BG Editors' Picks for Best Beaches

For Laid-Back Daytrippers...

9. White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, B.V.I.
What’s a perfect beach day? In the British Virgins, cruise over to the islet of Jost Van Dyke, anchor in the translucent bay, dive overboard and swim ashore. Then hang up your wet cash to dry at the Soggy Dollar Bar, grab a hammock and sip a signature Painkiller—a potent rum drink. Before long you’ll be blissed out on the beauty of this classic Caribbean setting. If you just can’t bear to leave once the sun sets, there’s a tiny hotel, the Sandcastle, set a few yards away with a couple of simple cottages on the water’s edge (room rates start at $130 a night; soggydollar.com).

For the Windward Waves...
 

10. Cabarete Beach, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s blustery Atlantic coast is one of the world’s best windsurfing spots. Cabarete Beach—the hub of it all—is lined with board centers offering rental gear as well as instructors. (The teaching methods are so sophisticated that newbies get immediate feedback from their instructors through radios in their helmets.) International competitions are common, as are eateries in the sand. For romance, the beachfront Casa Colonial Beach & Spa gilds a hip vibe with old-world elegance. Enhance your by-the-sea time with dinners at Laveranda Restaurant or an evening couple’s massage at the spa—both are located on the golden beach (room rates start at $286 a night; casacolonialhotel.com).

For Animal Lovers...
 

11. Salt Cay, Turks & Caicos
This tiny isle, with only a few guesthouses and even fewer residents, boasts a slew of natural charms. The pristine landscape is trumped only by the superb bird watching and snorkeling— perhaps the biggest draw is whale watching. Here, in the winter months, humpbacks breach, blow and tail-slap so close to shore that you never need to leave the comfort of your beach chair. 12. Jumby Bay, Antigua This exclusive island is home to the upscale Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, and a collection of privately owned villas. Pasture Beach is a safe haven for endangered hawksbill sea turtles that return every year to lay their eggs. Eagle rays and pretty reef fish swim just offshore. The island is also home to some curious creatures: sheep. Descendants of a flock brought here by Spanish settlers in the 16th century, the docile animals wander the beaches freely.

For Frisky Types...
 

13. Orient Bay, St. Martin
Some beaches are so secluded that you won’t see a soul, so should you dare to bare, who’s to care? Others, such as St. Martin’s Orient Bay, are designated as clothing optional. Here, the Club Orient Naturist Resort offers villa-like accommodations on a long stretch of sparkling white sand. Fun fact: The resort’s motto is “Nothing is better” (room rates start at $275 a night and include WiFi: cluborient.com).