FAMILY: Biloxi/Gulfport Beach, Miss.
Twenty-six miles of white sand beach along the Mississippi Gulf Coast from Louisiana to Alabama provide a haven for family fun and have recovered well from Hurricane Katrina three years ago. Easily accessible from Highway 90/Beach Boulevard, the beach offers water sports, volleyball, boating. It's a great location for kiting and offers easy access to restaurants, shopping, fishing, hotels and casinos. The spacious pier is a favorite spot for picnics and family reunions.
HISTORY: The Inkwell, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
A favorite with Black families for generations is The Inkwell beach adjacent to Oak Bluffs, the island's historical Black community. The beach is lined with colorful gingerbread Victorian houses, and on the sand you can find yoga classes and the Polar Bear Club of swimmers in the water. Longtime residents say there may be 'better beaches' around, but there is no better place 'to see and be seen' during the Vineyard's summer season. Yes, this beach was the setting for Larenz Tate's 1994 teen romance movie of the same name.
ROMANCE AND SERENITY: Maui, Hawaii
Maui is for beach lovers and those seeking romance on the beach. On this second-largest Hawaiian island, more than 30 miles of beaches shimmer with black, white, red and gold sand. A favorite is Makena Beach, often referred to as Big Beach, located on the southern end of the island's resort coast. The wide, golden stretch of sand is bounded by black-lava points and big sand dunes. On the eastern end of the island, Hamoa Beach, with gray/black sand (coral and lava) is a wonderful tropical setting that is favored by sunbathers, snorkelers and body surfers.
