“Authentic” may have lost its original meaning, particularly in the world of travel, where it’s become an overused buzzword, as the Skift State of Travel 2025 report notes. While the core concept is important for travelers seeking a genuine immersion into a destination, including “real” beach experiences, the word is often seen in marketing pieces that overhype some rather underwhelming experiences.
If you’re seeking meaningful, immersive experiences rather than staged photo ops, you might wonder what “real” actually means—and how it can be applied to your beach getaway.
Go beyond those travel brochures with marketing jargon to discover locations and experiences where genuine connections are possible, instead of simply checking another destination off your list.
Bandon, Oregon: A Food Tour with a Beachy Twist
Bandon is highly underrated, with its miles of beautifully rugged beaches and dramatic sea stacks rising offshore. While it’s a renowned destination for golfers, its soft sands often remain wonderfully tranquil, including the stretch at Bandon State Natural Area. Nearby, Face Rock Wayside offers the unique “Circles in the Sand,” aimed to share love, joy, and kindness.
The town of Bandon itself offers lesser-known foodie experiences, including culinary tours led by local food enthusiasts. You’ll hear the stories behind top eateries, with a focus on dishes that are all made by local owners, including fresh seafood like Dungeness crab, oysters, salmon, clam chowder and Bandon’s famous cranberry treats.
Kefalonia, Greece: Discover a Truly Secluded Beach
Greece hosts thousands of beaches, but the entire world seems to have discovered many of them. On the lush Ionian island of Kefalonia, you can find a secluded beach for a respite from the tourist hotspots, surrounded by breathtaking beauty. Fteri Beach, tucked between towering cliffs, can only be accessed by water taxi, with a private tour led by a local, the best way to experience it.
Many tours also include popular places like Myrtos Beach and Melsisani Lake, balanced by intimate moments at Fteri, but on a personalized tour, it’s all up to you. Either way, sailing across the clear cobalt waters in the water taxi to this unspoiled gem for a swim or just to relax on the sand while admiring the scenery is sure to be unforgettable.
Todos Santos, Mexico: Empty Sands with Unique Wildlife Experiences
Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s top beach destinations, but just outside the town of Todos Santos, an hour or so north, are miles of soft, golden sands where more wildlife than people are often seen. At the north end, Playa La Pastora is almost always nearly empty, but about an hour before sunset, from December through April, you can join the locals to release newly hatched baby sea turtles into the Pacific. As this is also whale-watching season, in the backdrop, watch for a breaching humpback or even a gray whale feasting on crustaceans just a few feet from the shore.
