals allow active visitors to explore the lakes and part of the Huron River.

Pickney Recreation Area

• Pickney Recreation Area's 11,000 acres cover several small lakes, which are best known for fishing but offer shaded, grass-lined banks for lounging -- perfect for beach-goers in the mood to kick back and read a good book. The best beaches are clustered around the park's Bruin Lake, which also offers picnic sites, boat rentals, a playground and a concession stand. Rustic campgrounds sit close to the shoreline at Crooked Lake. Crooked Lake is connected to the rest of the park by a 40-mile trail system, which invites visitors to reach the beach via a weekend backpacking trip. Pickney Recreation Area is a convenient 17 miles from Ann Arbor.

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How Are Black Sand Beaches Formed?

Black sand beaches are not a common occurrence throughout the world, but do exist in areas with volcanic activity. The sand found on black sand beaches originated from ground lava that has evolved over centuries. Black sand found on the beaches varies in size from larger coarse pieces to finer granules. The color of the black sand can vary from a dark black to a medium shade of gray.

Types

• Black sand beaches can be made up of two different types of sand. One is made by placer deposits and is composed of a heavy, glassy mixture of fine sands. This type of sand is also partially magnetic. The second type of sand is made of smaller fragments of lava and is generally found in close proximity to volcanoes.

Placer Deposits

• Black beaches are formed when the lava particles are separated from normal sedimentary rock and deposited on beaches near volcanoes. This type of formation leaves a heavy concentration of minerals, and these deposits have also been known to hold precious gems which are mined from these black sand beaches.

Weather and Water

• Black sand beaches can be formed by the Earth's weather patterns causing lava to erode into the sandy beaches. The tides help break up the lava that rests on the shallow ocean floor -- turning it into a fine sandy material -- and then will redeposit the sand on the beach. It is a common occurrence to see steam explosions when the hot lava meets up with the cooler waters.

Locations

• Though black sand beaches are a rare occurrence throughout the world, there are several regions where they are common. Islands that have black sand beaches include Iceland, Hawaii, Indonesia and Polynesia. There are some islands in the Caribbean which also have black sand beaches, such as Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Granada and Puerto Rico.

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Beaches in Trinadad & Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is one of a handful of countries in the Caribbean that does not rely on tourism as its main source of income and is instead a thriving business and industrial hub that benefits from an eclectic cultural mix. Although Trinidad and Tobago has more beach frontage than most other Caribbean islands, beach tourism can appear as an afterthought, with many of the better ones off the beaten track and without the frills more commonly found in other Caribbean hot spots. Do not be fooled, though. The twin-island country features some superb strips of secluded sand immersed in natural beauty.

Trinidad North Coast

• On the north coast, 18 miles from the capital, Port of Spain, Maracas Bay is arguably the best-known beach in Trinidad, set in a tranquil cove surrounded by lush mountains and the site of a peaceful fishing village. The beach features fine white sand and shallow water clear, with a slight undertow at times. Food stalls serve the Shark and Bake delicacy – deep fried shark fillet. Blanchisseuse is on the outlet to the Marianne River and leads through the rainforest to a nearby waterfall on a hiking trail. Nearby accommodations can be found at numerous guesthouses.

Trinidad Southeast Coast

• Manzanilla Beach has one of the longest stretches of sand, fringed by lofty coconut palms. Visitors can camp out on the beach in a tent at the northern end or bunk up in a guesthouse. Nearby Mayaro is the island’s longest beach, popular with locals as a weekend getaway. Visitors can enjoy the sight of fishermen landing their catch on the beach in huge nets but should watch out for occasional contamination from the offshore refineries that serve as Trinidad’s lifeblood.

Nature

• Grande Riviera, the second largest leatherback sea turtle nesting ground in the world, and Matura are two great beaches from which to witness the turtle-hatching season between March and August. These two beaches lie on the northeast coast, which tends to be the roughest of Trinidad’s coastlines, but bodysurfers come in droves to try the waves. In Tobago, mile-long Turtle Beach is one of the three main nesting beaches on the island and home to the Turtle Beach resort (rexresorts.com), an all-inclusive hotel.

Tobago

• The smaller island of Tobago is markedly more laid-back than Trinidad. Pigeon Point, with its much-photographed jetty and cabana, represents the island’s best-known beach. The offshore Buccoo Reef protects the beach and is a great snorkeling location. Store Bay nearby, just five minutes from the airport, features lifeguards, showers and refreshment stops to meet all the needs of beachgoers. Most of the glass bottom tours to the reef leave from Store Bay. Over on the Windward coast, Speyside is a delightful town whose beach is protected by reef and the offshore islands of Little Tobago and Goat Island. The snorkeling accesses some of the largest brain coral in the world.

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The Best Places for Beach Holidays

If you are searching for a beach holiday, consider your parameters. Many of the world's best beaches require a flight or two to get there, and flight costs add up quickly. If you are planning a family vacation, you might want a bay beach, where kids can swim. And while beaches in southern Florida offer perfect weather in spring and fall, summer might be too hot. If you require an active beach vacation, choose a resort with water sports.

Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos

• Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos, in the Caribbean, claims to be "Best Beach in the World." It is easy to see why. The island, just two and a half hours from New York, and now reachable by Jet Blue, has sparkling white sand, turquoise water and small resorts right on the beach. If you have small children, the water right off shore is calm, but you can go just beyond the bay for adventures like scuba diving, kiteboarding, windsurfing, snorkeling and fishing.

Maui Beaches

• Maui, Hawaii has 30 miles of beaches, with warm weather year round. You can find family-friendly swimming beaches with lifeguards and bathroom facilities, or remote beaches known only to surfers. The white sand beaches of Kaanapali Beach have five hotels, plus condos, and a shopping complex with restaurants within walking distance. You can visit the whaling museum or see whales swimming in the crystal clean Pacific Ocean.

The Hamptons

• The Hamptons, on the eastern end of Long Island, attracts New Yorkers and Hollywood moguls. While the Hamptons, which stretch from East Quogue to Montauk, only offers beach weather June to September, the "season" starts Memorial Day, and officially ends Labor Day. But the beach is only part of the attraction here. The Hamptons have fine dining, luxury shopping and nightclubs. Spotting celebrities is a local sport.

Fort Lauderdale

• Fort Lauderdale, Florida had a large spring break culture, but luxury hotels like the W now cater to a wealthier clientele. And the family-friendly beach on the Altantic Ocean has miles of clear blue water, with a boardwalk. Across the street, find restaurants, bars and souvenir shops. The southern Florida beaches are warm most of the year, though swimming in January and February is iffy. For fine dining and shopping, head a few blocks inland to Las Olas Boulevard.

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How to Make Beach Sand Letters

Writing letters half the size of your full body in the ground does not sound like a simple task. However, if you use the right tool and plot your sizing carefully, writing in the sand is hardly different from everyday writing. While you may assume a stick would serve as an ideal writing implement, it is not well-suited to the job. The letters need to be large and broad, and a stick is too narrow to create broad lettering. There is a better way to arm yourself for the task, and once you get started you will see how easy it is to scribe away on sandy shores.

Things You'll Need

• Broken shell
• Branch, if needed

Tips For You

1. Look for broken seashells along the beach. Scavenge the area until you spy a broad, broken shell that has a sharp point.
2. Find a place where there is an area of sand that does not have a lot of beach clutter, i.e., shells, driftwood or palm fronds. Remove any items that will get in your way as you form letters.
3. Smooth the sand with a branch or your hand.
4. Place the point of the shell writing utensil several inches down into the sand.
5. Pull the shell through the sand to form your letters. Try to limit yourself to a writing style that does not require you to make many direction changes as you form each letter.

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Cool Beaches Near Austin, Texas

With summer temperatures that can soar into the triple digits, and the cooling waters of the Gulf of Mexico over three hours away, finding relief from the often torrid days that can engulf the Texas capital of Austin might seem like a lost cause. But nearby lakes are dotted with enticing stretches of sand, perfect for taking a dip, playing volleyball, laying out a picnic or catching some rays.

West Lake Beach

• Austinites love West Lake Beach, situated west of downtown on the western shores of Lake Austin. This sandy beach is surrounded by the rolling hills of the Westlake Highlands and the scrubby cliffs and canyons of the Colorado River. The private park, which charges a daily admission fee for use, is typically only open on weekends. During the week -- as well as on weekends -- it can be booked for special events. Features include water and sand volleyball equipment, picnic areas, and lake access for fishing, swimming, kayaking and canoeing.

Festival, Lamar and Waller Beaches

• Located just south of downtown Austin, Festival, Lamar and Waller Beaches are small sand beaches situated on Town Lake. Each beach offers scenic spots to set up a picnic, barbeque, throw a Frisbee or drop a fishing line. At Lamar Beach, there is a designated entry point that allows kayakers and canoers to explore the lake. The beach also affords access to the Lady Bird Lake Trail, a multi-use trail that parallels the water. Festival Beach is popular with families for its playground, basketball courts and baseball fields. Waller Beach backs the condominium highrises of downtown and also has access to the Lady Bird Lake Trail. During summer, these beaches have concession stands and inner tube and life jacket rentals.

Shore Club Volente Beach Waterpark

• Shore Club Volente Beach is a waterpark located just outside of Austin, in Leander, Texas. The park, a favorite with families and teenagers, includes a sandy beach on the shores of Lake Travis. The beach is just part of the draw, however; most visitors come for waterpark rides, water slides and wading pools. Shore Club Volente Beach also has snack bars and two restaurants: Shore Club Restaurant & Bar and Beach Bar & Grill. The park is open seasonally and charges admission fees; memberships are available for frequent visitors.

Hippie Hollow

• Arguably, Hippie Hollow reflects the city's ever-present slogan, "Keep Austin Weird." The 109-acre clothing-optional park sits on rocky terraces stacked above Lake Travis. Just 20 minutes away from Austin, the beach has gained international recognition among nudist travelers. The park charges entrance fees for day use, though annual permits are available.

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Fishing Spots Near Myrtle Beach Travel Park in South Carolina

Myrtle Beach Travel Park, a sprawling campground and resort on the South Carolina coast, is within a mile of some of the best fishing in the area. The park is located on a half-mile stretch of white sandy beach. You can fish right in the park or take a short drive to explore many plentiful fishing spots in the surrounding area.

Myrtle Beach Travel Park

• You can choose among more than 800 campsites at Myrtle Beach Travel Park, ranging from sites with water and electricity to full-hookup sites with water, sewer, 50-amp electricity and cable hookups. Mobile homes and oceanfront villas are also available for rent. The park includes an outdoor pool, picnic pavilions, a lakeside cafe and frequent events like pool parties and live music. Myrtle Beach Travel Park is located on Kings Road and open year-round. You can also go fishing right in the park, choosing between the ocean beach and a small freshwater lake stocked with bass, bluegill and other game fish.

Surf Fishing

• With the exception of private property and designated swimming areas, the entire Myrtle Beach coastline is open to surf fishing. This is the easiest way to fish the coast, since all you have to do is grab a rod and some bait and head to the shore. The best spots for surf fishing are generally sloughs, pools, drop-offs and washed-out areas along the shore that look like creek beds. Live bait like shrimp, crabs and minnows are common, and you can catch bluefish, pompano, flounder and whiting, among others.

Myrtle Beach Piers

• Myrtle Beach is home to several fishing piers that extend out into deep water, providing access to some of the bigger fish that seldom approach the shore. You can catch a variety of fish, including sheepshead, black drum, redfish and pompano. Top spots include Apache Pier, Second Avenue Pier, Pier 14 and the pier at Myrtle Beach State Park. Most piers charge a fee for fishing, but the upside is that you don't need a fishing license. All four of the aforementioned piers also offer rod rentals and on-site bait and tackle shops.

Keep In Mind

• A current South Carolina fishing license is required to fish anywhere except from Myrtle Beach area piers. Licenses are available at most bait and tackle shops and through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources website. Statewide angling seasons, limits and other regulations are in effect. Reservations at Myrtle Beach Travel Park are available by phone or through the park's website. The minimum stay is three days, and year-round campsites are also available. You can also choose among several other campground and RV parks in the area including Myrtle Beach State Park, Apache Campground and Myrtle Beach KOA.

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What Is the Closest Beach to Little Rock, Arkansas on the Gulf of Mexico?

Arkansas' capital city has plenty of attractions for all ages, including the Arkansas Capitol Building, the William J. Clinton Presidential Center, the Little Rock Zoo and dozens of parks and trails. But if you're in Little Rock and want to visit a beach along the Gulf of Mexico, be prepared for a long drive. The closest stretch of shoreline -- Holly Beach on Louisiana's self-proclaimed Cajun Riviera -- is more than 400 miles away.

Getting There

• Holly Beach, which sits directly along the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana's southwestern corner, lies about 10 miles west of Cameron and about 405 miles southwest of downtown Little Rock. The drive from the Arkansas capital typically lasts just less than seven hours via a route that takes you primarily along U.S. 167 South, U.S. 165 South, a stretch of Interstate 10 just west of Lake Charles and then south along State Road 27, which joins State Road 82 in Holly Beach.

Holly Beach and Creole Nature

• Holly Beach is part of an unincorporated 26-mile stretch of beach directly along the Gulf that has been hit hard by hurricanes in recent years and includes several smaller beaches to the east and west along State Highway 82. All of the Cameron Parish beaches are part of Louisiana's 180-mile Creole Nature Trail, which loops Lake Charles and the state's southwestern coast and has been designated an All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Scenic Byways Program. Among the activities you can enjoy at Holly Beach are swimming, surf fishing, crabbing, shelling, sunbathing, picnicking or a relaxing stroll along the shoreline.

Fliers, Fish and Ferries

• While in Holly Beach, check out a few nearby attractions along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline. Pevetto Woods Bird Sanctuary, 8.5 miles west of Holly Beach, is a 40-acre tract of oak groves, dunes and trails that serve as a habitat for migratory songbirds and butterflies. Anglers should try Cameron Jetty Pier, a Gulf-front fishing pier about 12 miles east of Holly Beach. The pier is part of a park that also includes a beach walkway, observation tower, pavilion, restrooms and a playground. To get there, you'll have to drive your car onto the Cameron Ferry for the short but scenic ride across the Calcasieu Ship Channel. Once on board the state-maintained ferry, you are likely to catch a glimpse of porpoises, pelicans, shrimp boats or much larger vessels heading into the Gulf.

Gulf-View Accommodations

• Because of damage caused by Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Ike in 2005 and 2008, respectively, Holly Beach has only a small number of overnight options, including two-bedroom homes available through Holly Beach Rentals. The homes sleep eight and include Gulf views, full kitchens, 1.5 baths, all linens, washers and dryers, satellite televisions and free Wi-Fi. The rental company also provides RV sites with hookups. Another option for campers is Cameron Jetty Pier, which has an RV park with more than 35 sites. Electric and water hookups are included.

Other Nearby Beaches

• Two other beach options for those in Little Rock -- one slightly closer, one slightly farther -- are Cypremort Point State Park in Louisiana and Sea Rim State Park in Texas. Cypremort Point is only 396 miles south of Little Rock, but its half-mile, man-made beach lies on Vermillion Bay, not the Gulf of Mexico. The park has six rental cabins that sleep eight, as well as a fishing pier, boat docks, picnic areas and abundant wildlife, including alligators, nutria, muskrats, deer, rabbits and red fox. About 440 miles southwest of Little Rock, Sea Rim State Park in Sabine Pass is the closest Texas beach to the Arkansas capital. The park is home to a 5-mile stretch of Gulf-front beach, campsites and a nature trail through wetlands. Other activities include fishing, canoeing and kayaking.

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What Are the Major Beaches in Oshkosh, Wisconsin?

Oshkosh may seemingly be a world away from the Pacific Ocean's sun-kissed shores; however, the northeastern Wisconsin city has its share of family-friendly beaches. Its prime location along the western edge of Lake Winnebago makes the Oshkosh area a magnet for swimmers, boaters, parasailers and water-skiers. Lake Winnebago is Wisconsin’s largest inland lake, spanning nearly 132,000 acres and featuring more than 85 miles of shoreline. Enjoy this vast expanse of freshwater by visiting its most popular beaches.

Menominee Park Beach

• Oshkosh’s largest park stretches along 109 acres of premium Lake Winnebago shoreline. The sandy beach provides plenty of elbow room for you to work on your castle-building skills. There’s also ample space to play Frisbee and volleyball or fly a kite. Swimming is also an option. The lake’s calm and shallow waters appeal to beginners, while avid swimmers can complete laps to and from the shore. Pack a picnic or purchase snacks from the park’s cafe. A paved path connects the beach to an 8-acre zoo, children’s play area and mini amusement park. Baseball and soccer fields are located across the street from the beach. Restrooms, boat launches, a casting dock and a platform for taking photos of Lake Winnebago are also available on the park’s west side.

High Cliff State Park Beach

• Fifteen minutes northeast of downtown Oshkosh sits the tranquil home of High Cliff State Park. This natural gem is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago. Extending more than 1,140 acres across Wisconsin’s pristine landscape, High Cliff includes a scenic beach in the lower part of the park. Swim, fish, stroll or sunbathe on the sand-and-grass shoreline. The lake’s bottom is rockier near the shore but mixes with mud and sand the farther out you swim. The beach also provides an ideal vantage point for photographing colorful lake sunsets. Public showers, a general store, concession areas and picnic tables are a short walk from the beach. Pitching a tent on the shoreline is not allowed, though you may spend the night at one of the park’s 112 wooded campsites. Reservations are recommended but not required.

Calumet County Park Beach

• Its sandy shoreline may be slim, but Calumet County Park still attracts thousands of beachgoers each year. Located on Lake Winnebago, roughly 35 minutes east of Oshkosh, the park comprises more than 200 acres and includes part of the historic Niagara Escarpment and Effigy Indian Mounds. The beach is adjacent to a large boat landing. This convenient placement makes it easy to segue from tame sand activities to high-octane water sports, such as tubing and parasailing. Lakefront campsites, which have sandy beach-like areas, are also available. Showers, restrooms, picnic tables and concession areas are accessible from the shoreline. After a day at the beach, you can navigate the biking trails that run parallel to the water.

Jefferson Park Beach

• This popular public park features a large sandy beach nestled on the northwest shore of Lake Winnebago, 10 minutes north of Oshkosh. Covering nearly 30 acres of scenic waterfront property, the park is a hot spot in the summer. Kids of all ages splash in the lake’s cool waters or create sculptures using the beach’s fine sand. Restrooms, picnic tables and boat-launching facilities are located near the sandy play area. The park also has an enclosed pavilion with kitchen equipment and open-air shelters that can accommodate family reunions, company get-togethers or birthday parties. Multiple sand volleyball courts are available, as well as baseball diamonds, horseshoe pits, a municipal pool and playground.

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A Group of Islands With Pink Sand Beaches in the Atlantic

The island of Eleuthera has two distinct qualities. For one, it is one of several islands in the archipelago of Bahamas that has the warm shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea on one side, and the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean on the other. And secondly, Eleuthera -- Greek for “freedom” -- is part of a unique fraternity, which also includes Bermuda, of only a handful of islands in the world with vivid pink sand beaches.

The Blush of Early Morning Light

• Typically the beaches on Eleuthera -- a 110-mile long, half-mile wide island about 60 miles from Nassau -- have fine, pink-tinted sand whose color becomes more pronounced in morning or evening light. While many of the beaches on the Atlantic coast of this island are rocky and inaccessible, there are plenty of popular spots such as Lighthouse Beach on the southern tip of the island, Tippy’s Beach near Governor’s Harbor and Current Bay Beach to the north. The pink sands of Surfer’s Beach in Georgetown play host to a quaint and eclectic structure built of driftwood and flotsam known as the “Relief Shack,” built and maintained by local surfers.

The Pink Coast

• Two miles off the northern tip of Eleuthera is Harbor Island. This tiny, 3.5-mile long, 1.5 mile wide island has a single town -- Dunmore Town -- one of the oldest settlements in the Bahamas. It is also home to Pink Sand Beach, which is 50- to 100-feet wide in places and runs nearly the entire length of the island's east coast. Pink Sand Beach is, in fact, considered to be one of the best pink sand beaches in the world. Its sand is a combination of coral, broken sea shells and white calcium carbonate. The pink color comes from the addition of microscopic red-shelled animals called foraminifera, a common and abundant single-cell sea animal.

In the Pink in Bermuda

• Out in the Atlantic Ocean, about 650 miles off the coast of North Carolina, is Bermuda, or more appropriately the Bermudas, an approximately 34-square-mile archipelago of small islands blessed with an abundance of pink sand beaches. The color of the sand on most of the 181 tiny islands that make up this self-governing British territory comes from a combination of broken sea shells, bits of coral and the remains of a microscopic organism known as red foam. Tourists from around the world flock to these sub-tropical islands to soak up the sun and stroll along these unusually colored beaches.

The Best Beaches

• The Bermudas abound with recreational pink sand beaches. Some of the most popular are Shelly Beach, offering long stretches of shallow water popular with families with small children; Snorkel Park Beach, featuring coral reef snorkeling and a whole variety of water sports; West Whale Beach in Southampton Parish, where you can spot humpback whales as they migrate during March and April; Tobacco Bay Beach, often called the most popular beach on St. George’s Island; and Warwick Bay, featuring a half-mile of pink sand beaches and dunes.

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Beaches That Are Not Too Far From Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. may be a landlocked super city, but those burning for a beach getaway need only travel a few hours to reach some of the most diverse beaches and beach towns along the east coast. Whether you feel like working on your tan, reconnecting with nature or showing off your skim-boarding skills, there is a beach trip not too far from Washington, D.C. just for you.

Travel Back in Time at Rehoboth Beach

• About 130 miles and just under three-hour drive north of Washington, D.C. lies Rehoboth Beach. Mixing new and old -- with stylings from its Victorian-era roots -- this seaside town provides a relaxing beach vibe and touts itself as a year-round resort town. Open to the public between 5 a.m. and 1 a.m., the beach is a popular place to spend the day sunbathing, swimming in the sea or walking along the wooden boardwalk.

Listen to Concerts at Ocean City Beach

• Just under 150 miles from D.C., Ocean City Beach in Maryland awaits you. There is much to do in town besides visit the beach, including shopping, riding bikes on the three-mile boardwalk and eating fresh seafood. Each Wednesday, concerts can be enjoyed on the beach. Stay past sunset and watch the boardwalk light up with rides, arcade games and performers.

Doing It All at Dewey Beach, Delaware

• A lot goes on in small town Dewey Beach, Delaware, just 120 miles from D.C. Although the resident population is only about 300, summer weekend crowds of up to 30,000 people flock here, cramming the mile-long and two-block wide town. The beach was awarded "Superstar Beach Status" in 2011 and boasts an annual skim-boarding championship in mid-August. The town also has a music festival each year in September and hosts Greyhounds Reach the Beach every October, an event for rescued greyhounds and their owners.

Choose Your Own Adventure at Virginia Beach

• A little bit further from Washington, D.C. -- just over 200 miles south -- a few beaches in Virginia Beach, Virginia are available. Resort Area Beach, Sandbridge Beach and Chesapeake Bay Beach each have something to make your beach day worth the drive. Resort Area Beach is a long stretch of sandy beach surrounded by street performers, live music venues, busy cafes and a boardwalk. At the other end of the spectrum is the secluded Sandbridge Beach with its sleepy sand dunes and easy access to nature at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge and False Cape State Park. Chesapeake Bay Beach offers a relaxing beach experience and live entertainment.

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