Bora Bora

By Dawn Wilson When traveling to the beach, everyone has their ideal image of how they plan on spending their time. Some people may choose to find an isolated beachfront, where they have the beach all to themselves. While others may want to be surrounded by tourists, moving from one water activity to the next. There is certainly no shortage of beaches for which you are able to design the ideal vacation for you and your family. Here are four of the most popular beach destinations in the world. You can decide which one appeals to you the most and begin making plans to visit on your next vacation. COOK ISLANDS Muri Beach in Rarotonga is one of the most popular beach destinations in the world. It is a white sand beach lined with palm trees around the exterior. The beach, with its Pacific Ocean reef, makes it possible to safely swim here. While it is a fairly quiet beach, you will still find some water sports offered, such as, wind and kite surfing. No trip to Cook Islands would be complete without learning a bit about its history. You can do this by visiting one of the islands’ main attractions, the Cook Island Cultural Village. It is situated in a garden setting with water surrounding it, while performances take place on floating stages. Nightly shows, set overwater, explain the Polynesian history and culture. For more information, please visit www.cookislands.travel TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS The most visited beach in Turks and Caicos is definitely Grace Bay Beach in Providencials. There are 12 miles of exquisite white sand beaches to explore. Grace Bay Beach is a rather active beach as it offers a variety of sporting activities, such as diving and deep-sea fishing. A favorite attraction at Grace Bay Beach is the private guided horseback tours of Caicos Corral. It is offered just West of the beach where there are few tourists around. This is great for first time riders because they are able to gallop along at a more comfortable pace, while learning how to ride. Experienced riders go at their own pace, enjoying the scenery while riding along the beachfront. For more information, please visit www.turksandcaicostourism.com BORA BORA, TAHITI Bora Bora’s Lafayette Beach is located on the main island of Tahiti. If you’ve never experienced a black sand beach, you can experience it for the first time at Lafayette Beach. The waters are calm, warm, and inviting. It is usually very quiet and an ideal place for swimming. Huahine Beach has soft white sand with waters of deep, rich blue hues. Many attractions can be found here, as the waters are ideal for snorkeling and other water activities. A must do while visiting Bora Bora is breakfast by canoe. It is more about the presentation than the food. A canoe will arrive to your bungalow, outfitted with lots of exotic flowers, full of delectable pastries, fresh fruits and juices. You are treated like Polynesian royalty. For more information, please visit www.tahiti-tourisme.com SEYCHELLES, AFRICA One stretch of beach where many romantic escapades take place on is Anse Takamaka Beach in Seychelles. It is a pure, unspoiled, white sand beach that beckons romance. The waters are warm and surrounded by lush tropics. Few people are on this beach, which makes it ideal for couples to explore and enjoy. It offers plenty of photo opportunities, as this beach is picture perfect. It is great for long walks and private picnics. If you are up for something interesting to do, after a day at the beach, visit Trois Freres Distillery. This is where the famous Takamaka Rum is produced. You will find out how the various flavors of rum are made while on a rum tasting tour. For more information, please visit www.seychelles.travel