Dreams of barefoot strolls and barely-there beachwear help coax us through the gray days of winter. You know how it is. On a clear summer night, when the warm wind kisses your skin and the sun slips down into the sea, even the most jaded city slicker starts to feel the sap rising. So break out the bikinis and bring on the heat. Summer is here, and it’s time for a little reckless abandonment.
While some of the beaches on our list are family-friendly, we focused on places where adults get to play in a giant sandbox.
For many urban jungle dwellers, the stimulation of breathtaking scenery and perfect temperatures is enough to kick-start the libido. The topographically-blessed states of California and Hawaii offer perhaps the most gratifying combination of untamed nature and unrestrained sexiness. Picture yourself cavorting among hula dancers in the lush tropical wonderland of Maui’s stunning Kaanapali Beach. Or perhaps you’d rather be frolicking with ripped surf kings beneath the rainbow-laced mountains of Kauai’s Hanalei Bay.
California’s La Jolla Cove, with its rugged sandstone cliffs, is another one of those pinch-me beautiful places etched into our minds from countless movies and postcards. These are places that demand we peel back as many layers of prudery — and clothing—as we dare.
Maybe you prefer your own private paradise? Two of our top picks boast special temptations for those vacationing as couples. Amid the lavish resorts of Mexico’s Playa del Carmen, couples indulge in massages surrounded by lush, fragrant gardens. Private infinity pools, secret dining spots, and Mayan saunas right on the beach are all here for the taking. Laguna Beach, a coastal jewel set between Los Angeles and San Diego,, offers hidden coves beyond the more scene-y stretches where you and your amour can steal away from prying eyes. For adults-only romance, Miami’s South Beach delivers plenty of sexy hotels where you can lounge on secluded beach-beds.
If you’re ready to keep up with the best, Cabo San Lucas is world-famous for attracting thirsty college kids, cruise ship revelers and fashionable party people from every corner of the world. From a casual beach-bar refreshment to a full-throttle dance-a-thon, Cabo delivers an endless array of sensual summer entertainment. For a très chic party-scene, South Beach scores again with its jet-setting sun worshippers from near and far who don’t know the meaning of the word “no.” Deco and decadence go hand-in-hand in this haven for fun-loving models and flamboyant beach boys.
California’s Manhattan Beach and Pacific Beach are the best places to check out the buff boys and girls of summer as they glide along on rollerblades and leap gracefully among volleyball nets. If the golden SoCal scenery wasn’t enough, PB’s tanned, twenty-something surfers and MB’s well-muscled professional volleyball players are attractions that no summer pleasure-seeker should miss. Their enviable physical perfection urges you strike a pose on a surfboard and take a turn at wind-surfing, sailing, or sea kayaking. You not only feel sexy, you look sexy, too, and that’s half the game. No skills? No problem. Get a local beach babe to show you the ropes.
Finally, some may call it swimming with the sharks, but there are people who like a little bling-bling with their bikini. Main Beach, East Hampton, is the most happening section of the fabled Long Island playground where the rich and famous gather every summer. Each way you turn, A-listers, celebrities, trust-fund bunnies and house-sharers are blowing off serious steam. Chasing hot Hamptonistas in velvet-roped clubs is certainly not a sport for the timid, but there are plenty of seaside bars for more low- key flirting. Of course, if you’re ensconced in one of the multi-million-dollar mansions that line the beach, the party will be coming to you. Bonus: East Coast surfers flock to the Hamptons to pick up swells.
Of course, the only way to be sure which beach is the sexiest is to get out there and try them all. That’s a summer assignment we highly recommend.
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
The heat of this Yucatán getaway, easily one of North America's 10 sexiest beaches, rises from hordes of jet-setters, college backpackers, and pleasure-seekers that play on its pristine beaches. Playa del Carmen combines intoxicating coastal scenery and cosmopolitan chic. The nightlife of Cancun is close by, along with mesmerizing Mayan ruins in Tulum. When the sun goes down, the peninsula's best DJs get everyone into the groove at Deseo Hotel, whose very name means "desire." Guests at the Tides Resort enjoy jungle seclusion and sensual Mayan saunas on the beach.
Laguna Beach, Orange County, Calif.
The surf's always up on this seductive swath of southern California coast, where toned bodies ride the waves and play perpetual volleyball. The scenery is pure magic: rugged cliffs, swaying palms, and broad expanses of gleaming sand. Laguna is blessed with coves secluded enough to give couples a chance to get cozy. For solo travelers, the flirt factor is high in village cafes and on the plentiful hiking trails. At sunset, head to Splashes Lounge at the Surf and Sand Hotel for a buzzing cocktail scene.
Ka'anapali, Maui, Hawaii
Ancient Hawaiian royals couldn't resist the appeal of this heavenly gem, and neither can we. Against a backdrop of lush tropical scenery, bronzed beauties sail, scuba dive, and swim among gentle waves. Have a sundowner at the Sheraton Maui and watch a lithe young Hawaiian plunge into the sea for the nightly Cliff Diving Ceremony. As the sky turns from pink to violet, hula dancers undulate among blazing torches to the sounds of beating drums. Ka'anapali is sexy at its most radiantly sensual.
Cabo San Lucas, Los Cabos, Mexico
At the tip of the Baja peninsula is a place that summer dreams are made of: sun, sand, and serious eye candy. Breathtaking mountains rise over miles of white beaches and turquoise seas. Co-eds in itsy-bitsy bikinis, well-toned California vacationers, and plenty of Mexican cuties can be found snorkeling, parasailing, surfing, or catching rays on El Médano, Cabo's main beach. The playful party scene El Agave Bar is a hotspot for the young and festive, while luxe Hotel Esperanza lures the glam and wealthy.
Pacific Beach, San Diego, Calif.
Pacific Beach, or "PB," as the locals call it, is a summer playground tucked between the Pacific Ocean and Mission Bay Park. Young and casual, PB is SoCal sans attitude—a place to wiggle your toes in the sand and watch surfers riding the swells and beach beauties playing bocce balls. Cyclists, skaters, and joggers can explore miles of winding paths and eye the talent on the lively boardwalk. The sizzling nightlife revolves around Garnet Avenue: Snag a spot at the Pacific Beach Bar and Grill for a perfect après-beach brew.
Hanalei Bay, Kauai, Hawaii
Why go to Kauai? Because it's a sensory gift from the gods, that's why. Picking the sexiest beach in Kauai is like choosing a pearl from a perfect strand. All boast eye-popping scenery and glorious weather. But Hanalei Bay scores big with its exquisite half moon of white sand, shimmering waterfalls and green mountains, with bonus points added for the flotillas of fit surfers. Snorkel among the reefs, go for a sail, or take a picnic to Hanalei Pier and watch the beach boys doing back flips into the water.
La Jolla Cove, San Diego, Calif.
Small in size, but huge on atmosphere. The scenery is so drop-dead gorgeous that photographers regularly use La Jolla Cove to conjure California perfection. You'll find visitors from all over the world swimming, picnicking, and strolling along the bluff. Strap on a mask and plunge into the Cove for some prime snorkeling, then spread your towel and work on a killer tan. The Village, an artsy shopping and dining area, offers plenty of chances to see and be seen.
Main Beach, East Hampton, N.Y.
New York City's summer social scene revolves around this posh paradise on the south fork of Long Island. Ivy League frat boys and Prada-clad lovelies indulge in sun and celebrity-spotting on a gorgeous stretch of golden sand. The Hamptons hotspot is famed for shingled mansions rising out of the dunes and a lively crowd of summer renters and well-heeled locals. The party scene is legend among society page scribblers and bloggers.
South Beach, Miami, Fla.
Superglam South Beach packs a serious punch of sand, hot bodies, and pulsating nightclubs. Scantily-clad models, tanned celebs, and globe-trotting partiers gather on this hedonistic section of Miami Beach to lounge topless and sip constantly-flowing mojitos. At the super sexy Setai Hotel, couples recline on beach day beds, while guests at the Ritz South Beach enjoy getting slathered in oil by a buff tanning butler. However you like it, SoBe is strong on sex appeal.
Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, Calif.
In this tiny coastal town, sporty beach babes surf and boogie board their way into your fantasies. As the beach volleyball capital of Southern California, Manhattan Beach offers endless opportunities to gawk at seriously-ripped abs. To this delicious scene, add hotties on rollerblades and cyclists who pass along the Strand in a luscious parade of skimpy outfits. Check out the pro athletes sculpting their muscles at Sand Dune Park. At sunset, walk the pier for prime babe-watching.
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