Sizzlin’ Sand Scenes, Prime Party Spots And Great Bars
I got the idea for this song while listening to Radio TropRock on the computer when a song came on by a musician named Jeff Dayton titled “My Favorite Beach.”
And that got me to thinking about MY favorite beaches. So I have put together my list, below.
It is important to note that they are not like most travel writers and bloggers favorite beaches. You won’t see the words “secluded,” “pristine, white sand” or any of those other overused cliches. You also won’t see the word “private.”
Instead, these are listed according to the PubClub.com priorities, which is to say the fun, the most lively, the ones with the best bars and party scene.
And keep in mind these are all places I have been to personally. So don’t get ticked when you don’t see, say, Playa d’en Bosa on Ibiza.
1.) Paradise Beach, Mykonos, Greece
This is where i came up with PubClub’s tagline, “Where The World Goest To Party.” Because when I looked around, people from all over the world were partying on Paradise Beach. Actually, more accurately, they were partying on top of the bars of the bars, especially at Tropical beach Bar.
Link: PubClub’s Complete Guide To Paradise Beach
2.) Mission Beach/Pacific Beach, San Diego, CA
San Diego is a way-cool city and these two side-by-side beach towns are awesome. They are kind of a mix between California and Florida beaches in that they have The Strand (well okay, the call is the Boardwalk, a term that makes me think of Jersey not California) for walking, running and riding bikes like California beaches and a lot of beach rental places and cool beach bars like you find in Florida. Of course, here you’re in San Diego where the weather is perfect and the people are fun and super friendly.
Link: PubClub’s Nightlife Guide To Mission Beach/Pacific Beach, CA
3.) Hermosa Beach/Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles, CA
Those in the LA South Bay Beach Cities (which are these beaches) will be really upset with me for not having here No. 1. And a few years ago I would have without question. But he bar scene has become too monotonous, the bar owners are always fighting with the “family beach” mentality of the Hermosa City Council and while the events are great, they are not enough to rise up to the top. All that being said, the beaches are beautiful, the bike path that goes along the sand is one of the best in the world, there’s beach volleyball all over the place and the people have a true Southern California lifestyle “exercise, then socialize” attitude. If you’ve never been here, put it on your travel bucket list.
Links: PubClub’s Complete Guide To Hermosa Beach, CA
• PubClub’s Complete Guide To Manhattan Beach, CA
4.) Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
Aloha! Actually what I say more often than that Hawaiian greeting is “okole maluna,” which translates into “bottoms up,” or cheers. I love laying on the beach, going for a swim in the mellow waves – I once saw a giant sea turtle swim right under my feet – then having an Old School Mai Tia at the Royal Hawaiian and roll up to Duke’s where we keep an eye out for a fun group getting on the yellow boat booze cruise. Touristy? Yes, but PubClub doesn’t mingle with the family tourists. Instead, we seek out the party tourists! Waikiki is great for that with its daylife and nightlife.
Link: PubClub’s Complete Guide To Waikiki Beach
5.) Fort Lauderdale, FL
I like it here way better than poser South Beach in Miami. What makes Lauderdale great, for PubClub, is that it has a great combination of locals and tourists. It has cool bars looking at the beach, several more bars a short walk inland plus a classic open-air dive bar, the Elbo Room that attracts a mixed crowd from bikers to beautiful people.
6.) Newport Beach, CA
You know what I like best about Newport Beach? Besides the fact it has a Sharkeez and other fun bars? The Duffys. Those are the little boats that cruise the harbor with people on board drinking wine, eating cheese. etc. You can rent these electric boats and do it yourself. Newport also has a lot of fun single party people and with the right look and amount of luck, you can upgrade from a Duffy to a power cruiser from an owner who fills it with bikini babes, some cool dudes and booze. Well, bring your own booze if you’re not a bikini babe.
Link: PubClub’s Complete Guide To Newport Beach, CA
7.) Fort Meyers, FL
I have only spent one day and two nights here, and that was in the middle of December , no less, but I liked the place. First, it had “Spring Breach party” written all over it. Second with all the bars on the beach and even on the intercoastal, I could easily see the place’s party potential. I would love to experience this place during its prime time.
8.) Loh Dalum Bay, Phi Phi Island, Thailand
The cool thing about Loh Dalum Beach is its nighttime party with performers tossing flaming sticks. It’s very much a “spiritual person’s” scene but it’s also a great party scene. You’re outside, standing in the sand and whenever you want a new drink you just walk up to a stand and buy one. There’s a couple of good small bars a few steps inland, but being on the beach is great nightlife.
Link: PubClub’s Nightlife Guide To Phi Phi Island
9.) Daytona Beach FL
This is a flashback beach. When I lived in Savannah, GA, I would make occasional trips down I-95, AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell” blaring in the car, and land on the beach in search of Spring Break pool parties (which I found; ask me about “Footch” sometime!), girls (which I found, too) and in general raucous times in the bars. The Oyster Pub and Ocean Deck satisfied most of those needs, as well as the ability to drive on the beach, park, toss down a towel and soak in the sun while watching all the beach activity.
10.) Tybee Island, Savannah, GA
This is a bit of a nostalgic choice, too. Tybee Island is not the world’s most scenic beach (it wouldn’t even make a top 1,000 nominations list, but I had some pretty fun Sunday afternoons hanging out there. I don’t know what it’s like now, but in town the bars closed at 3 a.m., and sometimes we would dash to Tybee because its bars did not close until 4.
Conclusion
My family would be disappointed not to see Siesta Key or Destin on this list. But we were there as a family and to spend Christmas, so my focus was very different when at those places. I can say that the Florida Gulf Coast has the whitest beaches you’ll ever encounter and they even squeak when you dig your heels in the sand while walking on them. Plus, being on the Gulf, they also have sunsets. And I love beach sunsets.
As for what is Dayton’s favorite beach, well, he sings (obviously to a woman), “it’s anywhere with you.”
That works, too. Provided it’s with a woman one really likes, of course.
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