Famous Beaches

Famous beaches have allure to visitors around the world. The beaches are known for the clear blue waters, sandy beaches or the entertainment and atmosphere present at the beaches. The French Riviera, Hawaii and Mexico have marketed their fine beaches so that generations of visitors rank the beaches as some of the most famous in the world. 

1. Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. The white sandy area is located in Mexico. Even after damage done by decades of storms, the beach resort continues to draw tourists. Many California residents, including college students, take trips to Cabo on weekends because the airlines cater to the weekend vacation crowd. 
2. Waikiki Beach, Oahu. Aside from being a beautiful beach, Waikiki has established a name as a classic destination vacation in the Hawai'ian Island chain. Since the islands entered the U.S. in 1950, vacationers have sought out the hotels and white beaches. Waikiki is also famous in surfing circles for the large wave action for surf fans. 
3. South Beach, Florida. South Beach dates back to the height of the 1920s Florida land boom. The Deco hotels and houses in South Beach continue today to attract fame and visitors. South Beach is technically the area on Orchid Island, now part of the greater Miami area. 
4. Miami Beach, Florida. Miami developed as a vacation destination as early as the 1920s. Films of the 1930s and 1940s built the reputation as the Marx Brothers and writers including Preston Sturgis set films on the tropical beaches. The rich built fine homes in Miami and the famous beach reputation was set in stone. 
5. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda. The famous bay in Bermuda is named for its horseshoe shape and the famous beaches of the bay attract wealthy and sophisticated travelers. The pink sands are home to an annual sand sculpture contest and the main island of Bermuda features a major league New Year's Eve party each year. 
6. Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As Barry Manilow told us, the nightclub mirrors the spirit of the original beach scene of Rio de Janeiro. The beach is famous for its white sand and also for the party that happens during Carnivale each year. 
7. Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The beach at Puerto Vallarta is famous to vacationers and to moviegoers. The white sandy beaches, historic architecture and long sunsets make this beach one of the world's most famous. Part of the fame lies in the fact that many cruise ships dock at the beach. 
8. Brighton Beach, England, United Kingdom. The play "Brighton Beach Memoirs" by Neil Simon reminds audiences of the lore of the famous beach at Brighton Beach. Although the initial fame came late in the 19th century as the rich and famous of England and Europe traveled to the recreational area to sit by the water. 
9. Carmel-by-the Sea, California. Carmel is not that large as famous beaches go, but the tiny northern California coastal town is famous for its beaches, restaurants and famous residents. Clint Eastwood and Doris Day are just two of the famous residents. Eastwood, in fact, served as mayor of the town. 
10. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan is an area of vast open white sandy dunes that attracts people from throughout the world. The area has been preserved as a nature site after nomination as a U.S. protected lakeshore. The famous beaches are joined by the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive and Glen Lake as tourist attractions.