The Evolution of Beach Culture

From toga-wrapped emperors to board-toting surfers, all walks of life have flocked to the seaside for renewal, reflection, and amusement, and the tide of influences has defined beach culture around the world. Transcending time and place, surf fever over the centuries proves our obsession for sea and sand is here to stay.

First Century A.D.

Early VIP sunseekers to Italy's Amalfi Coast (Nero, Augustus) build summer residences in the town of Baiae, on the Bay of Naples, and it soon becomes a spot for imperial indulgence and hedonism.

1884

Here comes the fun: the first roller coaster in the U.S. is erected on Coney Island, establishing the future home of funnel cakes and hot dog–eating contests. This early seaside vacation spot sees the arrival of upscale hotels on Brighton Beach (not to mention the louche side of boardwalk life: prostitutes and con artists).

1907

Four years after daytime swimming is legalized in Sydney—and it's no longer immodest to get wet in public—the city records an uptick in drowning deaths. The Bondi Surf Life Bathers’ Life Saving Club forms to combat the problem. One of the first rescues: 10-year-old Charles Kingsford Smith, who grows up to be a famous Aussie aviator.

1920

Wearing a fitted red swimsuit and a stocking cap, the soon-to-be-famous Jantzen Red Diving Girl introduces the Oregon company’s new figure-hugging wool jersey. The birth of modern swimwear signals, some say, the demise of propriety.

1933

The Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film Flying Down to Rio turns Brazil's ultra-glam Copacabana Palace (doubles from $500) into the place to be seen south of the equator. (In truth, the movie was shot on an RKO soundstage.) The hotel attracts the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Brigitte Bardot; Mariah Carey and the Cruise-Holmes clan are among recent guests.

1935

With Hawaii Calls, a weekly live radio show, millions of American listeners welcome into their homes the sound of rolling waves and steel guitars. In 1936, commercial air travel to the islands is born with the seven-passenger Hawaii Clipper, which travels from San Francisco to Honolulu for $360 (and in a mere 22 hours!).

1946

French engineer Louis Réard unveils the modern version of the two-piece swimsuit—30 square inches of fabric connected by a string—at a Paris swimming pool. Knowing the two-piece would make an “atomic” impact, he named it after nuclear-weapon test site Bikini Atoll.

1949

Nightclub impresario Teddy Stauffer strikes gold in Acapulco, Mexico, with his club La Perla (miradoracapulco.com; dinner for two $50) on the rocky cliffs of La Quebrada, where cliff diving will soon become an iconic pastime. It's not long before JFK and Jackie arrive for their honeymoon and Liz Taylor weds husband no. 3 here.

1950

Sun-worshippers bare all as the first nudist resort debuts on Montalivet Beach, on France's west coast. Two decades later the adults-only Hedonism II (hedonismresorts.com; doubles from $330) resort will arrive in Negril, Jamaica. The property has two sides: one for nudes and one for prudes.

1962

Surfin’ Safari by the Beach Boys becomes the sound track for the emerging southern California boarding culture. Paradise Cove, in Malibu, is the backdrop for beach-bunny prototype Gidget, along with Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon of Beach Blanket Bingo.

1971

French Polynesia lures travelers to its pristine, far-flung shores by introducing the next must-have amenity: the overwater bungalow. Among the pioneers is the Hotel Bora Bora (reopening in 2011), which made its debut a decade earlier as the island’s first resort.

1975

The release of Steven Spielberg’s Jaws promotes a widespread fear of sharks, especially on Martha’s Vineyard, where the movie was filmed; night swimming abruptly stops. But it doesn’t keep celeb regulars away (Walter Cronkite, James Taylor, William Styron).

1988

Amanresorts opens its inaugural property, Amanpuri (doubles from $500), in Phuket, Thailand. By now, this Andaman Island is one of Southeast Asia’s most popular destinations—and, thanks to resorts like Amanpuri, not only for the backpacker set.

1992

Island Records founder Chris Blackwell brings chart toppers to the Caribbean with the launch of Island Outpost resorts. Among them is Geejam (doubles from $595), in Jamaica’s Port Antonio, which has hosted musicians such as India.Arie and Gwen Stefani.

2010

With an influx of new properties—including Sol Kerzner’s 100-room One&Only The Palm, Dubai (oneandonlyresorts.com; doubles from $780), set to open in October—Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands are the latest option for the beach-going jet set. Swim in the Persian Gulf, anyone?

Amanpuri, Phuket

Phuket's Amanpuri is the very first Amanresorts property and, perhaps, the loveliest. Guests may book one of 40 rooms or 30 villas and dine in either of the 2 restaurants before hitting the property's bar. Villas come with a private pool, a driver, a gardener and two maids. Wet bathing suits seem to magically dry and fold themselves as evidence of the property's commitment to inconspicuous service.

Belmond Copacabana Palace

1923 landmark French Riviera-style palace with a modern, all-suite annex, on one of the world's most famous stretches of sand, the 2½-mile Copacabana Beach. Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire once graced the halls of this 245-room Art Deco grande dame.

Hotel Bora Bora

This hotel is currently closed for a complete reconstruction. No date has been set for reopening.

Geejam, A Private Hotel

Until recently, former music execs Jon Baker and Steve Beaver rented out Geejam, their lush 46-acre estate in the hills off Jamaica’s northeastern coast, to musicians like Gwen Stefani and India.Arie to use as a recording studio. Since the two teamed up with Island Outpost, the seven-room retreat is now open to anyone looking to channel their inner Lenny Kravitz—which is easy enough to do thanks to the hotel’s rock-star–cool design (think Juergen Teller prints and Philippe Starck chairs). Guests can even lay down a few tracks of their own at the on-site studio.