Every September brings with it a number of festivals in Tennessee, and one of my absolute favorites is Pilgrimage Music Festival in the charming town of Franklin. While other music festivals in Tennessee like Bonnaroo and CMA Fest are in the camp of “you’ve got to go at least once,” Pilgrimage is one I would return to every year if I could make it work. Here’s why.
The post was last updated in September 2024.
The origins of Pilgrimage
Franklin resident and Better than Ezra frontman Kevin Griffin wanted to create something in Franklin that embodied the region’s musical roots while also showing off its pastoral farmland. As it turns out, a century-old horse farm, the Park at Harlinsdale Farm—which is now owned by the City of Franklin and boasts a dog park, fishing pond, soft track and equestrian trails—was the ideal spot to launch such an undertaking.
It’s also located directly across from the Factory at Franklin, a mixed-use facility in an old hosiery that has gotten a serious upgrade over the years, as has Pilgrimage itself. The first year I attended back in 2015, there were maybe 8,000 attendees. The busiest Pilgrimage I ever attended was when Justin Timberlake was headlining, and it was quite a scene with at least four time the attendance numbers.
But the beauty of this laid-back event is that while you can see A-list acts like Chris Stapleton and Brandi Carlile on the main stage, you’ll see great talent no matter the time slot or size of the stage. I’ve seen everyone from Lucie Silvas and Brothers Osborne to Keith Urban and Lauren Daigle at Pilgrimage.
In the 10th anniversary of Pilgrimage Festival this year, headliners include Hozier, Dave Matthews Band, Noah Kahan, and needtobreathe with plenty of other country, rock, pop, bluegrass and Americana acts scheduled across the six stages over the two days.
Where to stay in Franklin for Pilgrimage Festival
Harlinsdale Farm, the host venue of Pilgrimage, is conveniently located a straight one-mile shot from downtown Franklin. Downtown Franklin is also the home of the Harpeth Hotel, a gem of a property that’s walkable to not only Pilgrimage but everything in the historic heart of the city. If you can’t get a room at the Harpeth, here are some other places to stay near the farm:
What to expect at Pilgrimage Music Festival
The festival is extremely chill and just plain easy compared to bigger music festivals like Bonnaroo, and at this stage in my festival-going career, I prefer the more manageable festivals, particularly if I’m just committing to going for the day. The grandma in me loves, too, that this festival ends promptly at 10pm each night thanks to a local noise ordinance.
Parking for Pilgrimage
Parking for any festival can be a headache, but I’ve had a lot of success parking in downtown Franklin for free (or cheap) and walking the 15 minutes to the Pilgrimage site. There are cops directing traffic everywhere, and it’s very pedestrian-friendly to walk from downtown Franklin to the farm. The are also, of course, paid lots closer to the festival grounds. Here’s Pilgrimage’s official parking map:
If you’re driving in, I could not plan on coming via Liberty Pike during prime festival arrival hours (11am to 7pm). Instead, I’d try to sneaky-foot into Franklin a back way and park downtown, then walk. For those staying close enough to the farm, you can bike to the venue. There is both bike parking and a bike valet on site at Pilgrimage.
The Pilgrimage vibes
While sure, you’re always going to get your fashion influencers wearing their cowgirl best, this festival takes place in late September, which we locals begrudgingly call second summer here in Tennessee. It’s usually hot hot HOT, and you’ll want to layer up in quick-drying material to fight the heat during the day then stave off the incoming cool at night.
Bring an umbrella, plenty of sunscreen, and either lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. Local food and drink also feature prominently at this Franklin festival, so be sure and peruse the food vendors and drink offerings.
The VIP experience
We’ve been to Pilgrimage as media, general admission and VIP. Obviously, if you get the chance to go VIP, take it—you’ll get special access directly in front of the stage, not to mention access to food vendors and sponsor tents like George Dickel, as well as the possibility of running into some of your favorite talent. One thing to note, though, is while drinks used to be free with a VIP pass, you now have to pay for them outside of the daily happy hour where VIPs can enjoy comped cocktails, so you’ll have to decide whether the VIP pass is worth it for you.
What other questions do you have about Pilgrimage Festival for me? Are you going this year? Have you been in the past? Do you love it as much as we do?
For more tips on planning a trip to Franklin, start here:
From volunteering on a remote island to working on a yacht, there are so many cool ways to live and work abroad. Just picture yourself working as a guide in a far off destination, being an au pair jet setting around Europe, or teaching English in a country you only read about in books. Teaching abroad is not only a popular job for native speakers, but also the focus of this post.
We’ve traveled around the world for years as digital nomads. On our first round the world adventure together, Charles worked in Australia in a greenhouse, and I edited academic essays and worked remotely as a technical writer. Years later, we started this site, and made our living as travel bloggers but it was a lot of years in the making and a lot of short and long contract work in the middle.
We’ve gotten a lot of emails from you all over the years about how to get a job teaching English overseas, but while we’ve worked remotely, we’ve never taught abroad. So we brought in Georgie Snape of Teacher’s Friend, who’s an expert on teaching overseas. In our chat, she shares some incredibly helpful tips on everything you need to know, from how to get your first teaching job, to choosing a TEFL course, to the best countries for teaching overseas.
Georgie: I don’t actually remember this, but when I eventually went to teach, my friends were like, ‘Oh, you’ve been going on about this since you were 14.’ And I was like, ‘Oh, I have?’
So I think I wanted to learn to travel from a young age. I did a degree in community drama, so instead of being an actor on stage, I was running workshops within the community, helping marginalized groups. I naturally learned a lot of the skills I would need to be a teacher.
I knew teaching was a good way to travel, and I love teaching as well. I graduated and did my dissertation, which was project-based, at the same time as doing my TEFL course. In hindsight, that was a terrible idea, but it meant I was ready to go as soon as I finished my degree.
Micki: Where have you taught English?
I spent three months in Vietnam, traveling, and then I came back to teaching again in Vietnam.
Then I moved to Australia and New Zealand, which a lot of people don’t think of as destinations for teaching English abroad, but there are many local people who want to go to university abroad or move to an English-speaking country. So there’s actually a lot of teaching English in Australia and New Zealand as well.
I did that, then came back to Vietnam. Vietnam’s my baby. I taught in Vietnam and also in Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and now I’m in Indonesia.
Well, my plan was to go teach for six months, and I’m still here 11 years later. So I’m not really sure what happened, but here I am.
Georgie Snape with class of young students. Photo courtesy Teacher’s Friend.
Micki: What advice would you give to someone who’s interested in teaching abroad? How do you get started?
Georgie: Well, first you need to get qualified. You’d need a TEFL certificate. Choose a TEFL course that’s going to prepare you as best as possible.
I’ll keep it brief for now, but choosing the right TEFL course is definitely my first advice. When I was doing it, I asked myself what I wanted from teaching abroad. I came up with four criteria: to be well-paid, to have a lower cost of living because it makes it easier, to have friendly people, and to enjoy beautiful scenery. That sounds like a pretty good life.
I was a bit old school, so I bought the TEFL guide, which was an actual book, and I read through it. You can also do searches online and look at all the countries, weighing the pros and cons, and considering which countries offer the highest salaries.
After I did my TEFL, many TEFL providers helped with job assistance, but you can also pay for someone to help you with everything involved in moving abroad. It depends on what kind of person you are and whether you want someone to guide you through the process.
Micki: In terms of TEFL courses, are there any that you would recommend avoiding or ones that are better? Are online or in-person courses better?
Georgie: I always say to do an in-person TEFL, even if you’re already a teacher. Teaching English as a foreign language to non-native speakers is not the same as teaching English to people who speak English as their first language.
The biggest ‘oh my gosh‘ moment that students have is realizing they didn’t learn this in school because it’s a completely different way of thinking and learning. In-person courses give you access to the trainer and other people going through the same situation. These courses are often abroad, so you get to meet people and immerse yourself in the culture, plus you get real-time practice on your peers.
Most face-to-face courses include teaching practice, so you get to go into a classroom. It’s not the same when you do something with your peers who understand you versus real students who might struggle to understand you.
However, I understand that not everyone can afford a face-to-face TEFL. These courses are typically a month long, and you need money to sustain yourself. Face-to-face courses also cost more. If you’re close to having the budget, I’d say wait and save up. It’s definitely worth it. For those who can’t, your TEFL should be a minimum of 120 hours and include some kind of observed teaching practice. If not, you can do top-up courses abroad, which usually work out cheaper.
Look at who’s training you. Ideally, you want someone who has been teaching for a significant amount of time and has also trained teachers for a significant amount of time.
Accreditation is another factor. TEFL isn’t accredited like a degree, so many providers claim accreditation from various third parties. It’s important to choose a TEFL course that is at least accredited by someone, but be wary of super cheap courses.
If your TEFL costs less than $250, it’s probably not worth the paper it’s written on, and employers won’t accept it. Between $250 and $500 is more acceptable. I’ve taught on both government-accredited TEFLs that weren’t very good and non-accredited TEFLs that were excellent. So, focus more on the quality and price rather than the accreditation.
Micki: Is a university degree required to teach abroad?
Georgie For a lot of jobs, yes. But if you don’t have a degree, you can still teach abroad. It typically means you’re more limited to certain countries for working legally. However, especially in Southeast Asia, many people work cash in hand or under the table. So it’s definitely not a closed door.
Cambodia, Spain, and Costa Rica are three good countries if you don’t have a degree. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a degree and you’re a non-native speaker, it’s an extra barrier, but it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. There’s also the option to work for yourself, where it doesn’t matter whether you have a degree or not.
Micki: That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard of Costa Rica for teaching.
Georgie: Oh, yeah. It’s not so much on the map because the wages tend to be lower, but you can definitely live there. It’s beautiful, and for people on the opposite side of the world, it means you don’t have to go so far from home. There are a lot of jobs there, and you don’t need a degree.
Micki: How have things changed since the pandemic?
Georgie: There’s been a big rise in people getting TEFLs with only an online course. It’s a catch-22 because it’s easier now, but employers are starting to realize that online TEFLs don’t provide as much practical training. Online TEFLs make it easier to get a job, but employers still favor face-to-face courses.
There are a lot more online jobs available now, but also more people teaching online. If you don’t have a degree or you’re a non-native speaker, the jobs are there, but you have to dig deeper to find them. Sometimes it’s better to be in the country to find those jobs. The market is still growing, and many people are doing it every year. For example, in Bali, they’re short of teachers because there aren’t enough.
Micki: What countries are best for first time teachers?
Georgie: Southeast Asia, definitely. That’s where I started. These countries are very safe and tourist-friendly. Most cities have some English, so the language barrier isn’t as challenging as in places like the middle of China. Compared to Japan and South Korea, Southeast Asia is built on tourism. You’re a bit of a novelty, and people are friendly with foreigners. In Japan and South Korea, they’re more ‘take it or leave it’ about foreigners.
Southeast Asia is cheap to live in, and the wages are pretty good. I probably earn less than a lot of my friends, but I have more disposable income because the cost of living is so low. The cost of living in North America has gone through the roof lately, so it makes sense. In Australia, the US, and the UK, the cost of living is high. What I live off is like their monthly bills without actually eating anything.
Micki: What kind of obstacles do first-time teachers face?
Georgie: A big one is lesson planning. It takes time to get good at it. You either don’t plan and realize in the lesson that you should have, or you plan too much and it takes over your life. Learning to plan the right amount is key, but it gets easier with practice, like learning to drive a car.
Culturally, especially in Southeast Asia, most people don’t struggle much because it’s very foreigner-friendly. Having the right support network, whether from a TEFL provider, a teacher abroad program, or someone you know who has done it, helps a lot. Accepting that it will be different goes a long way. Remember why you left home and try not to idealize going back.
Classroom management is another challenge, especially with small children. Different levels bring different issues. A quality TEFL course will give you practice and teach you how to manage a classroom. Non-verbal communication is crucial; no one wants to be the teacher constantly yelling for attention. We cover this extensively in our courses.
Another challenge can be the food. It’s very different and can be an adjustment.
Micki: . Tell me a bit about Teacher’s Friend. What do you do?
Georgie: The two main things I do are helping people get a TEFL course, whether online or face-to-face, and choosing the best option for them based on budget, country, and personal circumstances. The second is assisting people after they’ve got their TEFL. Many people get their TEFL and wonder, ‘Now what?’ They don’t know where to begin looking for a job or how to know if it’s legitimate. They worry about moving to a new country and starting to live there.
The Teacher’s Friend program helps with everything: logistics, social and cultural adjustment, and academic support. As a teacher trainer, I help people pass the TEFL course, assist with assignments, and offer lesson planning support. This bridges the gap between finishing TEFL and the first months of teaching when they need extra support.
Micki: Once someone comes to you, gets their TEFL, and you’ve helped them get a position, is there support after that?
Georgie: Yes, I really focus on active support. I’m still in touch with teachers from five or six years ago. They still come back to me for help with getting jobs or general life advice. I try to become a friend, hence ‘Teacher’s Friend.’ I love meeting new people.
Specifically, there’s lesson planning support for two months after they’ve started teaching. I also offer help with career progression. If they want to move to another country, I assist them in relocating.
Micki: How do people get in touch with you or learn more about what you do? What’s the best way for them to do that?
Check out my story where you can read about how I ended up here. I came through a Teach Abroad program but felt they did the bare minimum after I paid them. I found my feet, but I wanted to do a better job, which is one of the reasons I started Teacher’s Friend.
On my website, you’ll find information about the TEFL courses I offer, details about full relocation, and the different countries available. I’m also adding a list of online options for people who want the cheaper version, though I recommend face-to-face courses if possible. I understand budgets vary.
I also offer lesson planning assistance. Even if you’ve already done your TEFL or moved abroad and are struggling, you can buy lesson planning assistance separately. If you need help finding a job and don’t want the full package, I’m adding options for that too. All this information will be under packages on my website.
You can also book a call with me. I won’t hard sell you or push you to move somewhere you don’t want to be. Just book a call if you want to find out more information.
It’s no secret, we’ve been to a lot of countries over the years. Whether by luck, providence or a penchant for choosing warm countries surrounded by water, more than a few of the places we’ve visited have had some amazing beaches.
I didn’t realize just how many great beaches we had actually walked on until I read an article a few years ago talking about 25 of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The funny part is I just happened to be sitting on a plane heading to an island that would undoubtedly have another beautiful beach waiting for me when we landed. What struck me was that we had already walked, napped, swam or set up a hammock on 20 of those 25 beaches on that list.
I wish I had kept that article to make this list easier (and to see if we have crossed any of the remaining 5 off their list) but here are 10 of our personal favorite beaches in the world. While some of these might not have the finest sand, the best surf or the lack of crowds we generally yearn for, they all have something that makes them intrinsically special to us. I’ve kept it to a single beach per country just to spread the love but have given a small nod to another beach in the same country we also enjoyed.
Our Favorite 10 Beaches from 20 Years of Travel
20 years of travel sounds like a lot but it’s less than half of what we hope the future brings. As the kids start to go off on their own adventures, so too will we start visiting places that have been on our bucket list as well and maybe revisit some of our favorite places for the last few decades. This list is for those beach lovers that can never get enough of sand, sun and surf. Enjoy!
Whitsundays – Queensland – Australia
As the largest island country in the world, Australia probably has more beaches than some countries have people. How do you decide which of those is your favorite? Simple, you think back to which beach struck you as unforgettable. For us, that was the Whitsundays and more specifically, Whitehaven Beach.
We had been sailing the Whitsundays for days and when we clambered onto the island and walked over the trail from one side to the other, to say Whitehaven Beach left a mark on us would be an understatement. Beautiful aquamarine water overlapping sandbars of pure white sand with almost zero civilisation in sight? Yes please.
Australia: Special nod to Fraser Island (now known as K’gari). At 122km, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world and we had a great week of 4x4ing and sleeping on it’s main beach. While it can’t compare to the Whitsundays for sheer beauty, it makes up for it in sheer size and activities. Besides, who can resist driving on a beach so long (75 miles) that it’s classified as both a highway as well as a airplane runway.
Sailing to Whitsunday Beach!
Long Beach – Ko Phi Phi – Thailand
Our three week stay on Long Beach on Thailand’s backpacker riddled Ko Phi Phi is still one of our fondest memories. We were staying in a small hut just feet from the surf and the simple days of swimming in the ocean, snorkeling with fish and reef sharks a stones throw from our door and watching movies on our old laptop with the ocean crashing in the background never got old.
We haven’t been back since the island got wiped out a decade ago however we heard the island is still as popular as ever these days. Taking a quick water taxi to town to grab a bite to eat or taking a half day tour out to Monkey Beach was a great way to change things up as well.
Thailand: Small nod to Ko Lanta has to be said as well. Though we walked and swam on dozens of beaches in Thailand (and some of the smaller island beaches even stand out among this entire list as truly beautiful), Micki and I fell in love with Ko Lanta. The sand was more gritty and the water clarity doesn’t even belong on this list but we spent weeks there in the off season when things had calmed down after the busy tourist season. Of course there was amazing Thai food everywhere but a quick walk down the beach we had found an Italian restaurant that rivalled any place we ever ate in Italy (the Italian owner had just moved there) and we couldn’t get enough of it.
We also fell in love with a beach in Emerald Cave on Ko Mook, Thailand. It’s such a cool place, that’s only accessible by swimming through a cave!
Looking back now or time on Ko Mook is always filled with a different memory. Micki had a kidney infection that we couldn’t ignore and we had to take a private boat off the island then an ambulance to get the nearest hospital. Because of that experience, we always recommend getting travel medical insurance before you leave the country.
SafetyWing Nomad 2.0 insurance has become a favorite since we can choose the clinic we want (something that was vital when we were in Greece and the hospital was closed), it’s a pay-as-you-go subscription and we’re covered up to 250k in 180 different countries. It also has $0 deductible so we’re covered for even small claims like travelers belly or ear infections and their new Nomad 2.0 policy allows both an Adventure Sport addon as well as an electronics insurance addon. Plus, now with the new Nomad 2.0 claims process you can start a claim with a new simple form in as little as five minutes and get reimbursed within 2.8 days.
Akumal – Yucatan Peninsula – Mexico
Mexico has hundreds of beautiful beaches on both sides of the country but our favorite is still probably Akumal. Not as busy as Cancun or Playa Del Carmen nor as unspoiled as Tulum, Akumal is known primarily for their sea turtles. We’ve spent days on the beach there over the years from before we had kids to now and every time we go there’s just something special about the place. The water is super calm, the many fronds reach down to the beach and we just always enjoy our day there.
Getting ready for Cole’s first time snorkeling in Akumal Mexico!
The funny part is though we’ve spent months (years at this point) staying up and down the Mayan Riviera coast, we’ve never actually spent the night in Akumal. So, if you’re looking to book a week or two in the area, just outside Playa Del Carmen or close to Playa Paraiso down in Tulum would be the area I would suggest but just make sure you take a day to spend on Akumal Beach with the sea turtles. You’re welcome.
A typical day in Akumal bay
Mexico: Small nod to Yelapa, Jalisco. It’s only a quick 30 minute boat ride from Nuevo Vallarta but it feels like you’re in another area of the country. It has an amazing laid back charm and the water and sand are both great compared to many places on the Pacific side of the country.
Lanikai Beach – Oahu – Hawaii
Hawaii is filled with beautiful beaches and while the surf on the North Shore is impressive, the water and sand at Lanikai Beach is hard to beat. One of the reasons this beach stands out to us is that it’s the first beach we ever went stand up paddle boarding on and partly why we currently own four paddle boards today.
our kiddos making flower leis at the Hale Koa Luau Waikiki Oahu Hawaii
Also known as Kaʻōhao Beach, Lanikai Beach makes it onto plenty of lists of the best beaches in the world and is popular for a reason. With nice views of the Mokulua Islands and it’s relative proximity to almost everything on the island (we toured the entire island in a day and stopped for hours at plenty of areas), it’s a great place to spend a day when on Oahu.
Hawaii: Small nod to Witches Brew beach in Hanauma Bay for snorkeling as well if you’re already on the island. While the beach itself doesn’t compare to Lanikai, there’s some great protected snorkeling right off the beach where we saw sea turtles, moray eels and more colorful fish than we could ever count just feet off the shore. It was a hit with both us and the kids as the surf is incredibly gentle.
Tortuga Bay – Galapagos Islands – Ecuador
The Galapagos Islands are primarily known for their giant Galapagos tortoises however they should be equally famous for their salt encrusted sea iguanas, playful sea lions, blue footed boobies and the only penguin in the world found north of the equator. Most of these can be found on nearly any beach in the island chain and they make any beach excursion in the Galapagos unforgettable.
Tortugas Bay, located on the island of Santa Cruz, isn’t a beach you go swimming on but still remains unforgettable for it’s length and the amount of sea creatures you find while walking this long beach. Due to the constant current, swimming isn’t allowed on the beautiful beach itself but as you reach the end you’ll find a small cove on the other side with nice water you can swim in. On our walk to the cove, we saw plenty of sea lions and a tons of sea iguanas basking (and snorting out salt) in the sun. Right before we got the cove we also saw a few of the iguanas venturing into the water and swimming out to find lunch.
Galapagos: Small nod to Gardner Bay on Española Island has to be added due to it’s exceptional beauty. While you can’t stay on the island itself, there are plenty of day trip cruises that will get you to this idyllic long white sand beach. It has great swimming and if you’re lucky, one of the resident sea lions might decide to play with you in the surf.
Varadero Beach – Cuba
While not remote nor that hard to get to, there’s no denying that the long white sands of Veradero Beach are popular for a reason. The beach, also known as Playa Azul for it’s crystal clear blue water goes on for miles (at 21km or 13 mi, it’s the longest in the Caribbean) and though it’s now littered with all-inclusive resorts, the water is still gorgeous and the sand still smooth. The bonus to having civilization so close here is that their world famous mojitos or a Cuba libre (rum and coke) are only a few feet away and taking a day trip into Havana is like stepping back in time.
Cuba: Small nod to Cayo Blanco as well. While it’s only accessible by boat, it’s a beautiful strip of white sand and aquamarine water as well with a much more rustic vibe. You really can’t go wrong heading out there for a day but note that it can get busy some days.
White Beach – Boracay – Philippines
What can I say about Boracay besides that the place is always busy and yet the sand is some of the finest you’ll find anywhere in the world. It’s so fine that it actually squeaks when you walk on it and good luck getting the sand out of your clothes after playing in the aquamarine surf. I would have loved to see the area 50 years ago before all the development took over but White Beach and Boracay Island itself are popular for a reason.
The beach can get quite crowded at certain times of the year however if you go to the farther edge you can often find a quieter place to set up a towel. It’s a great swimming beach with plenty to see while walking it’s 4 kilometer length and if you crave a little more excitement, walk 10 minutes and you’ll be on the other side of the island and can enjoy some amazing kitesurfing and windsurfing (whether watching or renting) on Habagat Bay.
Philippines: A small nod to Entalula Beach is owed. It’s a gorgeous stretch of sand however you’ll need to take a tour to get there. Most tours depart from El Nid and often visit the unique sandbar of Snake Island. Make sure to check out Nacpan Beach if you’re staying in the area as well, as it’s a gorgeous beach on it’s own and is easy to get to.
Cathedral Cove – The Coromandel – New Zealand
For an island nation, New Zealand has tons of beaches however unlike their Australian neighbors, the sand isn’t generally as fine here. That said, we fell in love with the country and even decided to get married there. What has that to do with Cathedral Cove in the northern Coromandel area of the northern island? Not much except we had a few beautiful days in the area and really enjoyed the nice beach and the famed arch.
Micki in Cathedral Cove New Zealand
Back then you could hike out to the beach but these days the trails are closed and you need to take a water taxi to get there. It’s still worth the trip and the backdrop is simply beautiful plus there are some other cool things to see in the area including Hot Water Beach where natural hot springs meet the ocean and with a bit of digging, you can make your own sandy hot tub only feet from the surf.
Cathedral cove New Zealand
New Zealand: Small nod to Abel Tasman Park on the south island. I can’t really tell you the exact beach we loved the most but the entire Park is just a beautiful wonderland of nature. Our pic on the side with the kayaks in the background was taken there and seeing it still brings back great memories of our time there.
Bavaro Beach – Punta Cana – Dominican Republic
Full of all-inclusive properties and huge resorts, Bavaro isn’t for you if you demand a quiet beach away from the crowds. What it does give you is miles of gorgeous white sand and beautiful water to swim in. To be fair, while you’ll never find yourself truly alone, the sheer size of some of the resorts lining this little pocket of paradise means that you can find tons of quiet places to lay out a towel. Like some of the others on this list, the place is busy for a reason. The beach is beautiful.
Dominican Republic: Small nod to Playa Rincon a few hours away. This gorgeous stretch of unspoiled beach is a great place to drive to. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist sites, it can give you a feel of what the Dominican Republic felt a few decades ago.
Praia da Falésia – Algarve – Portugal
There are hundreds of amazing Mediterranean beaches in Europe with clear blue water and beaches worth moving there for but it’s hard to pick out any single beach that had meaning to us more than the others. So rather than list one of those, I’m going to look more towards the ocean and name a beach with some amazing backgrounds. The 6km Praia da Falesia in the Algarve region of Portugal can really be broken into 3 areas, with the cliffs around Olhos de Agua being the most scenic.
Hugely popular in the summer months, shoulder season is when the area truly shines and the beaches are quieter and the days not scorching hot. The cliffs that line the Praia da Falesia make the entire beach feel like you’re cut off from civilization and you might spend just as much time watching the cliffs as you do the blue green water. Our kids loved the cliffs so it might be why the beach stuck so vividly in my mind but as is everything on this list, it’s the memories that connect us to these places that make them memorable.
Portugal: A small nod to Praia da Mareta near Sagres. While the sand isn’t as nice as Falesia, the views are just gorgeous as you look south and west across the ocean. The cliffs in the area aren’t bad either.
Special Mention – Anguilla
Micki and I have almost exclusively traveled together over the years however there are a few places that only one or the other has been to. Micki took a trip a few years ago to Anguilla and fell in love with the many beaches however her favorite was Shoal Bay with it’s quiet vibe and white sands.
Final thoughts on our favorite beaches in 20 years of travel
Every beach is unique with something that means something to someone. Whether it be a lake beach your family visited every summer or a once in a lifetime trip to the Maldives you took on your honeymoon, it’s a personal thing. Choosing your favorite bit of sea and sand when you’ve had the good fortune to have walked on so many beautiful beaches over the years gets tough.
If you’re not in agreement with this list, that’s okay. Every beach has it’s unique charms and sometimes the people, the food, nature, the crowds (or lack of them), the quality of the sand, the booming of the surf, the color of the water and the non human residents who call the beach home outweigh any of the other things going for them.
There are hundreds of beaches we’ve walked on over the years that are probably more secluded, more beautiful and more untouched by mankind but sometimes they’re forgettable for exactly that reason. Sometimes there are so many idyllic beaches on an island or faraway coast that they all blend into on another and don’t leave an impression except for the general notion of “wow, there are a lot of nice beaches around here”.
Maybe that’s for the best and they remain off these lists of the best beaches in the world for a good reason. Maybe we are just preserving their untouched beauty for generations to come or maybe, we just want them to stay as pristine as the day we first stumbled onto them…
If you want to list some of your favorite beaches here and tell us just how wrong we are, you’re welcome as well. We love hearing about new places and why a certain beach is important to you and not to be missed.
