Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort

Framed by Diamond Head, one of the world's most climbed (extinct) volcanoes, and with nearly two miles of continuous white sand and palm trees, this iconic beach—over the past 80 years its image has even been printed on tens of thousands "aloha shirts"—is almost always full of tourists and surfers. It is deepest, about 100 feet, in front of the bright pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The bathtub-temp turquoise water is ideal for swimming, and waves are usually gentle enough for children and beginning surfers. Following a $100 million-plus overhaul, this pink palazzo-style icon reopened in 2009 with a brand-new pool and an updated historic wing.