Margaret River, Australia

Margaret River is a town in the South West of Western Australia, located in the valley of the eponymous Margaret River, 277 kilometres (172 mi) south of Perth, the state capital. Its Local Government Area is the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

Margaret River's coast to the west of the town is a renowned surfing location, with world wide notoriety for its surf breaks. Colloquially, the area is referred to as Margs.

The surrounding area is the Margaret River Wine Region and is known for its wine production and tourism, attracting an estimated 500,000 visitors annually. In earlier days the area was better known for hardwood timber and agricultural production.

Margaret River is located 9 kilometres (6 mi) inland from the Indian Ocean at a point about halfway between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia's South West region.

The town is named after the river, which is presumed to be named after Margaret Whicher, cousin of John Garrett Bussell (founder of Busselton) in 1831. The name is first shown on a map of the region published in 1839. European migrants lived in the area as early as 1850, with timber logging commencing in around 1870. By 1910, the town had a hotel which also operated as a post office.

The Margaret River area has acquired a range of synonyms for the collection of surf breaks nearby . Usually significant surfing competitions concentrate their locale to Margarets Main Break (aka Surfers Point) which breaks in the vicinity of Prevelly at the mouth of Margaret River.

The actual range of surf breaks range from the eastern side of Cape Naturaliste down to just south of Cape Hamelin, and despite web sites and online sources calling the whole Cape Naturaliste to Cape Leeuwin region the Margaret River surfing area, conditions and break types vary along the coast.

Several hundred caves are located near Margaret River, all of them within Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Six of these are open to the public.

Navagio Beach, Greece

Navagio Beach (Greek: Ναυάγιο), or the Shipwreck, is an exposed cove, often referred to as 'Smugglers Cove', on the coast of Zakynthos, in the Ionian Islands of Greece and is the location of the wreck of the alleged smuggler ship Panagiotis.

Navagio is located on the north-west shore of the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante), in the Municipality of Elation. The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly.

The strip of beach is accessed only by boat, from Porto Vromi to the south, and from the Harbor of Saint Nikolas in Volimes to the north-east. More typically, boats arrive from the harbor of Zakynthos, the capital city, with cruises and tours anchoring hourly at Navagio.

A famous BASE jumping location, said to be one of the world's most spectacular base jumping locations, according to the Daily Telegraph that reported on a British tourist's death on 11th Jun 2012 ("British parachutist left dangling from cliff phoned girlfriend to say 'don't worry' then fell to his death".).

Essential visit. Crystal clear blue warm water, so blue the huge white cliffs surrounding appear to be blue also. Waves are great fun for some body surfing! Beach is full of pure white pebbles so don't go barefoot! Shipwreck is fun to explore also. By far the most beautiful beach.

<

Cayo Largo, Cuba

Cayo Largo del Sur, also known simply as Cayo Largo (cayo largo means long island), is a small resort island belonging to Cuba, in the Caribbean Sea no more than 25 kilometers (16 mi) long and 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) wide. It is the second-biggest island in Cuba's Canarreos Archipelago and belongs to the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.

Cayo Largo is a limestone island, formed over millions of years from the remains of marine organisms, such as the ones that build coral reefs. Living coral reefs form one more attraction for tourists on this island, although coral bleaching has stressed some reef communities in the Caribbean. The northern coast of Cayo Largo consists largely of mangroves and salt pans. While the water south of the island appears clear enough to reveal the underlying ocean floor, the water on the north side of the island is cloudy. This cloudy water indicates that sediment is washing off the land surface and into the water or is being stirred up from the shallow sea floor. In November 2001, the entire island was covered by storm surge in Hurricane Michelle.

 

Christopher Columbus is said to have visited the island on his second expedition in 1494, and Sir Francis Drake may have also stopped on the island during his circumnavigation of the globe. Pirates also likely used the island as a base.

Today, pristine beach, scuba diving, and wildlife draw tourists to the island, but no people live there permanently; locals who work in the hotels stay for about 20 days, then return to their families on nearby islands. There are five all-inclusive resort hotels on the island. Flights from Argentina, Italy, and Canada serve the island. A large catamaran style ferry provides surface transportation.

Grand Anse, Grenada

The beautiful Caribbean island of Grenada is home to dozens of stunning beaches - and the serene Grand Anse is one of the best of the lot. Known for its serene and calm conditions, Grand Anse is two miles of white sand, on the western, leeward side of the island, sheltered from high waves, strong currents and winds. The beach is one of the most famous Grenadian landmarks and is overlooked by some of the islands best hotels and grand houses.

Locals, tourists and guests from the nearby hotels plus early-morning joggers. The fine sand and calm conditions make it a favourite with families.

Located on two incredible miles of white sand and sunshine, this sheltered bay has become a favorite for both visitors and locals alike. This beautiful beach is heavily featured in advertisements about Grenada and its islands, and is located conveniently next to several major hotels. Grand Anse is also well known for having the most serene and calm conditions since the beach is located on the western leeward side of the island sheltering it from high waves, strong currents, and winds.

Grand Anse beach in is also the perfect place to explore the water. There are opportunities for everyone from the casual scuba diver, to the adrenaline junkie who thrives on water sports. However, if you would rather leave the water to the fish, you can also experience the native Grenada atmosphere by visiting the local vendor market or have a relaxing meal at one of the islands authentic restaurants.

It's the perfect base for exploring above and below the water. The Dive centre on the beach organises trips to the island's dive sites, including Bianca C, Shark Reef, Hema 1 and the Grenada Marine Park; there are also plenty of watersports. Landlubbers can sample the local vendors' market, soak up the sunshine or simply watch the world go by.