Welcome to Beyond Ordinary Guides, where we curate gorgeous imagery, locally cherished spots, and accessible stories. We hope you enjoy!
All in Beach
After living on the South Coast of Sri Lanka for 6 months, Annie Lovell shares her favorite places and experiences this diverse island has to offer.
I'm sitting beneath a fig tree, on my belly, looking up at a somewhat run down tropical home. The wind is strong, blowing away any bugs and the occasional towel, but the sea remains calm. We're at Port Luanay, on the northern coast of Mahe, the largest island of the 115 that make up the Seychelles.
The island with the most beautiful beaches. We can't say that with 100% certainty because we haven't visited all 115 islands in the Seychelles, but La Digue wowed us with its coastline.
We highly recommend a few days in Mahe before heading to your smaller, more resorty island to get a better feel for the history, culture, and vibe of the Seychelles. Not to mention the beaches.
Sometimes a new perspective helps you truly appreciate a place.
We are by no means professional surfers, but the mind/body workout that is surfing has recently peaked our interest. Here are five places we recommend if you have the same inclination to fall on your face many times in the hope of achieving that brief oneness with the ocean.
There's nothing quite like a somersault over the handlebars to jolt you back to reality on your last day of vacation.
Forty five minutes north of San Francisco lies Muir Beach, a small cove tucked between two rocky cliffs, perfect for a short hike or relaxing on the sand.
The storms happening across the US right now make us want to curl up with a blanket in front of a fireplace and read a good book with a mug of hot chocolate (or a glass of Petite Syrah).
Xenia Rollinson shares the secret to a relaxing, mostly undiscovered holiday. It requires a tiny part of Panama's coast named Santa Catalina.
You’ll want to roll down the windows of your rental car as soon as you turn out of the Honolulu International Airport to take in the ocean breeze. You immediately know you are in tropical paradise. While there are a variety of routes you could take to reach the North Shore, the hour long drive should not be rushed. Kamehameha Highway could be a destination in itself, with the ocean waves breaking over the road in some parts, and the Ko’olau mountain range impressively overlooking the road on the other side. As soon as you arrive, reach for your towel and head to the nearest beach, and you will feel yourself slowly relaxing to the pace of the island.
Braids make sense here. The wind graciously blows the bugs away, but also plasters any hair wispies to skin made sticky from sunscreen and sweat. Braiding my hair tight against my scalp in rows makes practical sense.
