Latest news with #LuxuryColumnist

Travel + Leisure

This U.S. Beach Was Named One of the Best in the World—and It's Known for Its Stunning Quartz Sand

There are beautiful beaches in every corner of the world, that's true. But only 50 get the honor of landing on the annual World's 50 Best Beaches list. Each year, the list is put together with the expertise of thousands of travel experts. Then, the selections are further whittled according to a unique set of parameters, including categories like "Easy to Enter," "Often Calm Water," "Not Too Crowded," and "Frequently Idyllic." After evaluating all the data, just one beach in the U.S. made it on the list, and it also ranked as the 12th best beach in North America. Perhaps, as no surprise to those in the know, the best beach in the U.S. is Siesta Beach in Siesta Key, Florida. This Florida Keys destination is known for its soft sand, which consists mainly of pure quartz that originated from the Appalachian Mountains. Because of its quartz composition, the sand never gets too hot. "What makes Siesta Beach truly special is its sand,' said Suze Renner, from Luxury Columnist, in the report. 'The beach is famous for its 99 percent pure quartz sand, which is powdery white and incredibly fine." The water is also clear, shallow, calm, and easy to enter, making it easy to swim and wade in. There's also not a ton of development in the area, keeping the environment nearly pristine. This is somewhat unique to Siesta Beach compared to other beaches in the same region, as coastal Florida towns are constantly undergoing construction and urbanization. World's 50 Best Beaches' also gave Siesta Beach the "frequently Idyllic" designation, meaning 'your odds of perfect beach days are much higher than average.' For most of the year, there are fewer than 10 rainy days per month in Siesta Beach, with year-round average highs between 70 and 90 degrees. This isn't the first time that Siesta Beach has been named one of the best beaches in the U.S. Back in February, Tripadvisor named it the No. 1 U.S. beach, and the fourth best beach in the world. Its report also cited the beach's soft sand, calm waters, and quietness as well as frequent dolphin sightings and excellent sunsets. 'Siesta Key has the ultimate laid-back beach vibe,' Kelly Defebo, vice president of marketing and communications at Visit Sarasota County, told Travel + Leisure in June 2024. 'Sunsets anywhere are gorgeous, but they are not to be missed here."