I didn’t grow up near the beach. In fact, the closest one was about an eight-hour drive away. If I wanted to see the ocean, it meant loading up the car for an all-day road trip, usually to the Carolinas or Florida. It was always a whole thing: planning, packing, driving, and by the time you actually got to the water, you were sunburned from the gas station stops.
Since graduating from college, though, every city I’ve lived in (Los Angeles, Gandia, Alicante) has had both the beach and the mountains, and I’ll be honest, I’m officially spoiled.
Beaches in the U.S. are exactly that: beaches. You get your sand, your water, maybe a few beachside restaurants or rental chairs if you’re lucky. But overall, it’s a DIY project. You pack the snacks, the drinks, the towels, the umbrella, the sunscreen, and basically your entire living room just to spend a few hours trying to relax. It’s the definition of working hard to relax.
Now, beaches in Spain? Whole different experience. First of all, you can take public transport to the beach. Depending on where you are, it might be a short metro ride or bus trip, and once you’re there, you just walk five to fifteen minutes, find a spot, and boom, paradise.
But what really makes Spanish beaches special is the energy. There’s this carefree, unbothered vibe in the air. There are little stands where you can buy food, drinks, and sandwiches, and if you forget your towel, no problem. Someone nearby will be walking around selling one. It’s like the beach takes care of you.
In Spain, people show up in every version of themselves. Some are fully dressed, sitting in the sand just to watch the waves. Others are topless, sunbathing like it’s the most natural thing in the world, because here, it is. No one’s looking at you, no one cares. It’s pure freedom.
In the U.S., the beach feels like an event. In Spain, it feels like life. You don’t need a cooler, a canopy, or a week’s worth of snacks; you just need a towel, some sunscreen, and good company (or good silence). Everything else is within walking distance.
So if I had to choose between U.S. beaches or Spanish beaches, it’s not even a question. Spanish beaches win every time. They’re simple, effortless, and full of soul, the kind of place where you can actually breathe.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
