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  4. Beautiful Beaches: A Photo Tour

Beautiful Beaches: A Photo Tour

By Joshua Pramis
January 18, 2012
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Credit: antoinekeller
Once the holidays subside and winter’s chill sets in, our thoughts naturally turn to the beach. There’s just nowhere better to recharge than on a secluded, sun-kissed stretch of sand.

This urge for a warm-weather escape inspired us to ask Travel + Leisure readers to share their gorgeous beach photos. Hundreds of submissions poured in, which left us the challenge of narrowing them down to the very best. The resulting images not only spur wanderlust, but showcase the diversity of the world’s beaches (rocky shores, powder-fine sand, an abundance of seashells)—and the many ways to enjoy them.

Consider a fantastic action shot captured by user deborahwalker: a surfer silhouetted right in mid-jump. In another shot, you can almost hear the distant squeals from kids on old-time amusement rides. Then there are those who gather at the beach for mellower reasons. On Zanzibar, schoolgirls take a stroll along the fine white sand, while in Cape May, NJ, three friends plop down to gab in front of a lighthouse.

Perhaps it’s the tranquil, paradise-like beauty of the beach that has the most powerful appeal. Take a moment to admire Balos Beach, for instance, which T+L user FlyStefMcD photographed on the island of Crete. Its turquoise water, set against the backdrop of a perfectly vivid, cerulean sky and almost white sand, is enough to make you pack up and book a flight without even thinking twice. No wonder the island is the site of so many myths; it does look almost magical.

T+L user olivierlutaud submitted a similarly dreamy photo of a beach: San Jose Beach, Itacaré, Brazil. The near-empty, rocky shore, pictured at sunset, leaves us dreaming of a romantic moment with a loved one.

But don’t just take our word for it. Click through to see these top-notch beach photos for yourself. We hope they’ll brighten your day and even encourage you to get creative with photography on your next beach trip.

Once you return, be sure to log into the T+L community and share your best photos with us—they might be featured in our next reader slideshow.
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Western Australia

Credit: carlydonohue

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Itacare, Bahia, Brazil

Credit: olivierlutaud

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Big Sur, CA

Credit: Jmolenio

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Brighton, England

Credit: Tuckerg

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Cabo San Lucas

Credit: StacieB

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Pacific City, OR

Credit: jockey

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Cape May, NJ

Credit: grubbinongrits

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Crosby Beach, England

Credit: bethbuglione

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Folly Beach, SC

Credit: scott5769

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Balos Beach, Crete

Credit: FlyStefMcD

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Diamond Head Lighthouse, Honolulu

Credit: ocjoque

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Hanakapa’ai Beach, Kauai

Credit: jimholt

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Princeville, Kauai

Credit: joeymateo

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Victoria Beach Tower, Laguna Beach, CA

Credit: DStorym

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Majorca

Credit: Jonathanweiss8888

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Cape Ann, MA

Credit: newenglandphoto1

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Long Beach, NY

Credit: kdortz18

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Cannon Beach, OR

Credit: beccajacks

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Pacifica, CA

Credit: risenhoover

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Oeiras, Portugal

Credit: Gibsonchop

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Rio de Janeiro

Credit: slp2008

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Ruby Beach, WA

Credit: 1946

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San Clemente, CA

Credit: DeborahWalker

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Santa Cruz, CA

Credit: racheldemy

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Santa Cruz, CA

Credit: maselli

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Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue Island, Seychelles

Credit: Bill Cain

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Stinson Beach, CA

Credit: WillSmiley

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Phuket, Thailand

Credit: Trevor

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Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Turkey

Credit: ezgulertuck

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Venice Beach, CA

Credit: noelleshumer

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Stone Town, Zanzibar

Credit: antoinekeller

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1 of 31 Western Australia
2 of 31 Itacare, Bahia, Brazil
3 of 31 Big Sur, CA
4 of 31 Brighton, England
5 of 31 Cabo San Lucas
6 of 31 Pacific City, OR
7 of 31 Cape May, NJ
8 of 31 Crosby Beach, England
9 of 31 Folly Beach, SC
10 of 31 Balos Beach, Crete
11 of 31 Diamond Head Lighthouse, Honolulu
12 of 31 Hanakapa’ai Beach, Kauai
13 of 31 Princeville, Kauai
14 of 31 Victoria Beach Tower, Laguna Beach, CA
15 of 31 Majorca
16 of 31 Cape Ann, MA
17 of 31 Long Beach, NY
18 of 31 Cannon Beach, OR
19 of 31 Pacifica, CA
20 of 31 Oeiras, Portugal
21 of 31 Rio de Janeiro
22 of 31 Ruby Beach, WA
23 of 31 San Clemente, CA
24 of 31 Santa Cruz, CA
25 of 31 Santa Cruz, CA
26 of 31 Anse Source d’Argent, La Digue Island, Seychelles
27 of 31 Stinson Beach, CA
28 of 31 Phuket, Thailand
29 of 31 Ölüdeniz, Fethiye, Turkey
30 of 31 Venice Beach, CA
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