BEACHES IN WINTER

Visiting Texas Beaches in Winter

Danno Wise

Although the weather has cooled, there are still plenty of fun opportunities on Texas beaches.

Of course, when most people think of Texas beaches, the immediately think of such locations as Galveston, Corpus Christi, and South Padre Island. There is a good reason for this – each of these coastal towns is a year around destination.

Probably the best known “off season” event held along the coast is Galveston’s Mardi Gras, which takes place at the end of January and through the beginning of February. But, there is plenty of other things to do on Galveston Island during the winter, such asshopping on the strand or visiting Moody Gardens.

Corpus Christi landmarks such as the Texas State Aquarium and USS Lexington are also year around attractions, as is their most famous stretch of beach, Padre Island National Seashore.

Texas’ southernmost beach resort, South Padre Island offers year around windsurfing and other water sports. South Padre is also a favorite among Winter Texans and offers a full slate ofevents geared to visitors during the winter months.

Of course, each of these three popular Texas beach destinations offer plenty to see and do during the winter. But, there are dozens of othersmall coastal towns in Texas, each of which offer visitors year around activities such as fishing,birding, shelling, and more. So, regardless of whether you choose a well-known Texas beach destination or a smaller, out of the way locale, you can count on making plenty of pleasant memories during you winter visit.

Best Beaches for Winter Getaways: Panama City to Newport

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If you're planning a mid-winter getaway, you're likely heading either to the beach or the snow. Unless you're an avid winter sportsman, head for the beach. The sun and surf are surefire ways to engage the

spirit and awaken the soul. Plus, if you live a snowy climate, it's a nice respite from that cold and dreary whiteness.

If you do decide to head for the beach, you want to make sure you choose well. Nothing is worse than spending thousands of dollars and finding that your dream beach vacation is a total bust.

Herewith, then, is a list of some of the best beaches to visit this winter, courtesy of Dr. Beach (Stephen Leatherman), who creates a new list of the top beaches each year and from the Travel Channel. From the last two year's worth of beach lists, we have compiled a list of best winter getaway beaches.

Hawaii

Many of the best beaches in the world are in Hawaii. No surprise there, right? While it might not be a surprise that some of the world's best beaches are in Hawaii, it's not safe to assume that any beach you visit will be of world-class caliber. As with anywhere, there are going to be good choices and not-so-good choices. Some of the better ones include:

Fleming Beach Park in Maui. This beach is located in popular Kapalua and is considered very family friendly, thanks to the availability of lifeguards and restrooms. There are also picnic tables available if you prefer not to sit on the beach while enjoying a picnic.

Kaanapali Beach in Maui. This famous beach is a tourist destination, but still maintains some semblance of "authentic" beach. It's ideal for hanging out on the beach, given its three miles of white sand. This is also a starting point for catamaran and sailing expeditions.

Hanauma Bay Park in Oahu. This beach takes you out of the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and into a serene park that features a protected cove perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving (for beginners, in particular, this beach is ideal). It's busy, but nothing like Waikiki, yet ideal for a quick getaway if you're staying in that busy city.

The beaches of West Crete in winter

Have you wondered what the beach you are on in your summer holiday may look like in the winter? Have you imagined walking on it on a possible winter visit to Crete? Follow the links below to see photographs of the best known beaches of West Crete in winter.

You will notice that some of the beaches don't seem clean at all. This is because the northern storms bring all kinds of detritus on them (they get cleaned at the beginning of the tourist season!). The south coast beaches as well as protected beaches on the north coast (such as Marathi and the bay of Stavros) are not much affected by this.

Falasarna	Platanias	Agia Marina	Stalos
Kalamaki	Agii Apostoli	Hrissi Akti (Golden beach)	Chania
Kalathas	Stavros	Marathi	Almirida
Kalives	Georgioupolis	Elafonisi	Paleochora
Sougia	Loutro	Sweet Water beach	Frangokastello

Winter and beaches in Oslo

Katja, Living in Oslo - 03.03.2010 13:13

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The beaches in Oslo during winter. On a sunny winters day the beaches at Bygdøy are just as nice as during summertime. The only difference is that you bring a warm blanket and some hot beverages. There are a lot of benches to sit on and if you go in the middle of a sunny day, you’ll get a beautiful experience watching the sun over the fjord. Within 30 minutes from the city centre. While you’re here you can also bring your cross-country skies. Have a look at my pictures from Paradisbukta.