Beautiful Beach Photos

By Gabrielle Blitz

February 04, 2014

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201401-w-beautiful-beaches-french-riviera

Credit: carmen147

From historic chills to cold fronts that won’t quit, winter’s bitter grip seems tighter than ever this year—and according to groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, we have six more weeks of it. Joy.

What better way to cure the winter blues than with cerulean skies and water to match?

We asked Travel + Leisure’s Instagram followers to get their heads out of the snow and to share photos of white-sand beaches (and black-sand beaches, and pebbly beaches, and rocky beaches—really any beaches) by including the hashtag #TLPicks and #TLTransportMe.

Whether diving into clear waters in the Aegean Sea or contemplating the sunset in Maui, HI, T+L’s fans took their minds off the cold by sharing daydream-worthy beaches from around the world. T+L fan @travelingfancy even showed us a photo of penguins enjoying the sheltered beach at Boulders Bay in South Africa, while @in_the_box captured feeding time for seagulls in the Caribbean.

It seems that winter has gone to the birds (literally) and that there’s never been a better time to consider flying south—or east or west—for the season. See our collection of beautiful beach photos to help you decide where to go.

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Aegean Sea, Greece

Credit: jetsetfarryn

Take a leap, dive in.

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Positano, Italy

Credit: getlostwithjackie

The view of Positano and the Amalfi Coast from the fruit and veggie stand along the coastline.

@getlostwithjackie

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Aruba

Credit: chrennix

This is happening…casual view.

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Near Perth, Western Australia

Credit: casebut

#WestOz #HolyMerde #Snakes #Sharks #UnrelentingBeauty

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Big Sur, CA

Credit: ravenreviews

Big Sur on my mind…

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Bora-Bora

Credit: l_mcdanal

Thank you for the amazing vacation #paradise #sunset.

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South Africa

Credit: travelingfancy

The adorable African penguins at Boulders Bay.

@travelingfancy

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Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Credit: jetsetfarryn

I mean, heaven… #viewfrom #sky #sun #beach

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Castara Beach, Tobago

Credit: in_the_box

Feeding time.

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Cavtat, Croatia

Credit: indeciferable

Took a splash.

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Florida

Credit: bonniefarmer

Sunrise diving off Lauderdale-by-the-Sea!

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Nice, France

Credit: ryanmagundayao

From where I run #frenchriviera

@ryanmagundayao

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Mykonos, Greece

Credit: samanthatsiagalis

#Sunset #Greece

@samanthatsiagalis

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Tulum, Mexico

Credit: alarmingcarol

A prehistoric-looking iguana sunning by the ruins.

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Kauai, HI

Credit: diptipai

Hiking #Hawaii

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Positano, Italy

Credit: floridagirl34210

#honeymoon Positano’s colorful beach.

@floridagirl34210

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Legian Beach, Kuta, Bali

Credit: travel_habit

Surfs up in Bali.

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Cinque Terre, Italy

Credit: ryanmagundayao

On the rocks #manarola #liguria

@ryanmagundayao

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Maui, HI

Credit: travelholics

I have never seen a sunset so colorful before. Aloha!

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Phi Phi Islands, Thailand

Credit: eachapman4

A view of Maya Bay at Koh Phi Phi Leh.

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Guacalito de la Isla, Nicaragua

Credit: cidosal

#MukulResort

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Sicily, Italy

Credit: _3onthego

Pollara Beach, Salina

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San Pedro, Belize

Credit: ttingen

I’m daydreaming again.

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Los Roques, Venezuela

Credit: sodemelswim

Where we would rather be…

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Honolulu

Credit: jirard

Waikiki Part Deux

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Nice, France

Credit: carmen147

#Beach #summer #iwanttogoback

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