After the initial excitement of scarves and cute layered outfits wears off, winter can turn into a real ice-cold drag. Luckily, no matter where you live on the planet, there is somewhere on earth with a warm, sunny beach opposite your cold, dreary weather. If you’re looking for your next winter escape, here are 11 beaches to visit when you’re running low on that coveted sun-soaked vitamin D.
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Whether it’s snorkeling in Trunk Bay or hiking through trails at Cinnamon Beach Bay, there are plenty of summer-esque activities at St. Johns in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Cape Town, South Africa
Transport yourself to a sunnier place and time by visiting Capetown, South Africa, known for its white, sandy coastline and mouth-watering local fare.
Melbourne, Australia
A beautiful 70 degrees and up in December, Melbourne is the perfect escape in winter. This Australian city is home to several beachy attractions, including 82 bright and beautifully colored bathing boxes, a popular tourist destination on Brighton Beach.
Coronado Island, California
With all the overpopulated beaches of the United States’ sunny west coast, Coronado Island of California offers a perfect combination of authentic island living and resort-style attractions, including: fancy hotels, beautiful golf courses, and cycling with beautiful views of downtown San Diego.
Koh Samui, Thailand
Watch those mental icicles melt away once you arrive at Thailand’s second largest beach, Koh Sumui. This beautiful destination boasts all economic levels of accommodations, from budget-friendly bungalows to high-end luxury resorts.
Smathers Beach of Key West, Florida
One of largest beaches in Key West, Smathers beach is a beautiful and popular beach destination for college spring breaks. With beautiful sunsets and plenty of water activities, consider joining the nearly 150,000 other annual patrons of Smathers Beach for your next winter vacation.
The Baths of Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
With the exception of hurricane season, the weather in Virgin Gorda seems to always be pleasant, resting typically in the mid-80’s during the day and the cool 70’s at night. Tourists travel far and wide to this unique destination, for its beautiful scenery and hauntingly gorgeous granite boulders.
Grand Anse Beach, Grenada
Known as one of the best beaches in Grenada, Grand Anse Beach is the perfect reprieve for forgetting the icy chill back home. An explosion of scenic viewsv – turquoise blue water, white sandy coast, coconut trees, and scattered colorful villas – is what you can expect to see on beautiful Grand Anse beach.
Spanish Wall Beach, Rincon, Puerto Rico
If you love secluded, little known destinations that feed your need for hidden adventure, look no further than the Spanish Wall Beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. Known for the perfect surfer’s wave, most travelers will never know the beauty that is the Spanish Wall – as reaching this beach requires a challenging hike from the more popular Domes Beach.
Musandam, Oman
A perfect 80 degrees in the middle of January, the sandy coasts of Musandam in Oman is a perfect destination to knock off the chill of winter. Its diverse landscapes of mountain ranges, modern metropolis, desert and beaches make Oman a perfect destination in the Middle East.
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Feast your eyes on Eagle Beach in Aruba, and you’ll never want to leave. Ranked 3rd best beach in the world by TripAdvisor in 2017, Eagle Beach of Aruba is known for its storied past, beautiful culture and jaw-dropping turquoise-lined coasts.
