Quiz: Where in the world are these amazing beaches?, As we adjust to the crisp autumn air, it's easy to find ourselves dreaming of warm, sandy beaches. Read on to see some gorgeous beach scenery and guess where in the world these amazing beaches are.
If windsurfing is your passion, head to one of the most famous windsurfing spots in the world. Consistently strong winds combined with perfectly shaped waves breaking over a series of underwater reefs that cross the bay create ideal conditions for the sport.
Where is this beach?
A. South Carolina
B. Maui
C. Tahiti
Sandy shores, incomparable views – and this beach was voted the No. 1 dog-friendly beach in its country.
Where is this beach?
A. Wales
B. Argentina
C. Greece
Superstorm Sandy (see photos from the disaster) may have trashed a lot of beaches in New York and New Jersey, but this beach rose above the regional destruction to win the title of America’s No. 1 Beach in the annual ranking released by coastal expert Stephen P. Leatherman (aka Dr. Beach), a professor at Florida International University in Miami.
Where is this beach?
A. New Jersey
B. New York
C. New Hampshire
Warm, clear water, white sand and seashells, abundant nature activities for beachgoers of all ages, and a large lagoon that is never more than 3 feet deep (thanks to a protective sandbar just offshore). This beach also has a shady playground where kids can pretend to be pirates and the old fort for which the park is named.
Where is this beach?
A. South Carolina
B. Florida
C. Georgia
This area is known for its string of coastal villages which form a popular seaside resort. It has been used as a backdrop for popular movies, TV shows and books – and it is known for its pricey real estate.
Where is this beach?
A. The French Riviera
B. The Amalfi Coast
C. The Hamptons
The biggest attraction at this beach is a 237-foot-high rock monolith that rises from the surf on a beautiful stretch of sandy beach that attracts visitors all year long. The tidal pools around the base of the rock (a state-protected marine garden) are filled with sea life such as crabs, sea anemones, and orange and purple starfish. The rock also attracts tufted puffins, gulls, cormorants and other nesting seabirds.
Where is this cool rock?
A. Oregon
B. Maine
C. Washington
This California beach is 1.5 miles of sparkling sand, literally, due to the mineral mica it contains. Named America’s best beach in 2012 by “Dr. Beach," this gorgeous spot has near-perfect weather and a picture-postcard setting.
Where is this beach?
A. Malibu
B. San Francisco
C. San Diego
Imagine a perfect beach: White sand, blue skies, a gentle breeze and clear blue water ringed by palm trees. That's what you'll find at this tropical Pacific paradise, where a crescent-shaped beach is a favorite of sun-seekers from around the world.
Where is this amazing beach?
A. Kiribati
B. Hawaii
C. French Polynesia
If you want to feel like a castaway for a day, pack a lunch and hike to this beach on the Na Pali Coast. The rugged and remote coast has long attracted adventurous hikers to its towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and lush valleys. Na Pali also has attracted Hollywood; movies such as "Jurassic Park," "King Kong" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" have been shot on location there.
Where is this amazing beach?
A. The Bahamas
B. Hawaii
C. Jamaica
This beach is in a nation known for its sun, with a famous coast renowned for sunbathing. Located on the eastern side of the country-slash-continent, it is a World Heritage site and the largest sand island in the world. Due to its abundant vegetation, humans have been inhabiting the island for thousands of years, but its resident population currently numbers only in the hundreds.
Where is this amazing beach?
A. New Zealand
B. Australia
C. Madagascar
If you're interested in seeing sea turtles hatch or doing some serious bird watching, consider a trip to the this 70-mile stretch of beach. Wildlife is a key reason to visit the beaches here, along with their incomparable beauty, magnificent local seafood, and activities such as camping, kayaking and wind surfing. Bottlenose dolphins are native to its waters and the area is a stopover for many migratory bird species. There are only seven species of sea turtles in the world, and five of them can be found here.
Where is this amazing beach?
A. North Carolina
B. South Carolina
C. Virginia
If you’re looking for some beach-based inspiration, try this beach. Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck lived in a cottage near here for several years and was inspired by the surrounding beaches. Many other artists and writers such as photographer Ansel Adams (see his famous work) and poet Robinson Jeffers also lived in the area. This beach is only a mile long, but its exceptional beauty, natural diversity and breathtaking sunsets are a true inspiration.
Where is this stunning beach?
A. Oregon
B. Mexico
C. California
At 28 miles, this peninsula is the longest beach in the United States. It also offers one of the most diverse beach communities, with two historic lighthouses, three state parks and a national wildlife refuge as well as cranberry bogs and oyster farms. The area also has annual kite-flying and sand sculpture competitions that are must-see events.
Where is this lovely beach?
A. Maine
B. Washington
C. Oregon
One of the most dazzling beaches you’re ever likely to see was once the town dump. Until the late 1960s, the people of the nearby town routinely tossed their garbage into the ocean from the cliffs above what would later become this beach. Decades of surf and sand gradually transformed all of those broken beer bottles, dishes and other refuse into smooth, translucent pebbles of every shape and color. Today, it has the highest concentration of sea glass in the world.
What is the name of this colorful beach?
A. Trash Point
B. Color Cove
C. Glass Beach
This tiny, tropical beach may only stretch for half a mile, but it’s considered one of the best swimming beaches in the world. Thanks to its protected enclosure and scenic beauty, it’s a popular place for both families and photo shoots.
Where can you find this beautiful beach?
A. Greece
B. Bermuda
C. Oahu
A popular destination for tourists, this island surrounds an extinct volcano that rises into two peaks at the island’s center. It was used as a military supply base by the United States in World War II.
What is the name of this island?
A. Saint Helena
B. Bora Bora
C. Grenada
If you’re looking for a great place to watch the sunrise in the summer, it’s hard to imagine a better location than this beach. It is the only sand beach on its island’s 47,000 acres of granite mountains, forested lakelands and rocky shoreline. Wake while it is still dark, and there will be nothing but open ocean between you and the dawn’s early light.
Where can you find this secluded beach?
A. Maine
B. Alaska
C. Washington
Windansea is just one of several beaches that combine to provide a front-row seat for viewing the romantic sunsets for which this stretch of coastline is justly famous. As a bonus, La Jolla beaches offer some of the most spectacular scenery on the California coast.
Near which California city can you find this beach?
A. San Francisco
B. Los Angeles
C. San Diego
Forty ancient rock carvings, visible at low tide, make this beach one of the most unusual in the world. Scientists believe native Tlingit, whose descendants still inhabit the area, carved the images of faces, birds, salmon, spirals and a killer whale on the boulders and bedrock along the beach some 8,000 years ago.
Where can you find this beautiful beach?
A. Philippines
B. Alaska
C. Chile
Lying on an island in the Mediterranean Sea, this beach is part of a nature preserve popular among those fond of witnessing the local wildlife. It is one of the few remaining egg-laying sites for an endangered sea turtle, and the animals who live along its coast include mantas and dolphins.
Where can you find this beach of wildlife wonders?
A. Spain
B. Italy
C. Greece
A shark-lover’s fantasy, this beach was once teeming with sharks, and hundreds of fossilized shark teeth continue to wash up here every year. Searching for prehistoric shark teeth and seashells is a favorite pastime.
Where can you find this toothsome beach?
A. Venice, California
B. Venice, Florida
C. Venice, Italy
This nationally renowned seashore includes 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds and habitat for diverse species as well as lighthouses, hiking and biking trails, and cranberry bogs. Writing about its Outer Beach in the 1800s, the author Henry David Thoreau said: “A man may stand there and put all America behind him.” People have been doing exactly that for generations.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. Massachusetts
B. Rhode Island
C. Delaware
This stretch of sand is usually near the top of any list of beachside places for fun-loving singles to meet and mingle. A sun-filled art deco and pastel paradise by day, this spot really comes into its own after dark, when the nightlife begins and music fills the air. Sun-kissed singles prefer stylish lounges, salsa clubs or the retro beat of disco.
Where is this beach?
A. South Carolina
B. Florida
C. California
This cluster of more than 100 stunning islands should satisfy just about anyone seeking an adventurous beach vacation. Sun-seeking tourists flock to the southern islands, while the northern islands attract those searching for a bit more solitude.
Where are these stunning beach islands?
A. Malaysia
B. Thailand
C. Australia
There are a lot of great beaches for you to explore with your dog—some even have designated off-leash areas—but not many can compare to these two beaches in this southern US state. Once an idyllic haven for America’s social elite, this amazing spot is now one of the nation’s most stunning marine landscapes, and Driftwood Beach is one of the most beautiful spots on the island.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. South Carolina
B. North Carolina
C. Georgia
Known for its unique pink sand beaches that can be seen all along the east coast of the island, this picture-perfect isle has long been a popular vacation destination for Americans. Travelers can enjoy breathtaking views while sunbathing, diving, fishing and boating in the clear ocean waters.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. Caicos
B. Bahamas
C. Turks
Green sand beaches are rare—only a handful exist in the world—and one of the best examples is on the southern tip of this island. The green sand is caused by volcanic activity. Olivine, a mineral rich in iron and magnesium, is one of the first crystals to form as magma cools. Accessible only by foot or four-wheel-drive vehicle, this beach is an eco-sensitive area that shows what happens over time when olivine accumulates and is ground down by the sea: a carpet of emerald-green sand.
Where is this beautiful beach?
D. Tahiti
E. Hawaii
F. Fiji
Perfect weather, beautiful sand and luxury resorts have made these beaches the ultimate destination for honeymooners, sun lovers and vacationers of all kinds since the 1970s. Scuba diving, snorkeling and exploring the coral reefs beneath the Indian Ocean are among the most popular activities.
Where are these beautiful beaches?
A. Madagascar
B. Seychelles
C. Maldives
This Indian Ocean paradise resides on the third-most populous island in this island nation with a French and British colonial history. The island is home to several critically endangered species, such as the paradise flycatcher and a subspecies of giant tortoises (see photos).
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. The Maldives
B. Seychelles
C. Mauritius
This national park includes more than 70 miles of stunning coastline, with rugged cliffs, hidden coves and tide pools, not to mention the natural driftwood garden created by wind and waves on the beach. This part of the coast is also rich in wildlife, including puffins, seals, sea otters, migrating whales and the largest bald eagle population in the Lower 48 states.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. California
B. Oregon
C. Washington
This gorgeous Caribbean, white sand beach actually has an international airport adjacent to it, so it's common to see aircraft up close and personal while you're relaxing on the sand. Delighting beach-goers for years, it’s also become a popular site among plane spotters.
Where is this beach?
A. St. Martin
B. St. John
C. Martinique
This beach, which stretches along a 37-mile-long barrier island, is famous for the hundreds of wild ponies that wander its beaches, but it’s also a great destination for bird watching, crabbing, clamming, swimming, hiking, surf fishing and seashell collecting. While you’re in the area, make time to explore the historic towns and other attractions that lie nearby.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. Maryland
B. Australia
C. Nova Scotia
Travelers longing for warm weather and solitude will find much to appreciate on this beach. It lies on the island of Fernando de Noronha, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its large population of resident dolphins and a habitat friendly toward several endangered species.
Where can you find this beach?
A. Spain
B. Portugal
C. Brazil
The largest resort island on the East Coast features 14 miles of wide sand beaches that slope gently into the warm, shallow water. The sand is hard-packed in many places, so riding fat-tire bikes on the beach has become a favorite pastime. You can’t go wrong with any of the beaches here, but those looking for smaller crowds can still find swimmer-friendly beaches further off the beaten track.
Where can you find this beach?
A. Maryland
B. South Carolina
C. Florida
Located on an island off the coast, this beach boasts warm temperatures and opportunities to witness some of its wildlife: Its waters host groups of up to 400 whale sharks in peak season.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. Mexico
B. Italy
C. Portugal
Natives are proud of the pristine Whitehaven Beach, and they’re intent on keeping it that way: Neither cigarettes nor dogs are allowed on its shores. The beach is also known for the bright, white color of its sand, made possible due to the high percentage of silica in its chemical makeup.
Where is this pristine beach?
A. Australia
B. New Zealand
C. Virgin Islands
White sand gives way to turquoise sea to make this beach a tropical island paradise. Take a long, carefree stroll along its 12 miles of soft sand or lounge on the beach and stare out at the clear blue ocean.
Where is this beautiful beach?
A. St. Martin
B. Bahamas
C. Turks and Caicos