BEST BEACHES

VENICE BEACH

Venice Beach, California
It's the ultimate urban beach. It has an artsy, eclectic neighborhood, trendy and over-priced restaurants and shops,  a sleazy, kick-ass boardwalk, medicinal marijuana stores, and... oh yeah, surf and sand! Not that you can acutally get in the water at any beach in California... it's freakin cold! The Venice of America delivers on all visceral fronts.  Wanna buy an Ak47 sterling silver necklace? Hit the boardwalk. Wanna pay way too much for something? Head to Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Venice Beach is our ultimate urban beach.

LAGUNA BEACH

Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is for all the old people... and the other people when they just need to turn it down a few notches. This is a beach to visit when you want to relax.  Grab a cocktail and take in an afternoon sunset. Put on some shorts and a t shirt and play some beach volleyball. Grab your pooch and stroll through downtown. Laguna Beach is a place of grilled entrees, a glass of wine and light jazz. So, if you're in a Kenny G kind of mood, head to Laguna Beach... there's no shame.

LUCAYA BEACH

Lucaya Beach, Grand Bahama
As much fun as the Florida Keys can be, they're about a four hour drive from Miami. Why spend four hours in a car, when you could spend it on a boat or just hop on a plane for a 30 minute flight. Lucaya Beach, Grand Bahama is that close and that's why its one of our Fave 5 picks. It's a weekend getaway that you can do on the cheap or mid cheap depending on your mood and bank account. Get a coconut with a shot of rum and take it to the beach, rent jet skis, buy a straw hat at the market, eat some great curry, it's that kind of place. 

LEBLON BEACH

Leblon Beach, Rio de Janeiro
Leblon is the most affluent neighborhood in Rio, so... if you want to swim and sun with the Big Ballers, head to Leblon Beach. It's a lot like Ipanema, but much more exclusive, and very cosmopolitan. During the day, you can play beach volleyball or foot volley, take yoga or tai chi, get fresh fruit juice and people watch. But if you're going to get in the water, bring a wetsuit or prepare to freeze your boom boom off, because that water is cold. At night, shop boutiques, eat at high-end restaurants, and hang out at trendy nightclubs. Bring lots of $$ and prepare to have fun.