Five Unique American Beaches

The dog days of summer are here! When the heat's this outrageous, there's only one thing to do: hit the beach! There's no doubt that a dip in the salty ocean water is the ideal way for many to cool off, but what most beach bums see when they visit the beach is something like this.

Beautiful, yes, but predictable. What if, just to mix it up a bit, you could instead visit a beach like this one?

Intrigued? I thought you might be. Here are five unique American beaches sure to excite any beach lover.

1.Punalu'u Beach (Big Island, Hawaii): When the ocean interacted with flowing volcanic lava at Punalu'u Beach, something amazing happened. The mixture allowed for the creation of a rare black sand. Unlike other black beaches that are actually made up of lava eroded from rivers by force of water, this one has honest-to-goodness black sand. If your eyes can't tell the difference, the soles of your feet sure will! To show you what I mean, Here is a great photo-journal from Dick and Jane Travel of the Punalu'u Black Sand Beach.

2. Papakolea Beach (Big Island, Hawaii): Before it was a beach, Papakolea was a cinder cone, a steep hill formed from an accumulation of fragments downwind of a volcanic vent. The beach today is not a danger, but an fascinating reminder of its volcanic past remains: its brilliant olive green sand! Here's a photo close-up from NASA that explains it best. That's what blankets this entire beach! It's a must-see for any beach enthusiast.

3. Pfeiffer Beach (Big Sur, California): This beach has some beautiful sights, and I'm not talking about the nude sunbathers! Pfeiffer Beach is known for its deep-blue breakers, dramatic sunsets and stunning purple sand. This phenomenon is unmatched anywhere in the world and is simply majestic. Look at these photos of Pfeiffer Beach taken early in the morning, before the crowds had a chance to disturb the sand. They're just amazing.

4.Glass Beach (Fort Bragg, California): What began as a garbage dump is now a remarkable example of how nature will heal when given the chance. Fort Bragg's Glass Beach is decorated with eroded sea glass that has been shaped by time since 1967, when it was closed for dumping. Though the past may not be natural, what happened afterward certainly is. When the dumping ended and the beach was allowed to recover, Mother Nature turned trash to treasure, creating a glistening beach of smooth glass that is safe to explore and enjoy. Here is a picture.

5.Kaihalulu Beach (Hana, Hawaii): Back to Hawaii for another extraordinary beach with a volcanic history. Kaihalulu is an isolated Maui beach surrounded by a crumbling cinder cone hill that gives the beach its wonderful red color. The blue of the sea contrasts well with the red sands of the beach, creating some picturesque views that you can't find anywhere else. It's an incredible place that would be a pleasure to visit. To find out more about Kaihalulu, visit this site.

A beach is indeed the perfect spot to spend the summer. If you were looking for an atypical vacation idea or were just burnt out on beaches, however, hopefully this helped you see beaches in a new light. Not every beach is just brown sand and surf. Some of them are colorful treasures of nature.

Additional Sources:

Green Sand Beach, Hawaii

The Best Beaches: Pfeffer Beach, Big Sur, California

From Trash to Treasure

Image credits:

Normal Beach: sxc.hu/classerp

Black Beach with Turtle: Wikimedia Commons

Green Sand Image: NASA

Glass Beach Image: Wikimedia Commons