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The Best Hotels In 18 Beach Towns Across America

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Sunset Beach, HI (North Shore, Oahu) Turtle Bay

This summer, you don't need a beach house to enjoy the sands and surf. 

With built-in services like housekeeping, room service, and access to amenities like pools and tennis courts, beachside hotels make for an easy summer getaway.

Our friends at Hotels.com created a list of the best beach hotels by looking at the highest-rated hotels at popular beach towns across America.

From beachside pools to saunas and 24/7 room service, these hotels are way better than homes anyway.

 

HAMPTONS, NEW YORK: Montauk Yacht Club Resort and Marina

Guest rating: 4.3 out of 5

The Montauk Yacht Club was named one of the Top Ten Marina Destinations in North America by Yachting Magazine. It's at the tip of the exclusive Hamptons and has indoor and outdoor pools, spas, saunas, tennis, yoga, volleyball, and fitness centers.

"My stay at The Yacht Club was nothing short of excellent. If you're looking for a place to relax with some peace and quiet, then this is definitely it,"Diane wrote on Hotels.com. "I loved the view on the balcony from my room. The hotel staff were all wonderful and helpful. Everything was clean and up to date. The food at their restaurants is superb." 



CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS: The Revere Guest House

Guest rating: 4.9 out of 5

The Revere Guest House is located on the northern tip of Cape Cod in Provincetown. The hotel is within walking distance of Art House, Provincetown Town Hall, and Pilgrim Monument.  

There's complimentary breakfast, free wi-fi, a spa tub, barbecue grills, and a discounted use of a nearby fitness facility.

"A terrific find in Provincetown. The room was perfect, very comfortable and quite pretty,"JDV wrote on Hotels.com."The owners were very available and helpful. There is a lovely garden where you can have breakfast or just relax."



CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY: Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant

Guest rating: 4.7 out of 5

Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant is close to a ton of Cape May attractions including the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, Nature Center of Cape May, and the Cape May Convention Hall.

The tiny inn offers a restaurant and a garden, along with free wireless internet. The nine guestrooms each include a fireplace.

"We stayed at this beautifully restored Inn on the beach and were extremely pleased with our room and the personalized service by the staff. It exceeded all our expectations,"a Traveller on Hotels.com wrote. "We had a king size bed and it was the most comfortable mattress I've ever slept on. Even the bath towels were thick and plus. The food is AMAZING, and the wine and cheese served in the late afternoon was a delightful bonus."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Before-And-After Pictures Show How Cape Cod Coast Has Changed In The Last 30 Years

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capecod_oli_2013211

capecod_tm5_1984164.jpgBeaches are dynamic, living landscapes, and the prime example of beach evolution is the coastal barrier. These strips of land are usually long and narrow, and run parallel to the mainland. Sometimes they are islands and other times they are connected to land at one end, a feature dubbed a “spit.” Scientists estimate that there are more than 2,100 barriers fronting nearly 10 percent of the world’s continental shorelines. In the United States, barrier spits and beaches line up along nearly a quarter of the coast.

These sandy barriers are constantly raised up, shifted, and torn down by the natural ebb and flow of waves, currents, winds, and tides. Hooks form, inlets open and close, and beaches slowly march across their back bays and lagoons toward the mainland. This process allows them to naturally move ever upwards as sea levels rise.

On the southeastern elbow of Cape Cod, where the New England coast reaches out into the cold and choppy North Atlantic, this natural progression has been taking place in full view of satellites for more than 30 years. The images above were acquired by the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8 (top) and the Thematic Mapper on Landsat 5 (bottom). They show the shape of the coast off of Chatham, Massachusetts, on June 12, 1984, and July 30, 2013. Visit our longer World of Change time series to see the years in between.

The changes to the Nauset-Monomoy barrier system in this part of Cape Cod are sometimes subtle and sometimes dramatic. In 1984, an unbroken barrier spit shielded the Atlantic-facing coast of Chatham and its harbor. South of the mainland, North and South Monomoy Islands stood apart from each other and from the coast. Over the span of 30 years, three major breaches opened in the system and the barrier islands connected to the coastline and to each other.

According to Graham Giese, a coastal geologist at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, the patterns of barrier and inlet evolution in this area have been going on for at least the past three hundred years, and perhaps longer. The landmass was laid down at the end of the last Ice Age as the Laurentide ice sheet retreated and rivers and streams of melt water dropped sediment and carved the landscape. As sea level rose over the past 10,000 years, the ocean ate at the glacial deposits that lay as far as four miles offshore of the present coast. Sea cliffs—some towering over 100 feet high—were created by wave action, while strong winds produced great dunes. These features are protected today in the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Giese and other researchers have identified a recent cycle of beach development and migration around Chatham that seems to repeat roughly every 150 years. Depending on your location along the coast and your timing, the movement of sand around you may be driven by ocean waves or by tides. Waves usually dominate, promoting longshore transport. High-energy open-ocean waves from the Atlantic crash into the Nauset-Monomoy barrier system at various angles, scouring the sandy glacial leftovers and creating currents that run parallel to the shore. Erosion along the Nauset-Monomoy barrier system can move the beach anywhere from 1 to 6 meters a year (3 to 20 feet). Sea level rise—a least one foot in the past century—is also slowly taking away the beachfront.

“Many people view coastal erosion as a problem that needs to be addressed and, if possible, prevented,” wrote coastal geologist Robert Oldale of the U.S. Geological Survey. “However, storm and wave erosion along the shore of Cape Cod has been going on for thousands of years and will likely continue for thousands of years more. It is a natural process that allows the Cape to adjust to rising sea level. Erosion is only a peril to property. If we build on the shore, we must accept the fact that sooner or later coastal erosion will take the property away.”

Read more about the changes to barrier beaches and Cape Cod in World of Change: Coastline Change.

References and Related Reading

  1. Cape Naturalist, via U.S. Geological Survey (1999) Coastal Erosion on Cape Cod: Some Questions and Answers. Accessed May 1, 2014.
  2. Giese, G.S., Mague, S.T., and Rogers, S.S. (2009) A Geomorphological Analysis of Nauset Beach/Pleasant Bay/Chatham Harbor For the Purpose of Estimating Future Configurations and Conditions. Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies Technical Report.
  3. Giese, G.S., Mague, S.T., Rogers, S.S., and Borrelli, M. (2010) A Geomorphological Analysis of the Monomoy Barrier System. Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies Technical Report.
  4. NASA Landsat Science (2011) World Inventory of Barrier Islands Jumps by One Third. Accessed May 1, 2014.
  5. National Park Service: Geology Resources Division (2005) Geology Field Notes: Cape Cod National Seashore. Accessed May 1, 2014.
  6. NOAA Ocean Service (2011) Coastal Currents. Accessed May 1, 2014.
  7. Stutz, M.L., and Pilkey, O.H. (2011) Geologic History of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Accessed May 1, 2014.

NASA Earth Observatory images by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Caption by Michael Carlowicz.

Instrument(s):
Landsat 5 - TM
Landsat 8 - OLI

SEE ALSO: SpaceX Just Unveiled Its Brand-New Capsule For Taking Astronauts To Space

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5 Under-The-Radar Beaches In The US

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Trips to the beach are standard fare for most summer travelers, but crowded stretches of sand can make vacations more of a pain than a pleasure. Some beaches offer a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle, and allow visitors to escape the crowds at more popular destinations. From an isolated nature retreat nestled along Virgina’s Outer Banks to a picturesque coastal village with towering seawalls in Washington, these beaches prove that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better—and that getting away doesn’t need to be a headache. Here are our picks for America’s best under-the-radar beaches.

1. Carova Beach

Carova BeachWhere: North Carolina

It doesn’t get much more secluded than North Carolina’s Carova Beach. Tucked away in the Outer Banks, the beach is only accessible by boat or with four-wheel drive, as the area does not have paved roads. Visitors can enjoy 11 miles of tranquil shoreline and hunt for shells on pristine stretches of sand.  If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of wild mustangs; the horses roam freely by the ocean and through Carova’s small residential neighborhoods.

Where to Stay: There are no hotels, motels or condos in Carova, so visitors typically book vacation rental homes. Properties are rented on a weekly basis, but some last minute reservations are accepted

Insider Tip: On a cloudy day, consider taking an excursion to nearby Corolla and Duck.The small beach towns boast upscale shopping and restaurants, and Corolla is home to a popular lighthouse that overlooks the ocean.

Plan Your Trip:  Visit Fodor’s North Carolina Coast Guide

2. Roque Bluffs

Roque BluffsWhere: Maine

Rustic scenery and sprawling landscapes make Roque Bluffs one of the best little-known beach destinations. Visitors can explore 274 acres of coastal scenery, including a picturesque, half-mile pebbled beach. Take a dip in Simpson Pond, a popular watering hole, or hike along the beach’s rocky cliffs. Nature lovers will enjoy the area’s diverse wildlife, as the beach is home to a variety of birds and plant species.

Where to Stay: Roque Bluffs does not offer hotels or motels, and most visitors rent a cottage or vacation home for their stay. Sea Spray Cottage overlooks Kennebec Bay and features spacious interiors and comfortable accommodations

Insider Tip: Explore Simpson Pond and Englishman Bay by canoe or kayak. Visitors can paddle out and take in the panoramic scenery, or cast their fishing line during the spring and summer to catch trout.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Maine Guide

3. Enderts Beach

Enderts BeachWhere: California

For the ultimate in seclusion, take a trip to Enderts Beach. Hidden away in Redwood National Park, the beach features 37 miles of coastline surrounded by towering, 350-foot evergreen trees. Enderts is not the most photogenic beach; lost driftwood and tidal marshes create a decidedly rustic atmosphere. But dramatic coastlines and peaceful surroundings give the area an appeal all its own. Hike to the 500-foot overlook off Enderts Beach Trail for unparalleled views of the forest and ocean, and or settle down near the coast with an afternoon picnic.

Where to Stay: For easy beach access, consider booking a room at a nearby hotel. The Best Western Northwoods Inn and Crescent Beach Motel offer reasonably priced rooms and oceanfront views.

Insider Tip: Visit Enderts in the early spring or winter months to watch migrating whales along the beach’s Pacific waters.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Redwood National Park Guide

4. Dry Tortugas

4 dry tortugas beach floridaWhere: Florida

Only accessible by boat or plane, Dry Tortugas offers a peaceful getaway from the mainland’s hustle and bustle. The park is located 70 miles off the shore of Key West, and consists of seven small islands and a sprawling coral reef. History buffs can explore Fort Jefferson, a 19th-century building that once held political prisoners. For epic snorkeling and diving, head to offshore coral heads. The colorful reefs are home to brain coral, swaying sea fans, and tropical fish, and include sandy spots to rest and take in the sun.

Where to Stay: The best way to enjoy all that Dry Tortugas has to offer is by reserving an overnight camping spot. Visitors can explore the beaches at their leisure and take in the surroundings from dawn to dusk. But come prepared—there’s no freshwater supply on the island and you must carry off whatever you bring to the beach.

Insider Tip: Bird lovers will enjoy Dry Tortugas’ extensive nesting sites. The park boasts nearly 300 species of birds and more than 100,000 nesting sooty terns. Make sure to stop by Bush Key during the winter months, as the site is closed to foot traffic during nesting season.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Florida Keys Guide

5. Sandbridge Beach

5 sandbridge beach virginiaWhere: Virginia

Most beachgoers have heard of Virginia Beach, but few are familiar with its tiny neighbor to the south. Located 15 miles from the resort area, Sandbridge features pristine dunes and secluded beaches away from the Virginia Beach crowds. Visitors can explore the marshes and open waters of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, or kayak and hike through False Cape State Park.

Where to Stay: Visitors won’t find large resorts or hotels in Sandbridge, as larger properties are concentrated north of the beach. Consider renting a beach house or condo for cozy lodgings and easy access to the water.

Insider Tip: One of the best ways to explore Sandbridge and the surrounding area is by bike. Pedal through the neighboring wildlife refuge for up-close looks at native plants and animals, or take a day-trip to the state park for picnicking and water sports.

Plan Your Trip: Visit Fodor’s Virginia Guide

Click here to see the rest on Fodor's >

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The Best US Beaches For A Weekend Getaway

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Sandy Seclusion on Anna Maria IslandThere’s a cape in Massachusetts with pristine beaches, gentle hiking trails, and seafood fresh from the docks. It’s never crowded, prettiest in summer, and only 30 miles from Boston. Arrive at blissful Cape Ann, and the first word to escape your lips will be Ahhh.

Summer brings a craving for lazy, sunbaked days featuring ocean breezes and an inclined beach chair. Luckily, you don’t need to travel far to stake out your place in the sand: we’ve collected 18 easy beach weekend getaways from major U.S. cities.

For a still-sleepy beach destination, set your GPS to Anna Maria Island, just down the Florida coast from Tampa, where the pace lends itself to long days spent sunbathing and nights spent tucking into just-caught seafood along the waterfront. If you prefer your sunshine with a side of fresh sushi, creative cocktails, and street artists, head for Santa Monica, CA.

Of course, Florida and California are hardly the only states that offer such escapes. This summer, you might explore the windswept beaches of Ocracoke Island, NC, or stroll among the boutiques, waterfront restaurants, and Victorian-era buildings that make up Port Townsend, WA.

Delaware serves up an old-fashioned romantic getaway at Rehoboth Beach, where couples take evening strolls along the boardwalk and compete at the kind of arcade games that will kick your nostalgia into high gear.

Your summer starts here.

1. Romantic Rehoboth Beach, DE

Rehoboth beachGetaway from: Washington D.C.New York CityPhiladelphia

Rehoboth Beach is an old-fashioned beach resort town with a lively art gallery scene. Win a prize for your honey at one of the sweetly corny arcade games along the boardwalk and then celebrate with saltwater taffy and ice cream. The wide, sandy beach invites evening strolls. Back at the Victorian-era Boardwalk Plaza Hotel, leave your windows open, and let the sound of the surf lull you to sleep.

Get the Details>>

2. Surfing on Long Island

surfing in long islandGetaway from: New York City,Philadelphia

At the eastern tip of Long Island, the waves are surprisingly robust, but the living in Montauk and Amagansett is downright laid-back—even during summer months when New Yorkers flee to the closest coasts. Catch live bands on the patio of the Surf Lodge, and sign up for surfing lessons at the Sunset Surf Shack; ask for owner Craig Lieder, a quintessential hang-ten dude.

Get the Details>>

3. Easy Living in La Jolla, CA

easy living in la jollaGetaway from: PhoenixLos AngelesLas Vegas

This tony suburb north of San Diego offers both windswept nature and accessible luxury. It’s got everything an urban nature lover could want. Here, the beach meets green hills, and modern shops, restaurants, and galleries line the streets of its village. Explore the area’s gentle trails, have a cocktail overlooking the water, and head to La Jolla Cove for sunset over the clear water.

Get the Details>>

4. Anna Maria Island's Sandy Seclusion

Sandy Seclusion on Anna Maria IslandGetaway from: Miami

Past the industrial fruit juice-making town of Bradenton, you’ll find a clutch of beautiful hidden beaches and stoplight-free Anna Maria Island. Here, days are spent sunbathing on soft sand, sipping chilly cocktails on the boardwalk, and tucking into fresh seafood on the deck of a waterfront restaurant. Coquina Beach is popular for its gentle currents; for seclusion, seek out the white-yellow sands of Long Boat Key.

Get the Details>>

5. Seaside Serenity in Port Townsend, WA

seaside serenity in port townsendGetaway from: Seattle, Portland

The entry point to the wilderness of Olympic National Park, this artsy enclave also has a lovely Victorian-era downtown. Dubbed the “City of Dreams,” the spread certainly is a bit dreamy: there are lots of chic boutiques, a cluster of seafood restaurants along the waterfront, and a yacht- and sailboat-dotted harbor. Take a stroll, then explore the surrounding beaches and wilderness on foot.

Get the Details>>

6. Exploring Lake Erie

exploring lake erieGetaway From: ChicagoDetroit

Lake Erie, a Great Lake that stretches from the Welland Canal to the Detroit River, has a shoreline bordered by soft-sand beaches, quiet towns, and pretty parks. On the lake’s South Bass Island, the village of Put-in-Bay, OH, offers history, ferry rides, and lots of family fun. Fuel up on lobster bisque at The Boardwalk, then rent a kayak to explore the open water.

Get the Details>>

7. Driving North Carolina's Outer Banks

diving north carolinas outer banksGetaway from: Washington D.C.

This coastal stretch, connected by the scenic two-lane highway NC 12, has charming towns, wildlife sanctuaries, and enough surf, sand, and sun for beach sports like as sailing and kite surfing. The fragile barrier island of Hatteras is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, with a landscape of sunken wrecks to explore. Outer Banks Diving offers guided deep-water excursions as well as snorkeling trips.

Get the Details>>

8. Great Outdoors in Door Country, WI

great outdoors in door countyGetaway from: Chicago

In Wisconsin, the 70-mile-long Door County consists of five state parks, a handful of lighthouses, and 300 miles of shoreline. Its beauty is in the numbers: the region draws more than two million visitors every year. On its tip, the village of Sister Bay delivers crowd-building sunsets over Sturgeon Bay and outdoor activities year-round—not to mention ample shops and restaurants.

Get the Details>>

Keep reading for more beach weekend getaways >

More from Travel + Leisure:

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Life In Rio Revolves Completely Around The Beach, And No Wonder [PHOTOS]

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Praia vermelha, rio beach

Daily life plays out at the beaches in Rio de Janeiro: families gather for informal meals, kids play football (soccer), and young people flirt over beer and caipirinhas.

Brazil's capital city is famous for its beaches, from world-famous Ipanema and Copacabana to lesser-known beaches like Prainha and Vermelha.

The beaches are so popular that they become the city's backyard, where Cariocas (people who live in Rio) eat, socialize, and play.

This is world-famous Ipanema beach. It is located in the heart of the city, separated from the urban center by a roadway.



Every Sunday, the roadway closes to cars, while pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboarders take advantage of the open space.



Yet the beach feels like it's a world away, with its white sands and clear water. There are two mountains, called the Dois Irmãos (Two Brothers), at the western end of the beach.

 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

The Battle To Profit From Italy's Beaches

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People sunbath at Ostia beach, west of Rome, June 8, 2014.  REUTERS/Max Rossi

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's beaches are a family affair – and that’s a problem for the euro zone's third-largest economy.

Most of the beaches along Italy’s 7,500 kilometers of sun-kissed coast have for decades been managed by small businesses operating concessions that are passed on from generation to generation.

Though licenses are state-owned, they rarely come up for public bids, allowing Italy’s balneari – or beach managers – to keep a tight grip on amenities ranging from single-shack parasol rentals to up-market bars and restaurants.

The balneari say the all-in-the-family system keeps costs low for beachgoers. But local and foreign entrepreneurs say they’re being shut out.

The battle of the beaches offers a window onto one of the biggest barriers to Italy’s economic development: the lack of competition across sectors. Guilds, associations and other lobbies that are politically powerful have for decades prevented new blood from entering the economy and are one of the reasons it has barely grown over the past two decades.

“Beach concessions should be given to people who will manage them effectively, who will work hard and create new jobs,” says Flavio Briatore, a businessman and former Italian Formula One investor.

Briatore has been running the “Twiga” beach club in the trendy resort of Forte dei Marmi for the past 15 years. But he has never been able to bid for the license directly. Instead he says he sublets the beach from a license holder for 250,000 euros a year. That compares to the 3,570 euros on average that each direct licensee pays the government, according to official figures.

“The government shouldn’t give concessions to those who speculate by subletting,” says Briatore.

Many governments have tried to pry open parts of Italy’s services sector including taxis, pharmacies and legal practices. But the results have been mixed.

Two years ago the government of Mario Monti attempted deregulation, but many of the measures were diluted by parties protecting vested interests. Italy’s new prime minister, Matteo Renzi, nicknamed Demolition Man, has staked his reputation on cleaning up Italian business and rewarding merit.

The European Union is also trying to put its foot down. In 2006, the EU ordered its member states to open up various sectors to competition. It told Italy to put its 28,000 beach licenses up for public tender.

Yet Italy has been stalling. First it got the EU to agree to extension of the existing licensing system to 2015. Then in 2012, the government yet again bowed to pressure from the balneari and passed a national law shoving the deadline back further to 2020.

Now, Renzi is trying to convince Brussels to accept the 2020 deadline or risk a possible infringement procedure that might lead to a fine. The new government says it needs the extra time to overhaul the beach licensing system while limiting the damage for thousands of concession owners.

It’s not just an issue of fairness. Italian beaches generate revenues worth almost 10 billion euros a year, according to Angelo Bonelli, leader of Italy’s Green Party. Yet only around 100 million euros a year go to the state through the concession of operating licenses.

Briatore’s savannah-style Twiga resort draws deep-pocketed holidaymakers from Britain, Russia and beyond to its umbrellas, discos and restaurant. By subletting, license holders can earn handsomely.

"The beach business in Italy has created a caste. Licenses have been doled out on a private basis with no tenders, It’s a lobby in all senses of the word,” says Bonelli.

“State assets need to be exploited to the full, beach licenses are not generating revenues in line with their real value,” agrees Pier Paolo Baretta, undersecretary of the economy ministry.

BEACH TIME                                      

Italy's beaches haven’t always been good business. Danilo Piraccini, who runs a cooperative of balneari, says his father – a poor fisherman – was awarded a beach concession by the state after World War II. Piraccini says his father didn’t have to promise any improvement to the beach in exchange; he just committed to keeping the sand clean.

It was not until Italy’s 1960s economic boom – when motorways were built, hotels were erected and tourists began coming to Italy – that the beach business exploded. Piraccini says his dad had one client in 1957. Now, the same stretch of beach in the bustling Riviera town of Milano Marittina, near Rimini, lures 200 families per month.

Like Piraccini, who inherited the beach from his father, thousands of other families have passed on post-war licenses again and again over the decades. Though the state officially gives out the licenses on a six-year basis, renewals almost never come up for public tender.

Mario Pelucchi, analyst at think tank Nomisma who recently published a report on Italy’s beaches, says "it’s a fragmented industry with around 90 percent of the businesses run by families."

The system eventually raised flags in Brussels. In 2008, the European Union officially criticized Italy for the way it awarded its beach licenses, saying too many concessions were renewed without opening them up to new entrants.

Treasury undersecretary Baretta says Rome is hoping to get EU approval for the new 2020 deadline, so that Italy has time to introduce a new system that will introduce a fairer tender system but also reward long-time balneari who have invested in Italian beaches for decades.

The balneari are already sharpening their knives. Fabrizio Licordari, beach management representative at employer's lobby Confindustria, says keeping Italy’s beaches in the hands of small business has stopped them falling prey to big hotels with a lack of respect for local traditions.

He says small businesses keep organized crime – which preys on lucrative big state contracts – at arm's length. Licordari also says beach managers should have the right to decide whether they want to hand out licenses to newcomers or not.

“Some of my colleagues didn’t send their kids to college but taught them the profession,” says Licordari. “Now with all these tenders they run the risk of someone else coming in and leaving them jobless.”

“Italy’s beach system is unique, run by small family enterprises that invested on the basis of a law,” adds Sergio Pizzolante, a lawmaker with the center-right party, Nuovo Centro Destra, which is a member of the governing coalition. “Brussels must understand you can’t just take that away without recognizing the value of their businesses.”

(Editing By Alessandra Galloni and Janet McBride)

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Sewage And Runoff Make 1 in 10 American Beaches Unfit For Swimmers

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Santa Monica Beach

Now that summer is here, a trip to the shore should bring familiar smells: seawater, sunscreen and, depending on your beach of choice, sewage.

One in 10 recreational beaches in the United States isn't fit for swimming, according to a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

"Sewage and contaminated runoff in the water should never ruin a family beach trip," Jon Devine, a senior attorney for NRDC, said in a statement. "But no matter where you live, urban slobber and other pollution can seriously compromise the water quality at your favorite beach and make your family sick." [See list of the best and worst beaches]

The NRDC released its annual water-quality report card this week based on samples collected last year from 3,485 U.S. beaches along the coasts and in the Great Lakes region. The environmental group found that more than 10 percent of the shores sampled failed to meet new federal recommendations for safe swimming.

The NRDC measured its samples against the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Beach Action Value," or BVA, a new threshold for counts of bacteria like E. coli in water samples, which can be an indication of the presence of feces. The BVA is more of a recommendation than a federally mandated standard, and it's more conservative than previous safety thresholds. Had they been held up to the old benchmarks, only 7 percent of the beaches sampled in 2013 would have been deemed too dirty, which is similar to the rate of failure the NRDC has recorded in previous years.

Beaches in the Great Lakes region had the highest failure rate (13 percent), followed by the Gulf Coast (12 percent) and New England (11 percent). The Delmarva Peninsula on the East Coast had the cleanest beaches overall, with just 4 percent of samples failing the safety test. The West Coast (9 percent), the Southeast (7 percent), and the New York and New Jersey region (7 percent) were in the middle of the pack.

Ohio was ranked the worst state to go swimming. Of the 63 coastal beaches in the state, 47 had more than 20 percent of their water quality samples fail to meet the BAV benchmark, according to the NRDC. Delaware, on the other hand, ranked highest in beach quality.

Water pollution can be caused by a variety of sources, including stormwater runoff, sewage overflows, inadequately treated sewage, boating waste and agricultural runoff. Besides the ick factor, there are real health concerns that come with splashing around in contaminated water. Sewage can expose people to disease-causing bacteria, viruses and protozoans, meaning swimmers can pick up waterborne illnesses such as stomach flu, skin rashes, pink eye, dysentery, respiratory ailments and hepatitis, according to the NRDC.

In releasing the new report, NRDC officials also threw their support behind the EPA's proposed Clean Water Protection Rule, which is currently open for public comment and would clarify that federal protections for clean water extend to seasonal streams and wetlands.

Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+.Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on Live Science.

SEE ALSO: Climate Change Is Ruining Some Of The Best Things About Los Angeles

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The Scandalous Story Behind The Debut Of The Bikini

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Micheline Bernardini bikiniSaturday marks 68 years since the bikini debuted in Paris, but the tiny two-piece invention didn't immediately catch on among everyone, according to American Heritage. In fact, French inventor Louis Réard couldn't even find a model in 1946 willing to wear the skimpy outfit.

Back then, women wore more modest two-piece bathing suits designed to expose only a small section of midriff. But Réard, a former automotive engineer whose family owned a lingerie shop, noticed that women on French Mediterranean beaches were rolling the material of their bathing suits away from their bellies to expose more skin. That gave him the idea for the bikini, named after the small atoll where the U.S. began testing nuclear bombs that same month.

Réard chose that name because he expected the world's smallest bathing suit — comprised of only 30 inches of fabric — to create levels of shock similar to reactions to the atomic bomb, Smithsonian reported.

Réard's idea was especially timely, as many Europeans flocked to beaches to bask in the sun for the first time since World War II, when a long Nazi occupation and ensuing destruction prevented beachgoing.

"Remember that no one had been to the beach in years," fashion writer Jamie Samet told American Heritage. "People were craving the simple pleasures of the sea and the sun. For women, wearing a bikini signaled a kind of second liberation. There was really nothing sexual about this. It was instead a celebration of freedom and a return to the joys in life."

But to be successful, Réard's invention needed to overcome conservative social mores that prevailed in that period. He tried to introduce the bikini for the first time at a fashion event at the Piscine Molitor Paris swimming pool, but no professional model was willing to wear it. Instead, Réard turned to a 19-year-old French stripper named Micheline Bernardini.

The suit worn by Bernardini, who worked as an exotic dancer at the popular Casino de Paris, was printed with newspaper type in reference to the headlines its inventor foresaw, according to the History Channel. She was also photographed holding a matchbox; Réard wanted to demonstrate that the bikini was so small it could fit inside of it.

Bernardini received 50,000 fan letters for becoming the first to wear the scandalous outfit.

In European countries like Italy and Spain, authorities initially imposed a ban and removed bikini-clad tourists from beaches, American Heritage noted. Even in the late 1950s, the bikini was not deemed acceptable for American women "with tact and decency," according to a quote from Modern Girl magazine.

But that changed in the 1960s, when the bikini became an integral part of American popular culture, featured in Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" song and famously worn by actress Annette Funicello in the hit 1963 movie "Beach Party."

SEE ALSO: HAPPY NATIONAL BIKINI DAY: 67 Years In The Life Of The Two-Piece

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Swimming On The East Coast Will Be Really Dangerous This Weekend — Even If It's Nice Out

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Those on the Eastern Seaboard may be bummed out by the July 4 beach forecast thanks to Hurricane Arthur. It will likely cause dangerous rip currents, as well as literally raining on your parades.

"Beach-goers all along the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast U.S. coasts will be at risk from dangerous rip currents Friday through Saturday," Director of Meteorology and hurricane expert Dr. Jeff Masters at Wunderground.com told Business Insider. The threat should diminish by Sunday, he said.

A rip current, or strong channel of water flowing from the shore out to sea, can move up to 8 feet per second, which is faster than any human swimmer, says Masters.

rip currentIf a swimmer doesn't know the right way to get out of a rip current — by swimming at a right angle to the fast-moving channel — "they may exhaust themselves trying unsuccessfully to swim against the flow," says Masters.

Rip currents kill about 100 people a year, according to LiveScience. 

As of now, the storm is now expected to be a category 2 hurricane as it approaches eastern North Carolina, and may become the earliest-known hurricane to make landfall in that state. If you aren't at the beach, here's what Masters says to expect:

Eastern North Carolina will feel the brunt of the storm. Heavy rains are already falling along the coast, and these rains will accumulate to 3 - 5", with isolated amounts of up to 7", through Friday afternoon, causing minor flooding. The bigger threat is coastal flooding due to storm surge, which will peak late night and early Friday morning from Morehead City, NC, to the North Carolina/Virginia border. A storm surge of 2 - 5 feet is expected. This is the same time that winds of hurricane force will potentially affect the coast. By late Friday morning, the winds will fall below tropical storm-force, and the storm surge will subside.

As Arthur accelerates northeastwards towards Nova Scotia, Canada, large waves of 4 - 5 feet will begin to pound coastal Massachusetts on Friday night. Tropical storm force winds of 40 mph may affect Cape Cod and Nantucket, Massachusetts between 10 p.m. Friday and 4 a.m. Saturday, and Nova Scotia, Canada beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday.

NYC will not be directly affected by Arthur, but will get rain Friday afternoon from the trough of low pressure that is steering Arthur towards Nova Scotia.

SEE ALSO: The Most Irreplaceable Sites On Earth

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The 20 Best Beaches In America

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The U.S. has 95,471 miles of shoreline, some parts more pristine than others.

Because nothing quite says "summer" like sand between your toes, salty air, and the lullaby of waves crashing on shore, we set out to find the best beaches in the U.S.

For this list, we looked at six notable beach rankings compiled by travel experts, vacationers, and water quality researchers and combined these rankings to come up with the ultimate list of the Best Beaches in the U.S.

The rankings we used were Dr. Beach's Top 10 Beaches for 2014, Trip Advisor's 2014 Travelers' Choice Awards Top 25 Beaches in the United States, Travel + Leisure's Best Beaches on Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council's Superstar Beaches, CNN's World's 100 Best Beaches, and Condé Nast Traveler's Best U.S. Islands for Beaches.

20. Beachwalker Park – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Roughly 20 miles from downtown Charleston, Kiawah Island's 10 miles of beaches are set among perfectly preserved maritime forests, sand dunes, and marshes. Beachwalker Park, mentioned among Condé Nast's Best U.S. Islands for Beaches list, is the island's only stretch of sand with public parking, lifeguards, and restrooms.

kiawah island beachwalker state park south carolina seashell shell

Source: Flickr/Bill Sutton



19. Barefoot Beach Preserve – Bonita Springs, Florida

Dr. Beach named Barefoot Beach No. 2 on his list of Top 10 Beaches for 2014. The pristine setting provides up-close access to tons of animal species, including sea turtles who nest in the sand dunes during the summer months.

barefoot beach bonita springs florida

Source: Flickr/chrisgriffith



18. Cape Hatteras – Outer Banks, North Carolina

Dr. Beach's fourth favorite beach, Cape Hatteras, made the Natural Resources Defense Council's "superstar list" for its crystal clear, unpolluted waters. The historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse on site has 257 steps leading to panoramic views.

cape hatteras outer banks lighthouse north carolina

Source: Flickr/thebetancourts



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Tons Of Tourists Are Heading To Cape Cod To See Great White Sharks

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Shark toys in Cape Cod

In "Jaws," the fictional mayor tried to protect the summer tourism season by keeping a lid on reports of the man-eater lurking offshore. As sightings of great white sharks mount off Cape Cod in real life, however, businesses in the Massachusetts town of Chatham are embracing the frenzy.

Shark T-shirts are everywhere, "Jaws" has been playing in local theaters and boat tours are taking more tourists out to see the huge seal population that keeps the sharks coming. Harbormasters have issued warnings but — unlike the sharks in the movies — the great whites generally are not seen as a threat to human swimmers.

Among the entrepreneurs is Justin Labdon, owner of the Cape Cod Beach Chair Company, who started selling 'Chatham Whites' T-shirts after customers who were renting paddle boards and kayaks began asking whether it was safe to go to sea.

"I mean, truthfully, we've probably grown about 500 percent in terms of the sale of our shark apparel," he said. The T-shirts, hoodies, hats, belts, dog collars and other accessories bear the iconic, torpedo-shaped image of great whites and sell for between $10 and $45.

He said his store brings in thousands of dollars in sales of the shark-themed merchandise.

Tourists peer through coin-operated binoculars in hopes of catching a glimpse of a shark fin from the beaches of Chatham. The posh resort town is on the elbow of the cape that has a large population of gray seals — the massive animals whose blubber is the fuel of choice for great white sharks. Local shops sell jewelry, candy, clothes, stuffed animals and beverages with shark motifs.

A study released last month by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found the number of great white sharks off the Eastern U.S. and Canada is surging after decades of decline. Conservation efforts and the greater availability of prey such as Massachusetts' seals, are credited with the reversal.

Shark sightings have soared from generally fewer than two annually before 2004 to more than 20 in each of the last few years off Cape Cod, where the economy depends heavily on the summer tourism season. Despite notices urging boaters and swimmers to use caution, the official reaction has been nearly the opposite of the panic depicted in "Jaws," the 1975 film shot mainly on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard.

"White sharks are this iconic species in society and it draws amazing amounts of attention," said Gregory Skomal, a senior marine fisheries biologist who also leads the Massachusetts Shark Research Program, who said people are coming in hopes of witnessing the animals in their splendor. "I have not been approached by anyone who has said to me 'let's go kill these sharks.'"

Skomal said sharks have been coming closer to shore to feed on the seals, which he said have been coming on shore in greater numbers because of successful conservation efforts.

Confrontations with people are rare, with only 106 unprovoked white shark attacks — 13 of them fatal — in U.S. waters since 1916, according to data provided by the University of Florida.

Still, officials are wary of the damage that could be done to tourism if one of the predators bites a person. Brochures have been distributed to raise awareness of sharks and safe practices in the event of a sighting.

"You have to make sure people understand," Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce CEO Wendy Northcross said, "if they go to the beach and they see a family of seals there, that's probably not the best place to hang out."

Laurie Moss McCandless of Memphis, Tennessee, has vacationed on Cape Cod every summer since she was a little girl and doesn't remember hearing about sharks back then. But her son is obsessed with sharks, she said, and she's hoping to hear more about them on their vacation in Chatham.

"He loves all his sharks paraphernalia," McCandless, 39, said as she bought a shark-themed sweatshirt for one of her three children.

SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons To Visit Nantucket Now

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Out-Of-Work Families In Spain Are Taking Over Abandoned Tourist Villages On The Spanish Coast

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Unable to pay her mortgage, Manoli Herrera turned over her flat to the bank and moved into one of six abandoned buildings occupied by other jobless families in Sanlucar de Barrameda, a seaside town on Spain's southern coast.

"I did not want my two children to experience the violence of an eviction. They have already gone through so much," she said as her children played in the courtyard of the occupied building.

Twenty struggling families, many with children, moved into the building on June 30.

Several days later another 60 families moved into five nearby buildings.

The six new buildings belong to a real estate developer that went bankrupt and disappeared.

A message written on a white bedsheet that hangs from the courtyard of one of the occupied reads: "Everyone has the right to a home. Fighting for a home."

The occupied buildings have been dubbed "The Courtyards of Dignity." The name was inspired by the high-profile occupation of another building in May 2012 by about 20 families aided by anti-poverty activists in Seville, about 100 kilometres away, that was called "Utopia Courtyard."

The authorities evicted those families from that building in April.

Herrera, 39, said she lost her job in 2009 when the company she worked for went bankrupt.

With her husband also out of work, the couple eventually stopped paying their mortgage.

The bank told the couple, after missing three monthly mortgage payments, that they had two options: turn over the home to the lender, or be evicted and be liable for the 86,000 euros ($116,000) they still owed.

They are part of a surge in the number of indebted Spanish families that have lost their homes since a decade-long property bubble burst in 2008, throwing millions of people out of work.

While evictions have soared, the collapse of the property bubble has left an estimated 700,000 empty new homes scattered across Spain — which are often the target of squatters.

"The 'courtyards' are a reflection of the social situation. They highlight the problem of the housing emergency that exists which the authorities try to hide," said Francisco Cuevas of the CNT union who regularly brings food for the residents of "The Courtyards of Dignity."

'It was unbearable'spain1

Sanlucar de Barrameda, a town of whitewashed houses that is now home to around 65,000 people, boasts nearby beaches that are a popular tourist draw. But few holidaymakers are aware of the occupation of the buildings in the city and the residents struggling to make ends meet.

Families in the six buildings rely on food donations and share whatever they have.

"United we are stronger. What we want are solutions for everyone. Not in drips and drabs," said Juan Jose Munoz, a spokesman for the squats.

Before moving into the occupied buildings, Jenifer Garcia Vidal, 22, and her husband, Esteban, and two children, aged 4 and 5, lived with her parents.

"We were nine people in two rooms; it was unbearable," she said as he held her daughter in her arms.

spain3The occupation of the buildings is a thorn in the side of local authorities.

"We can never support kicking down a door" to illegally enter an empty building, said the town's Socialist mayor, Victor Mora.

The left-wing regional government of Andalucia, where the town is located, in April 2013 passed a decree that allowed it to expropriate properties from which people are about to be evicted for up to three years to allow them to continue to live there.

But the measure was blocked by the conservative national government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Last week, the government of Andalucia announced it had reached a deal with a bank to turn 20 empty flats in the lender's hands into social housing.

But "this is a drop of water in the ocean," Munoz said. 

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An Entrepreneur Is Trying To Bring A Floating Beach To New York City

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NYC City Beach rendering

A creative entrepreneur from New York city has put forward plans to construct a floating beach on the Hudson River.

The City Beach NYC project, which is currently raising funds on the crowd-funding site IndieGoGo, will adapt a reclaimed barge to form an artificial beach along with shops, a food court, changing rooms and all the amenities required for a day’s sun lounging.

NYC City Beach renderingConceived by real estate developer Blayne Ross along with design teams at workshop/apd and Craft Engineering Studio, the idea grew out of a “need and convenience” for New Yorkers to have a new communal space in the summer time.

“I was at one of the piers on the Hudson River Park on a hot day and the grass was solid with towels, packed with people having picnics or enjoying the sun,” he says. “There just wasn’t room and people were having to sit on the concrete. You see the same thing at Sheep Meadow in Central Park, which gets packed with sunbathers. As the city grows, the amount of public space becomes more important.”

NYC City Beach renderingRoss also points out that, for some New Yorkers it can be a challenge to travel to the nearest beaches.

“It’s just about convenience and being able to provide people with that relaxed seaside atmosphere without having to drag everything with you,” he says.

NYC City Beach renderingThe project is currently raising money to fund the first stage of the development, which will involve developing an operational plan as well as approaching the local municipalities. According to Ross, initial meetings with the authorities have been positive, however he is keen to have the support of the city dwellers itself.

“We’re trying to communicate it as a community project – it needs everyone’s backing to go ahead,” he says.

NYC City Beach renderingIf all goes to plan, and the total $24m funding is found for construction – including a potential bill of $1.4m for the barge itself – then the City Beach could be open to the public in summer 2016.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk

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A Japanese Company Imported 2 Tons Of Sand To Turn Its Staff Lounge Into A Beach

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Many office workers spend their days wishing they were sitting on a beach instead of at their desks.

That may be why BizReach, a Japanese web company that posts high-income job openings, imported two tons of real sand to turn its reception area and staff lounge into a beach-like setting.

Here's what it looks like, according to a video from The Telegraph, which first reported on the story:

BizReach office beach full view

Though the sand is real, the "water" is beamed onto the floor from an overhead projector.BizReach beach people sitting

In addition to work, it's also a great place for office parties.BizReach office party

You can see The Telegraph's full video report here.

SEE ALSO: 17 Companies With Awesome Perks That Will Make You Jealous

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Get To Know Comporta, Where The Richest Europeans Go Off The Grid

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The sleepy fishing villages of Portugal’s Herdade da Comporta have always been where the fashionable European crowd goes off the grid. Now that new hotels and rental villas are emerging among the dunes, Maura Egan finds that this hush-hush coastal retreat has become more open to visitors—without losing its under-the-radar cool.

For most drivers, the ride from Lisbon to the seaside village of Comporta clocks in at just over an hour, but Isabel de Carvalho can do it in about 45 minutes. “My father raced cars,” explains the restaurateur as she expertly pilots her Peugeot station wagon down the highway and chats on her phone—to staffers, to dinner guests in from Seville, and to her husband and partner, Tozé, who is driving right behind us, transporting food and supplies from the city. We are late to arrive at the Museu do Arroz, the restaurant she opened 18 years ago and which is now the center of Comporta’s nightlife, and it is obvious that the party doesn’t start without De Carvalho.

Housed in a former rice-husking mill, the Museu do Arroz feels like an extension of De Carvalho’s home: The lounge area is filled with overstuffed velvet couches, a disco ball hangs from the rafters, and there’s a colorful Indian welcome banner above the bar. (Originally from Portugal, De Carvalho started out as a programmer for Texas Instruments and IBM in Europe before moving to Brazil and becoming an interior designer.) It’s 10 p.m. and the start of the summer season, so De Carvalho shifts into hostess mode, navigating through the rooms, offering up kisses and menu recommendations (the salt cod fritters are excellent), and signaling waiters to refill water glasses. Tozé works the other side of the room. “We never get a vacation,” he says with a fake exasperated sigh, but you can tell that they both love the work. In the far corner, I see a table of people I’d met when I came to Comporta four years ago. They casually wave as if I’m here every Friday night. “Nothing really changes in here,” says João De Vasconcellos, a businessman who also happens to make wine and breed sport horses. (Comporta is packed with multi-hyphenate hobbyists.) “Nothing has really changed in Portugal in 900 years!”

During my last visit, the local chatter was all about the Aman resort coming to the Herdade da Comporta—the official name of the swath of coastland in the south of Portugal that comprises seven small villages—but it sounded far-fetched. The area is a protected nature reserve in the country’s rural Alentejo region, and it seemed a most unlikely place for a luxury resort. I was mistaken: Come next summer, Aman will indeed open a hotel with 40 suites. The imminent arrival of the Asia-based luxury resort chain has led to the development of more hotels. But the official mandate is to keep them all low-impact and architecturally sensitive. “No one wants this to become the Algarve,” says Mandy de Azevedo Coutinho, a villa rental operator, referring to the stretch of coast farther to the south that has long been a package-holiday destination. While much of Europe’s beachfront has succumbed to developmental sprawl, Comporta has remained untouched. “People come here because it reminds them of St-Tropez in the ’70s,” says De Azevedo Coutinho—or Ibiza in the ’80s, or the Hamptons in the ’90s. “My husband grew up in Angola,” says De Carvalho. “And the first time he came here, he told me it reminded him of Africa.”

comporta muda living roomSome say De Carvalho put Comporta on the map when she arrived in 1992, but really, you have to look further back. The Espírito Santo family—one of Portugal’s, if not the world’s, biggest banking dynasties—began visiting this rural backwater in the 1950s and bought a plot of land about one and a half times the size of Lisbon. The family fell in love with the untrammeled landscape—the miles of empty beaches, the dense forests of umbrella pines and gnarled cork trees, the endless patchwork of rice fields—and transformed it into their private playground. Clutches of fishermen’s thatched huts were turned into unassuming compounds, with sandy paths leading from one family member’s home to the next. Comporta became their summer retreat, not unlike the way parts of Maine and the Adirondacks were colonized by a handful of patrician American families.

In 1974, after the “Carnation Revolution,” which overthrew Portugal’s authoritarian Estado Novo regime, all of the country’s banks were nationalized and the Espírito Santo group lost much of its fortune. Having been banned from doing business in Portugal, different factions of the family moved abroad to rebuild their empire. In 1991, when they returned to develop Comporta, the land was overgrown, the houses were derelict, and abandoned cars were strewn about. After they restored the area and installed a true infrastructure (roadways, electricity), they decided to diversify their interests by investing in agriculture—namely wine and rice—and quietly parceling out land to individuals beyond the family and board members.

This first wave of friends and foreigners brought the likes of decorator Jacques Grange, shoe designer Christian Louboutin, and artist Anselm Kiefer, who built elegant hideaways in the same humble style as the Espírito Santo originals. While Grange is known for his opulent designs for clients like François Pinault and Ronald Lauder, he kept his Comporta property spare, outfitting his cabanas with Moroccan rugs and rattan furniture. The region’s more modern properties—many of them summer rentals—have a casual boho vibe, with little furniture and plenty of outdoor areas for taking in the landscape.

RELATED: The 10 Best Cities in Europe 

“Princess Caroline comes here every summer because her parents were friends with the family—not that you would notice her in flip-flops and caftan,” says De Azevedo Coutinho. The French aristocrat and garden designer Louis Benech supposedly does away with shoes altogether and walks around town barefoot. Comporta is where the fashionable crowd goes off the grid, and they don’t necessarily want to talk about it—particularly after a Portuguese magazine quoted someone as saying, “Comporta is where rich people go to play at being poor.”

comporta sals restaurantWhile you can’t deny the socioeconomic divide between the locals (there are 3,500 full-time residents) and the summer crowds, no one seems to be treating this place as their private Petit Trianon. Perhaps because Comporta is in the Alentejo—the breadbasket of a country that is stillseen as the poor man of Europe—there’s a certain strain of humility among even the wealthiest people here. “The early family members were always close with the locals. Like the fishermen and the farmers, they saw themselves as self-made and self-reliant,” says Stefan Harzen, an environmental researcher who first came here from his native Germany in the ’80s to study dolphins at the Sado estuary. This summer he’s shuttling between here and Jupiter, Florida.

Then there’s José Ribeira, who gave up his real estate career in Lisbon to live here full-time and lead horse rides on the beach. “I came because the economy was in bad shape and I was getting a divorce,” explains Ribeira, who maintains 20 or so polo ponies at his handsome stables perched above the rice fields. In his rugged leather vest and dusty jeans, he handles his horses like a master but is quietly dismissive of his riding skills, vaguely telling me he “grew up on a farm.” I later learn that Ribeira comes from a prosperous Portuguese family.

“We call him José of Ribeira,” jokes Gonçalo Pessoa, a pilot for TAP Portugal who opened the hotel Sublime Comporta in May. Surrounded by piney forests, the peach-colored property is discreet but state-of-the-art: The 14 rooms and suites are equipped with oversized tubs and heated concrete floors, with fireplaces in some rooms; the grounds include a massive fire pit, an organic garden, and an infinity pool. Pessoa, who bought his land here ten years ago, gives me a casual primer on the area’s social strata: The smartest family members are tucked away in the village of Brejos; Comporta Beach is the destination for day-trippers from Lisbon; Pego Beach is more exclusive; and Restaurante Sal, known simply as Sal’s, is the unofficial clubhouse. Still, the Portuguese have an open-door policy when it comes to visitors. Despite the small-town feel, you don’t sense any insularity or exclusivity. “We’re often compared to the Irish,” says businessman and horse breeder De Vasconcellos.

One afternoon, I receive a text from Isabel de Carvalho: “I have a friend who came by helicopter to Sal’s and I’m joining him for lunch. You should come!” On my way to Sal’s, I drive through the village of Carvalhal, where old men sit in plastic chairs at an outdoor café, drinking espresso, as they’ve probably done every afternoon for decades, and then through a suburban-style neighborhood of anonymous white stucco houses (built by the government during the family’s absence in the ’70s), where a woman is collecting snails at the side of the road.

comporta beachLunch starts late in Comporta, around 4 p.m., so by the time I arrive, De Carvalho has left to oversee the evening’s dinner shift at her restaurant. Still, there are plenty of families on the deck, lingering over their grilled fish, squid ink rice, and half-empty bottles of local rosé. For most of these multi-generational families, dining at Sal’s is a weekend ritual. They dress in their Sunday beach best: polo shirts and Top-Siders for the men, flowing caftans and straw hats for the women. One grandfather is slumped over on a beach chair, the newspaper shielding his head, while his grandson plays in the sand on the nearby dunes.

On weekends, during the siesta between lunch and cocktail hour, the main intersection of Comporta village becomes clogged with BMWs, Range Rovers, and the occasional dune buggy. You might see a group of older ladies sitting on a stone wall, eating ice-cream cones, while others are stocking up on goods at the tiny supermercado—Porto wine, canned sardines, straw baskets. There are a handful of different lifestyle boutiques in town where you can pick up Moroccan pottery and Jack Rogers sandals, including De Carvalho’s shop, A Loja do Museu do Arroz. In addition to caftans and printed bikinis, manager Marcello Rangoni has amassed an eclectic mix of antique garden furniture and retro light fixtures. “You wouldn’t believe who comes in these days,” Rangoni tells me during a cigarette break in the courtyard. “Last summer, Isabelle Adjani came, and the guy from the Rolling Stones... Ron Wood.” He sounds more amused than starstruck.

The British artist Jason Martin came to Comporta after seeing a TV show about the region. “It felt like the last frontier,” says Martin, who spends about ten days of the month at his atelier in an old rice factory next to De Carvalho’s restaurant. “It’s not that different from finding a place with cheap rent in one of London’s industrial sections, but here it’s rural.” Martin says that the surrounding landscape has informed his painting and sculpture, and that his two young sons love spending their holidays at the beach, but he also feels the need to be part of this community. To that end, he’s working on a project in Melides, a village 18 miles south of Comporta, that will include a farm, a vineyard, and a sculpture park. “You have to bring employment to the community, make the best use of the land,” he says. “I spend so much time traveling on the art circuit that this feels like a very genuine life. And as long as this place doesn’t get screwed up like the Algarve, it’s Europe’s hidden treasure.”

More From Condé Nast Traveler: 

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Punching A Shark In The Nose Is Not Your Best Defense

Gaza's Most Dedicated Lifeguard Is Sticking To His Job Despite Months Of Conflict

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It's a world away from the glitz and glamour of "Baywatch", but in time of war Gaza's most devoted lifeguard is passionate about keeping the beach a little bit safer.

"I only love two things in my life: rescue work and people," said Mohammed Bar, 21, dressed in black trunks and a white municipality T-shirt as he scans the horizon from his watchtower.

"I have lots of good memories with the sea. It is my whole life, it is my friend, my brother, my family, it is everything for me."

Armed with a whistle and flippers at the ready, he keeps a stern gaze on the horizon as groups of youngsters dive in and out of the waves, soaking themselves in the frothy surf.

More than 2,140 Palestinians were killed during 50 days of violence in Gaza that finally ended on Tuesday when a long-term truce came into force.

Around 11,000 people were wounded and more than half a million displaced, while hundreds of houses were completely destroyed.

Hopefully, beach life will quickly return to normal, but during the seven-week war, Bar still turned up for work each day during temporary ceasefires, the only lifeguard to do so.

Palestine"Baywatch" -- the hit US show that captivated millions with busty blondes in tight red bathing suits that Bar has never seen -- is written on the only buoy hanging up in his rickety wooden tower.

He would love a jet ski, he says, but Israel's eight-year blockade on Gaza and a lack of cash have put paid to that.

"The sea is the only place in Gaza where people can breathe. We are in a big prison," he said, speaking before the truce agreement allowed partial opening of border crossings.

In the distance a boy does backflips in the sand. Heavily veiled women sit on white plastic chairs next to a beach umbrella, chatting.

A hawker walks up and down selling rubber rings. Some young men lead horses into the water, for a bath and cooling off in the late afternoon sun before galloping away across the sand.

Bar has not been paid his salary of 190 euros ($255) for three months because Hamas, Gaza's de facto ruler, has run out of cash, cut off by the regime in Egypt who have destroyed cross-border tunnels for smuggling in money.

The war swallowed summer

"In a normal situation there should be seven guards but now I'm the only one on the beach," he told AFP from his rickety perch.

"They don't come because of the security situation. The war has swallowed up the summer and people are scared."

On average, he pulls people to safety three to five times a week. His last rescue was just a few days ago.

"I was on my motorbike on the road when I saw a group of people drowning. If I hadn't been coming then by chance, I wouldn't have seen them and they would have died," he said.

Palestine beach fishHe became a lifeguard when he was 16 after watching his neighbor, Nasser, drown in the sea. He decided it would never happen again.

But there was nothing Bar could do to stop the war.

His home in Zeitun in southeastern Gaza City was destroyed in the fighting and he is staying at an uncle's house.

He says two of his friends, both civilians, were killed and that he's grown out his bushy beard as a mark of respect for their loss.

He also cancelled the swimming lessons he used to give three mornings a week from 6:00 am.

Underneath his tower, a small group of women sit in the shade, sharing a pot of hot, sweet tea and wondering if and when peace will ever return for good to Gaza.

The black cloaks that envelop their bodies are covered in grains of sand.

Aisha al-Zahar, 21, who has two children and whose husband lives in Sweden, comes from Shejaiya, the neighborhood that has seen some of the worst losses and says her house was completely destroyed.

"I'm very nervous, depressed and bored, so I'm trying to have a bit of fun here," she said, pulling her toddler onto her lap.

But Aisha will not let her child in the dirty sea, and her sister left her kids at home because she did not think it was safe for them to come out.

"We've been talking about how scared my kids are. They're following the news every minute, asking if the ceasefire will continue, will the fighting resume," she said.

"They wake up screaming in the night."

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10 Great American Travel Destinations For Labor Day Weekend

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Delaware seashore beachLabor Day is the last long weekend of the summer, and everyone's dying to get away for those three days.

Over 34.7 million Americans are planning to travel for Labor Day this year — the highest number since the recession, according to AAA.

We found the best all-American getaways to celebrate Labor Day this weekend.

From the Gulf Coast to the San Juan Islands, these destinations are all near major U.S. cities, making it easy to jaunt over for a long weekend.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Under two hours from Boston and just across the New Hampshire-Maine border is one of the most picturesque fishing towns in all of New England.

Kennebunkport is home to numerous unique gift shops and restaurants, and you just might catch sight of President George H.W. Bush — his summer home is minutes from town.

Go on a whale-watching expedition and eat the freshest local seafood at Noonan's Lobster Hut in neighboring Cape Porpoise.

One of the top places to stay is The White Barn Inn, a charming inn with a European feel; rooms here start from about $800 per night over Labor Day weekend.



Hilton Head, S.C.

Just 45 minutes from Savannah and about four hours from Atlanta, Hilton Head is ideally located for southerners looking for a beach getaway on the Atlantic coast.

The laid-back island has top-rated restaurants, world-class golf resorts, packed beaches which are great for either laying out or riding bikes on the sand, and the charm and hospitality you'd expect from a southern destination.

There are tons of hotels, inns, and apartments for rent, but one of the most popular places to stay is the Inn at Harbour Town - Sea Pines Resort, where rooms start at about $320 per night over Labor Day weekend.



Carmel, Calif.

About 120 miles south of San Francisco, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a picturesque dot on the Monterey Peninsula with a population of just 3,722.

It's dog-friendly and known for its kitschy local arts and culture scene. It also has great fishing. Think twice about wearing high heels, though; Carmel law requires a high heel permit.

La Playa Carmel is a grand, old hotel that's allegedly haunted by the ghost of a woman who drowned herself in Carmel Bay — but that doesn't seem to stop vacationers from staying there. Rooms at La Playa start from about $615 per night over Labor Day weekend.



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A German Artist Buried $17,000 Worth Of Gold Bars On A British Beach For Anyone To Take

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Thirty gold bars have been buried on a beach in Britain by a German artist, prompting a flood of bounty hunters with metal detectors to seek their fortune Friday.

The gold bars, worth a total of £10,000 (13,000 euros, $17,000), were buried in Folkestone, southeast England, by Berlin-based Michael Sailstorfer as part of an upcoming arts festival.

Members of the public will be allowed to keep any of the 24-carat bullion which they find.

"There are 30 gold bars buried there, along with a lot of washers, so if you bring your metal detector you will find a lot of washers before you find any gold," festival curator Lewis Biggs told the BBC.

"We will never know if the gold has been found or not."

One treasure hunter, John Coker, told the Guardian newspaper: "It is the first art in the world where I've hopped in a car and drove to see it straight away, so that's something."

The bars, worth around £300 each, are a few centimetres long.

The Folkestone Triennial's website said the German artist behind the project was interested in "the disruption of the everyday".

"Sailstorfer is intent on expanding the notion of classical sculpture and Folkestone Digs is a continuation of his aim 'to make art that comes less from the head and more from the stomach,'" it said.

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A Film-Maker's Kickstarter Project Wants To Bring 'Sea-Bathing Machines' To The UK

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“Bonkers and brilliant,” tweeted Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud when he heard about a new Kickstarter project from Margate-based former film-maker Dom Bridges. I can only agree: it takes a particular vision to decide that what the ramshackle and characterful resort needs is not only a range of fragrance and beauty products decocted from Margate’s pongy marine plantlife, but also the revival of that most Victorian of follies, the sea-bathing machine.

Bridges’s atmospheric and rather lovely apothecary store gazes out to sea, over the Cliftonville Lido (fate currently to be decided). It’s here that he cooked up the idea for a latterday reinvention of those wooden wagons originally designed to protect Victorian modesties. But these are more than simply beach huts on wheels (although that’s a desirable proposition round these parts: at the time of writing, a plot of concrete plus beach hut in nearby Whitstable is on the market for a laughable 120k).

The new Margate sea-bathing machine is a more evolved and complex creature, designed to house a sauna utilising seaweed-based “Made of Margate” products, be staffed from the local community, and focus on an element of seaside living – namely, its invigorating health benefits – overlooked in a welter of fish’n’chips and kiss-me-quickery. According to Bridges, there’s no reason why Margate shouldn’t reclaim its role as “a Mecca of natural health”.

bathing machinesThe architect, Chloe Young, and the craftsmen who will be employed to build the machines using traditional techniques are also local to Margate. Part of the design includes a “modesty hood”, first seen on the original machines and devised in the town by Benjamin Beale, an 18th-century glove and breeches maker. The hood was necessary back then because nude bathing was surprisingly common, but the contemporary version has been created as more of a sanctuary, a conduit between sauna and sea, that most bracing of plunge pools.

Margate’s affordable properties, creative energy and a swooping seafront that has moved everyone from JMW Turner to Tracey Emin are magnets right now for people who want to make even the most curious of ideas reality: artists, upcyclers, innovators and visionaries. And ideas don’t get much more curious or engaging than this one.

sea bathing machinesI’ve already pledged to Bridges’s Kickstarter campaign because I can think of nothing nicer than seeing them installed on my local beaches, employing locals and giving users a rejuvenating blast of briny Kentish thalassotherapy. “It’s born out of my love for the English coast,” says Bridges, “a reminder of all that it has to offer us.” Bonkers the project may be, as McCloud pointed out, but it’s also inspired and, yes, quite brilliant.

This article originally appeared on guardian.co.uk.

SEE ALSO: The 5 Best International Beach Cities You Can Retire In

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