Are already dreaming of summer bucket list beaches? We just love the sand in our toes, the smell of the salt air, and the sound of the crashing waves.
Beach vacations are some of the most popular destinations for The Jones Family. With the cold weather, I know a lot of people are dreaming of tropical destinations.
Today, I am going to share the best summer bucket list beaches. Get your pen ready to take notes to add to your family bucket list.
Summer Bucket List Beaches
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach in Hawaii
Our first best family beach for a bucket list is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach in Hawaii. We do love these islands. Hawaii has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
The Jones Family has been to all of the Hawaiian Islands many many times. We think the best of the Hawaii beaches is Punalu’u Black Sand Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Let’s first talk about the sand. The sand is black, which is amazing! Your kids will love playing and walking through the black sandy beach. I am sure you are thinking . . . why is the sand black? Nearby is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The black sand is due to lava flowing into the ocean.
You will also find another surprise on this beach . . . turtles! Green Sea Turtles wash up on shore to relax and take a nap. Last year, we saw close to 20 turtles just chilling on the beach.
You can see these turtles up close, like really close. This is an amazing experience. You can pick up lunch nearby at one of the food trucks and have a picnic lunch at this amazing beach.
Trunk Bay in St. John’s
You can cruise or travel to Trunk Bay in the St. John’s Virgin Islands. Trunk Bay is part of the US Virgin Islands National Park. This means there is a lot of area to explore on land and in the water.
One of our favorite things to do in Trunk Bay is snorkeling. There is even a 225 yard long underwater coral trail that you can snorkel with your family. This is truly a beautiful beach with lush greenery, white sands, and turquoise waters.
Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas
Do you love the color pink? If you do, the Pink Sand Beach in the Bahamas is perfect for you.
This beach is an easy beach to visit on a cruise or while visiting Nassau in the Bahamas. The pink color is from little bitty pieces of red coral that washes up on the shore of the Pink Sand Beach.
The turquoise waters of the Bahamas washing up on the pink sand of this beach is truly breathtaking. Arrive early in the morning or later in the evening to get the most vibrant colors of this sand.
Cumberland Island National Seashore in Georgia
If you like camping and adventure, one of our favorite family beaches for a bucket list is the Cumberland Island National Seashore.
You rarely hear about Cumberland Island when people talk about beaches, but it is an amazing island in Southern Georgia. You may remember hearing Cumberland Island was where JFK Jr. got married years ago.
This island is a National Park. You can only get to this island by ferry. The ferry takes about 45 minutes to get from visitors center to Cumberland Island.
Once you get to the island, you can hike to your campsite. These are “rough” campsites with no facilities.
The highlight of Cumberland Island is walking down to the beach. You may not see a single person in either direction. It is just your family and the amazing beach.
You also may get lucky and see the wild horses that inhabit this island. It is truly an amazing beach experience for more adventure seekers.
Clearwater/St. Pete Beaches in Florida
The beaches at Clearwater/St. Petersburg on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida are continually ranked the #1 family beach.
The sands on this beach are so white and super soft. There are very little waves on the Gulf of Mexico side of Florida, so perfect for kids. The waters are crystal clear and you will often see porpoise swim by you.
We love the beaches in Clearwater/St. Pete, just a couple hours from Disney World and Orlando.
Maya Bay in Phi Phi in Thailand
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are in Thailand. One of the highlights is Maya Bay in Phi Phi. This is the location of the The Beach with Leonardo DiCaprio. The waters in Maya Bay are spectacular blues and greens with amazing rock cliffs with lush greenery. It is truly breathtaking.
Maya Bay is more popular, so plan on arriving early to get the best spot and best pictures before exploring the bay and waters.
This one is on our summer bucket list! Which one of these is on your list?
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