All posts tagged: Beaches

Fabulous views, ferry rides and tucked-away beaches: readers’ favourite UK coast walks | United Kingdom holidays

Fabulous views, ferry rides and tucked-away beaches: readers’ favourite UK coast walks | United Kingdom holidays

Published by Sam Flores

A tidal island off Ynys Môn (Anglesey) With an impressive mix of mountain and sea views, the 130-mile Anglesey Coastal Path is a must-do for those who love a good walk. But like most locals, my perennial favourite is the offshoot trail out to the tidal island Ynys Llanddwyn. Having grown up on Ynys Môn but now living in London, for me it has become something of an annual pilgrimage in the summer months. The mile-long walk along the main beach to the island is manageable and fun for grandparents and grandkids alike – with the white-washed lighthouses offering a rewarding end viewpoint. Pack a picnic, swim in the clear waters and relax – just make sure you’ve checked the tide times!Lavinia Brydon Profile Readers’ tips: send a tip for a chance to win a £200 voucher for a Coolstays break Show Guardian Travel readers’ tips Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition …

Here are 3 hikes with ocean views near great Los Angeles beaches

Here are 3 hikes with ocean views near great Los Angeles beaches

Published by Sam Flores

I felt frustrated as I hiked through the canyon. Seemingly at every single turn, a hiker blazed past me, ignoring any semblance of trail etiquette. A house party near the mouth of the canyon blared music that reverberated throughout the hillsides, blocking any chance to hear birdsong. Although I’m nonbinary, I felt my gender rapidly evolving into grumpy old man. “The privilege of living here,” I grumbled to myself. “Never hiking on Memorial Day ever again.” Then, I realized just how much my own attitude was ruining what could otherwise be a beautiful day outdoors. I paused, took a few deep breaths and made myself look at the flowers, take in the smile of a passing hiker, and say a few things I felt grateful for. This gentle reframing saved the day. It was my first time hiking around Santa Ynez Canyon, and I laughed at myself for expecting serenity on Memorial Day, when seemingly half of L.A. heads to the beach and mountains for a quick escape. I had high expectations for the canyon’s …

Best beaches in Los Angeles County

Best beaches in Los Angeles County

Published by Sam Flores

Santa Monica State Beach has beautiful, white sand beaches, temperate surf conditions, restaurants with romantic ocean views and bike path access for riding and rollerblading, not to mention a bustling pier with an amusement park, trapeze school, snacks-on-a-stick, street performers and, underneath, Heal the Bay Aquarium. But swimming within 100 yards in either direction of the pier (or the Pico-Kenter storm drain) is not on the agenda. For the fifth year, that area made Heal the Bay’s dirtiest beaches list last week. Outside of those areas, the water tends to meet quality standards for the rest of the 3.5-mile stretch of shoreline. The city of Santa Monica has spent millions to fight the water pollution in that area to no avail. A new task force is underway. Santa Monica State Beach is also the “birthplace” of beach volleyball, according to the city, and there are ample courts along the sand. Don’t miss the Original Muscle Beach workout area and Chess Park, across from it. Best for: Families, tourists, surfing Parking: 13 beach lots, $7 to …

‘Beaches’ Musical to Close After 2026 Tony Awards Snub

‘Beaches’ Musical to Close After 2026 Tony Awards Snub

Published by Daniella Wilson

Beaches, The New Musical is the first Tonys casualty of the season and will now close May 24 after being shut out of the nominations. The show began previews at the Majestic Theatre March 27, ahead of an April 22 opening date, but has failed to catch on with audiences and with critics, who delivered mixed to negative reviews. Last week on Broadway, the musical played to just 51 percent capacity, and it has been bringing in $550,000 or less per week since opening, which is far below the running costs of an average musical.  The show, which stars Jessica Vosk and Kelli Barrett, likely hoped for nominations for its leads or for the musical itself to help right the ship.  Still, the show was always set for a limited Broadway run, through Sept. 6, before heading on a national tour. The production said Tuesday that plans are currently underway for the tour. It came to Broadway after about a 10-year development period with an international premiere in 2024 at Theatre Calgary in Alberta, Canada, …

‘Beaches’ star Barbara Hershey, 78, looks completely different now

‘Beaches’ star Barbara Hershey, 78, looks completely different now

Published by Daniella Wilson

Barbara Hershey made a rare public appearance this week, looking worlds away from her iconic on-screen persona in the hit movie Beaches. The 78-year-old actress appeared onstage alongside TCM host Alicia Malone during “A Conversation with Barbara Hershey” at the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival, held at The Hollywood Roosevelt in Los Angeles on Saturday May 2, 2026. © Getty Images for TCMBarbara speaks onstage during “A Conversation with Barbara Hershey” at the 2026 TCM Classic Film Festival For the occasion, Barbara opted for an elegant yet understated look, embracing a rich tonal palette. She wore a soft, rust-coloured tailored blouse with a classic collar and button-down front, layered over a coordinating satin skirt that fell to mid-calf. The skirt featured delicate embroidered floral detailing scattered across the fabric, adding texture and a subtle romantic touch to the ensemble. Her silver-grey hair was styled in a relaxed, shoulder-length cut, parted at the centre and softly feathered around her face, giving her a natural, effortless finish. She kept her makeup light and refined. © Getty Images …

St. Pete-Clearwater: Florida’s cultural capital on the Gulf Coast

St. Pete-Clearwater: Florida’s cultural capital on the Gulf Coast

Published by Sam Flores

At a glance: St. Pete-Clearwater Where: St. Pete-Clearwater on Florida’s Gulf Coast, near Tampa Bay Best for: Award-winning beaches with cultural creds and a thriving arts scene Don’t miss: The nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, with street performers and Gulf-facing views Road trip highlight: Driving over to Treasure Island, for paddleboarding, shell collecting and superlative grouper sandwiches Nature fix: 35 miles of pristine white sands along Florida’s Gulf Coast Getting started: From Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater is around a half-hour drive Usually, you need to choose: beautiful beach break or culture-packed holiday? Few places in the world truly combine both – but you’ll find an exception on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Take your pick of Florida’s gateway airports with British Airways. St. Pete-Clearwater is an easy 90-minute drive from theme park hub Orlando – or a breezy half-hour from Tampa International Airport. Inviting white sands meet a fine art, music, culinary and sports scene to rival far bigger centres. Clearwater’s shoreline, from Madeira Beach to Pier 60 Clearwater Beach is famous for its soft, …

‘No cars, unspoilt beaches and seabirds rule’: readers’ favourite European island escapes | Travel

‘No cars, unspoilt beaches and seabirds rule’: readers’ favourite European island escapes | Travel

Published by Sam Flores

Visiting this Spanish archipelago is like winning the lottery A short ferry ride from Vigo (daily and overnight visitor numbers are capped) took us to the tiny archipelago of the Cíes Islands, a protected cluster of islands where seabirds rule and tiny beaches remain unspoilt. There are no cars on the island and only a few small restaurants dotted about. There is one campsite, with little else but the waves of the Atlantic to lull you to sleep. I felt as if I had won the lottery when we visited and knew this would be an experience not easily matched.Helen E Ischia in Italy is best by bus Ischia, in the Bay of Naples. Photograph: Alxpin/Getty Images Italy has brilliant public transport. We found it so easy to use the ferries and buses during our visit to Ischia in the Bay of Naples. The simple circular routes on the island mean there is almost zero chance of getting lost. You can buy a day ticket for a few euros, hopping on and off at your …

Thousands of dead puffins are washing up on Europe’s beaches – why it’s been such a dangerous winter for seabirds

Thousands of dead puffins are washing up on Europe’s beaches – why it’s been such a dangerous winter for seabirds

Published by skeptic

February 2026 has seen thousands of dead seabirds washing up along the coastlines of the UK, France, Spain and Portugal. There’s evidence that these “wrecks” (where large numbers of seabirds are found along beaches) are becoming increasingly common because of climate change. Worse still, these dead birds – including Atlantic puffins and European shags – only tell a fraction of the story. Many more are likely to have been lost out in the stormy open ocean. Even as someone who has dedicated the last decade of my life to researching seabirds, I have found myself beginning to feel desensitised to the increasingly regular news of these dead birds found in great numbers. Current estimates are high: over 20,000 birds swept up along beaches in France alone since mid January. Seabirds’ bodies are also being found on beaches along the the North Sea, off the southern coast of Ireland and the Bay of Biscay. Although increasing temperatures are perhaps the most well-known consequence of human-induced climate change, increased storm frequencies and intensities are another critical symptom. …

How the beaches, culture and people of Corfu hit me for six | Corfu holidays

How the beaches, culture and people of Corfu hit me for six | Corfu holidays

Published by Sam Flores

This is not where you would expect an article about one of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands to start. It’s the tail end of winter, 2021. Kensal Green Cemetery in west London: the imperial mausolea canted and crumbling, low clouds dissolving into rain. We are still  in that  strange phase of the pandemic when we are masked, newly aware of our bodies and the space around them. We are here to bury Nikos, a man who for me, for many, was the incarnation of Corfu. I had spent my 20s trying to find the perfect Greek island, hopping from the well-trodden (Mykonos, Santorini, Cephalonia) to the more obscure (Kythira, Symi, Meganisi). None quite matched the vision I had dreamed into being as a child, when I segued from Robert Graves to Mary Renault, then to Lawrence Durrell and John Fowles. Greece was an idea before it was a place: freedom and deep thought, a constellation of sand, salt and thyme. Then, on a whim, I accepted an invitation to play cricket in Corfu. I knew little about the island at the …

L.A. County beaches could be managed by the federal government

L.A. County beaches could be managed by the federal government

Published by Sam Flores

While most environmental exchanges between California and the federal government these days are adversarial, one process has been quietly underway for two decades and is just now ripening: an examination of whether the federal government should manage Los Angeles County coastal areas. The National Park Service held a first public meeting Wednesday to help determine whether most of the county coastline should be part of a “park unit.” There are 28 park units in California, including the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Channel Islands National Park and Yosemite. Management is flexible. It can mean ownership with management, management only or co-management with a nonprofit. Most people at the meeting, held over Microsoft Teams, expressed excitement at the potential for conservation in an area stretching from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, plus 200 yards inland. The designation would mean no change for the hundreds of private property owners in the zone. One person at the meeting asked if the park service could prevent oil and gas projects, including an upgrade of an underground gas …