I am going to be very honest with you. I am not a beach person. Yep, I said it – thinking about going to the beach stresses me out. Granted I grew up going to the lakes of NH, but it is so much more than that. Too much traffic, WAY too many (annoying) people, the mixture of salt and sand everywhere with body-numbing water. I can’t say I really understood all the hype. The only time I have enjoyed the beach in New England is after 5PM.
Sardinia was the place that managed to change my mind. Even my travels prior to this couldn’t sway my tarnished opinion of a “beach vacation”. Some of you are probably saying to yourself “where the hell is Sardinia”? Or maybe I am the only one out there that had never heard of it until my wife recommended we make it the final stop on our Italian vacation. Sardinia is a large Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea and is home to some of the best beaches I have ever been.
We stayed in a small seaside town called Cala Gonone. The town itself is adorable and fun to walk around with a perfect mixture of shops, markets, restaurants and scenery to enjoy. The rocky coastline and mountain views make everywhere you go a scenic destination, the food is fantastic however keep in mind I either had a meat and cheese plate or a full grilled fish every single night . And take this how you will, but we learned that very few Americans bother visiting Sardinia…but those beaches! If you ever find yourself in Cala Gonone, rent a boat for the day! It is the best way to experience all 5 different beaches along the cove – all the way down to one of the best, Cala Goloritzé. There are only two ways to get to this beach, take a boat, or hike a grueling hike. We did both since we loved this beach so much.
No matter what your preference, Sardinia beaches will not disappoint. For me personally, I loved that several beaches had smooth pebble beaches while others had soft sand. I loved that there was a way to avoid crowds (tour boats stopped between 11-3). And just look at that picture below. Last time I checked, no beaches in New England offer that kind of view.
My unobstructed view on Cala Goloritzé - the furthest beach from Cala Gonone accessible only by boat or a grueling hike.