beach Archives

The best destinations for beautiful beaches and marine life

Maybe you’re the person who wants to lounge on the sand with an icy drink in hand. Or perhaps you’re like me and want to see as many undersea creatures as possible. Bring on the snorkel, baby. (I’ll take the cocktail after.)

Rightboat combed through 313K+ TripAdvisor reviews to find the most beautiful beaches — with the best chance to spot marine life — across the U.S. We’re talking clear waters, clean beaches and lots of undersea creatures. Now I want to go on vacation.

And with no further ado, the top 10:

La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California – Best overall
Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii – Tropical paradise for marine enthusiasts
Poipu Beach Park, Kauai, Hawaii – Watch green sea turtles glide by
Cannon Beach, Oregon – Calling all whale watchers!
Panama City Beach, Florida – Dolphin-watching paradise
Napili Beach, Maui, Hawaii – Tranquil haven for exploring underwater
Pensacola Beach, Florida – Paddle past marine life
Clearwater Beach, Florida – A great spot to learn about our undersea friends
Sombrero Beach, Florida Keys – The spot for snorkeling
Lanikai Beach, Oahu, Hawaii – Serene coastal paradise with powdery white sands

Napili Beach is a dream! And our Amazing Content Queen Allie says Lanikai is her favorite beach.

Shark attack hotspots revealed in new research

Hey there, ocean lovers! Who doesn’t love a good day at the beach, right? The sand, the surf, and, of course, a refreshing dip in the ocean. It turns out there’s more to the sea than meets the eye. Cue the “Jaws” theme.

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Look the part

Summer is hard on skin, hair, nails — you name it. It’s Kim to the rescue, with inexpensive pick-me-ups! Guys, yes, you can use all these, too.

Defrizz your pool or beach hair with a collagen mask that’s under $8.
Rosemary oil supports hair growth, just sayin’. Great price and reviews on this brand.
Corns and calluses aren’t cute. Fix your feet. Be careful looking at the photos in the reviews. Just know — they work.
These wipes, made especially for sweaty folks, will help keep you dry before a big day.
Treat your skin right after too much sun. Love this stuff from Burt’s Bees (11% off).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

🧼 Your photos are a mess: Find what you want with AI-powered albums. On a Mac, open Apple Photos and choose File > New Smart Album. Pick what you want (like photos of the beach) and it’ll pull in pics that match. In Google Photos for the web, go to Albums > Create Album. Here, you can choose the people and/or pets you want to include.

Hitting the road? Here's a money-saving change you should make before your next vacation

It’s summertime, which means many hard workers are planning vacations to get away from it all. Maybe you’re picturing the sun-drenched Mexican beaches. Or perhaps your mind wanders to an exciting zipline lush rainforest.

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7 best beaches of the world

For a relaxing vacation, it’s hard to beat a sunny destination. What’s better than sipping your favorite beverage while catching some rays? The sand, the sun and the clear blue ocean with a nice warm breeze, it’s simply paradise! But how do you know which beaches are duds, and which are worth visiting? I’ve rounded up seven of my absolute favorites!

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Summer lovin’ (not splashin’)

Even the highest-rated “waterproof” phones were tested in fresh, calm water — not the beach or a chlorinated water slide. Protect your stuff.

Retire the Ziploc bag: Snag a two-pack of Pelican Marine pouches for your fam’s phones. There’s a lanyard so your phone won’t slip into the water, but even if it does, it floats! The olive color is 30% off.
Float on: This floating HD speaker has eight colors of LED lights … that project flamingos underwater! So fun. Right now, it’s 13% off (under $40).
Throw and go: Get a dry bag and don’t worry about your phone, tablet, book … You name it, It’s covered. The waterproof 5L Heeta Dry Bag is 20% off and just under $12.
Look, ma! No hands: Store your phone, cash and cards with a waterproof pouch — just $9.89 for a black-and-white set of two. It’s touchscreen-friendly, so you can splash and text.
Beach reads: Protect your Kindle or iPad with a waterproof pouch. This floating one fits tablets up to 11 inches and is on sale for 11% off.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Cool little bags

One of my favorite little pleasures is returning to the car after a long hike, popping open my cooler and grabbing an ice-cold drink — ah-h-h. Recreate that bliss at the beach, on a boat or even at your desk with these little coolers — all chosen for their awesomeness by the folks at Consumer Reports.

Best status-cooler alternative: YETI, Stanley and Hydro Flask coolers make all the best-of lists — and their coolers can cost over $200. The nine-can Titan ($32.99) has features that rival the status coolers (deep-freeze insulation, padded and adjustable shoulder strap, a no-zip flip top) without the name-brand markup.
Best backpack cooler: If you can’t (or don’t want to) wait to get back to your car before popping open a cold one, swap out your regular daypack with this backpack cooler ($29.99). Its waterproof interior can hold up to 28 cans and keep ‘em cold for 16 hours. The outside pockets hold your keys, phone and granola bars.
Best for the golf course: A cooler so genius that it was on “Shark Tank,” the Caddyswag ($25.99) fits six cans of seltzer or soda or whatever and slides perfectly into your golf bag’s external pocket. This will be a slam dunk Father’s Day present for a lot of you, I’m sure.
Best for style: A hip cooler? Yup. They call it retro, but I just call it cool. Igloo’s neon ‘90s cooler (17% off, $24.99) is hot pink, teal and highlighter yellow with a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. Keep nine LaCroix ice cold for enjoying anywhere you want to be refreshed and stylin’.
Best for lunch: PackIt’s freezable lunch bag ($23.99) is both a bag and an ice pack all in one. The bag flattens down to practically nothing so you can store it in even the most packed freezer, then just grab it, pack it and you’re on your way. Cool color options, too.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Summer sandals for everyone

Comfortable, cooling and cool-ish footwear for kicking around the yard, beach and beyond.

Arizona dupes: If you like the look of Birkenstocks but not the price, these faux leather versions by Cushionaire are 40% off ($29.99) and come in lots of good colors. These are so in right now for men and women.
Slip in and slide: Swap out your regular Crocs for summer Crocs. These unisex slides are so comfy and up to 41% off ($20.64).
Walking on clouds: Pillow slippers look silly until you put them on, and then there’s nothing funny about them. Heaven. These unisex slides are 15% off ($20.38).
Fellas’ fancy flops: Add some khakis and a collared shirt to these faux leather flip-flops, and you’re dressed for dinner. Right now, snag a pair for 30% off ($13.99).
Ladies’ fancy flops: Cute Birkenstock-esque women’s thongs in faux leather with an adjustable buckle. Choose from five colors (love the light gray). They’re all 25% off ($22.49).
Hey there, dude: Andrew Babinski loves his HEYDUDE shoes. I’m not a fan, but I’ve heard from both men and women that these shoes are super comfy.

💡 Pro tip: Sometimes, Amazon’s pricing can vary by size — rude! If you find your size is more expensive, click through other available colors to find a lower price.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Not a fan of sweating?

When it’s hot, you need a fan. These personal ones are portable, rechargeable and will keep you cool. Oh, and they look pretty awesome, too.

Best handheld fan: The TriPole Mini Handheld Fan is cute, tiny and a steal — 53% off right now ($9.48). Pick your fave of 12 colors (love the blue, but the yellow is great, too) and get a matching lanyard. It charges with a USB-C cord — easy-breezy!
Best handheld-slash-desk fan: Hang, prop, angle or hold this fan from VersionTECH to stay cool, whether you’re WFH or ATB (at the beach). It lasts up to eight hours on the lowest setting and three hours on the highest, charges via a micro-USB cord, and is 43% off ($15.99).
Best neck fan: I used to think these were dorky, but they’re a lifesaver when you’re working outside in the heat. SWEETFUL’s model is bladeless, lightweight, works for four to nine hours, charges via USB-C, and is 10% off ($23.39).

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.