Think back. What’s the first beach that pops into your head? Was it where you learned to swim? The place you had a perfect, drippy ice cream cone? That’s your winner.
The best beach isn’t about the color of the sand (though pink sand is pretty cool). It’s not about perfect water temperature or lack of jellyfish. It’s about the moment you felt absolutely, ridiculously happy.
I once found a beach in Portugal that had more broken seashells than sand. It was a nightmare for bare feet. But I found a perfect, smooth sea glass there, and I felt like a pirate queen. That’s my winner.
The "Pajama Test" for Beaches
Here’s a secret rule: the best beach passes what I call the “Pajama Test.” You know, where you get back to your car or your hotel, and you’re still in your swimsuit? And you just want to sit there, sandy and salty, wearing it like pajamas?
A great beach makes you forget to change. You’ll eat dinner with sand in your hair and zero regrets. You’ll find sand in your bed for a week, and you’ll smile every single time. That’s the mark of a champion.
