<p>A hard question. My first thought is ocean over lakes. But upon further thought that is probably because I have spent many a vacation on and have lived near an ocean my entire life. We have rarely vacationed at a lake. I always think of ocean water as being clear and lake water as being murky but I know that is probably false. I also think of bugs when I think of a lake or river.
I am married to a man who could not see himself away from the ocean. We have vacationed in many a water locale. Greece, Israel, France, Fiji, Tahiti,BVI, St martin, St Barts,Bahamas, Florida, Charleston, Australia, Costa Rica, Belize and Mexico,Alaska,waters off of Washington and British Columbia, Maui. It is hard for me to get my H away from his beach. We live 5 minutes from a beach in Ca and he could go there every day and never get tired of seeing the waves. I prefer my water warm and clear. I guess the waters of Greece and the BVI stand out for me. I also like my sand white and finely grained. I also like my beaches uncrowded. We have done some sailing trips where we have been the only people on a beach or in a bay for the night.
Starbright I have stayed in an over the water bungelow in Tahiti. It is beautiful and peaceful.
I admit when I see those Pure Michigan ads on the TV it looks appealing. I would love to explore more of the US. It does sound like a great retirement project.</p>
<p>Puget Sound.</p>
<p>Lake Champlain, (especially the northern end/Champlain Islands where we vacation every year), Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, Lake Michigan…</p>
<p>lasma…puget sound is actually tied with my first (gulf shores) for me…we live on a lake and i cant imagine not doing so, but ocean still favorite</p>
<p>Holland, Mi and big red. The North Shore. The med off Santorini. Point Lobos. Padre Island. Door county, Wi, Lake Elizabeth-Yosemite, Amazon nr Iquitos, the Nile, Irish south coast…</p>
<p>Love the ocean, and how it is always a default activity if living nearby. What to do? Go walk the beach. </p>
<p>But the great inland seas, as referenced by my name, are a world apart. Massive, and the beaches and dunes are a special pleasure. </p>
<p>I’ve seen many seas, tropical and northern. For most turquoise perfect water, would vote for the beach off Playa del Carmen (though years ago). Favorite drama and scenery? The massive tides off the road north from Juneau, looking out toward the St. Elias range.</p>
<p>Wow, loving this thread. Marking it as a bucket list. Would love to see all these places one day.</p>
<p>Where in Puget Sound? D goes to U of that name, and will be out there for graduation, if nothing else. Went to Gig Harbor, and walked by the water in Tacoma, But that’s about it.</p>
<p>I live in the maritimes of Canada and live in a city right on the atlantic ocean. It is within a 10 minute walk from my place:)</p>
<p>The Caribbean- especially around St. John USVI.</p>
<p>Singingflutelady, what city do you live in? That sounds heavenly. Would love to see the Atlantic Ocean in Canada.</p>
<p>As for Puget Sound, we’ve seen it when visiting Washington. Absolutely gorgeous, especially in the areas where you can see the mountains as well. Truly God’s country.</p>
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<p>Any part of Puget Sound! My acquaintance with the Sound and surrounding waterways began when I was a freshman at UW; the dining room in Haggett Hall had a truly spectacular view of Lake Washington. My parents lived in lovely Gig Harbor for many years. I’m more familiar with Seattle than Tacoma, where UPS is, but if you’re willing to head a few miles north, here are some water-y things to do in the area: </p>
<p>Take the ferry to Bainbridge Island/Winslow, do some shopping, have dinner, and then take the ferry back for a breath-taking view of the Seattle skyline after dark. Stroll the Seattle waterfront, see the aquarium, and go to Ivar’s for the best fish and chips on earth. I once visited the Chittendam Locks which move vessels between the Sound and Lake Washington – really interesting. One of my favorite pictures ever was taken at the Elliott Bay Bridge, a real live drawbridge smack in the middle of Seattle; the bridge was up, so my friend and I jumped out of the car to watch the proceedings, and he snapped the pic. There are parks by the water: Gasworks Park on the shore of Lake Union is iconic for Seattleites; its award-winning design incoporates the old coal gasification plant. Or Alki Point in West Seattle, which is the most “beachy” place on the Sound (although it’s too cold to be swim-able) and has panoramic views of the city, the Sound, and the mountains. There’s also a lighthouse at Alki.</p>
<p>Love all water–I’m a beach lover the most, though. </p>
<p>My favorite is all the water that surrounds the whole of Cape May, not just the city at the tip. I love the ocean beaches with waves on the Atlantic side; I adore kayaking in the back marshes behind the barrier islands; but the most beautiful for me is the Delaware Bay Beach near our house–especially watching the most stunning sunsets I’ve ever seen over the water every night. Kayaking out there when the water around you is a rose gold as it reflects the sky is just indescribably beautiful.</p>
<p>I’m looking out over the Pacific, from an island. I can think of nothing more relaxing than this.</p>
<p>Lake Erie. Fond memories–don’t laugh.</p>
<p>I also loved my backyard pool, when I had one.
And the Pacific at Kalama Beach when I lived on Oahu.</p>
<p>Watching the ponies on Assateague Island, Atlantic coast.</p>
<pre><code> Or eating pollo frito in Santa Elena, Guatemala’s west coast.
The breeze off Lake Michigan. The middle fork of the north branch Chicago River.
</code></pre>
<p>Ocean… pretty much all the beaches up and down the coast of North Carolina…favs would include Holden Beach,Topsail Beach,Sunset Beach,Ocean Isle. The OBX has a special place in my heart because I grew up nearby so it was the only beach I ever saw until I was a college student…many happy memories of NC’s Outer Banks. Was just there last week (MIL lives there)</p>
<p>In South Carolina, I love Edisto Beach.</p>
<p>lake…Lake Lure,NC</p>
<p>My most favorite body of water would have to be the Pamlico River (NC) that I can see out my window.</p>
<p>I can’t love anything else the way I love Lake Michigan, but little 12-acre Lake Nicholas at my old summer camp is up there too.</p>
<p>I would never be able to choose among the hundreds of beautiful waterfalls on the east side of Maui. Whichever one I was standing in front of would be my all-time favorite at that moment.</p>
<p>The one that literally rendered me speechless was Jackson Lake, at the foot of the Grand Tetons. Probably the most gorgeous spot I have ever stood on.</p>
<p>Lake Michigan. So big, so deep, so blue.</p>
<p>I like Lake Tahoe and St John’s beaches.</p>