Palestinian journalist Hind Khoudary has opened a Gaza beach cafe, hoping to revive a much-loved part of life in the war-ravaged enclave. She hopes the cafe will offer a space where people can gather safely to relax despite the daily challenges of life.
Published On 16 Aug 202616 Aug 2026
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BEACHGOERS are being warned to stop trying to visit closed UK beach.
Local authorities have said that a number of Brits have been putting themselves in danger by ignoring signs at a beach that has been closed for two months.
Selwicks Bay near Flamborough Lighthouse in Yorkshire has been closed for several weeks now after an inspection revealed that steps down the cliff side were damaged.
Since the closure, there has been a barrier at the entrance of the steps.
Now the local council is urging visitors to not climb over the barrier or ignore signs near the beach.
Councillor Nick Coultish, the council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure, tourism and planning, said in a statement: “We don’t want to restrict access to this beach, but these steps are in a dangerous condition, so we had no choice but to close them.
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“Please don’t ignore the barrier and closure signs, because there is a real risk that someone could get seriously hurt if the steps give way.
“This won’t be a quick repair, unfortunately. The damage means we may have to rebuild them.
“We look forward to reopening these steps when they are made safe, but until then please don’t use them.”
The steps are the only way to reach the beach, so until new steps are built the beach will remain closed.
The spot is also popular with paddle boarders and the council is concerned that they could become stranded or have to turn back as there isn’t a way to get up from the beach.
Engineers are currently planning a solution for the beach, but the council has said this may take some time.
FORGET fighting for a sunbed in Benidorm – some of Europe’s best-value beach holidays are hiding in resorts most Brits couldn’t point to on a map.
They’ve got all the essential boxes ticked: guaranteed summer sun, proper hotel pools and beaches within flip-flop-walking distance – and because they aren’t popular tourist traps, you can enjoy the peace and quiet, too.
This is because they’re tucked away in Albania, Montenegro, Poland and lesser-known corners of Croatia, so they haven’t yet attracted the overwhelming crowds – or the eye-watering price tags – of the Mediterranean’s usual suspects.
I’ve been digging through our live On the Beach booking data to track down eight overlooked resorts quietly cleaning up with savvy British travellers.
Some serve as much better-value alternatives to Croatia’s expensive hotspots, while others offer five-star luxury for less than you’d pay for a basic three-star elsewhere.
Here are the eight resort names to get on your radar – before everyone else catches on…
If you’ve heard anything about Albania’s coast recently, it was probably about Ksamil and the increasingly trendy Riviera down south.
But Durrës, sitting on the Adriatic coast, is so much easier to reach and feels much more like a classic, hassle-free package resort.
Its coastline is lined with wide sand, beach bars and modern hotels, while the town itself packs in a Roman amphitheatre, Byzantine walls and a 15th-century Venetian tower.
This means there’s actual culture to explore when you’re not working on the tan.
Plus, it sits just 30km from Tirana Airport, so you don’t waste half your first day stuck on a transfer bus crawling across the mountains.
Our booking data shows holidaymakers paid an average of just £382pp for a five-night stay here over the last 12 months – working out to an absolute steal at £76 per person, per night.
A standout hotel to book is the four-star Bleart Hotel, a family-run beachfront spot featuring its own private sand, a massive outdoor pool and sea-view rooms.
And I found a deal here for a five-night B&B stay from £235pp, flying direct from London Luton on September 30.
Bleart Hotel, Durres
From £235pp. BOOK HERE
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You can be forgiven if you haven’t heard of Tucepi before, let alone know how to pronounce it (full disclosure, I had to Google it twice).
Tucked along Croatia’s Makarska Riviera, this little gem is sandwiched between the crystal-clear Adriatic and the towering Biokovo mountains.
It gives you the exact same views people spend an absolute fortune chasing down in Dubrovnik, minus the cruise-ship crowds and extortionate bar tabs.
You get a long, pine-shaded promenade, waterfront konobas (local tavernas) and an immaculate pebble beach, with the livelier hub of Makarska sitting just down the coast.
Our numbers show that, in 2026, Brits paid an average of £469pp for a six-night holiday here over the past year (£78 per person, per night).
If you fancy it, look at the four-star Bluesun Hotel Alga, which sits just 100 metres from the sea with mountain views behind it.
It boasts five separate swimming pools, a kids’ club and two playgrounds, making it one of the best value family setups on the coast.
And I clocked a five-night B&B stay here from £330pp, flying from London Luton on September 30.
Blueson Hotel Alga, Tucepi
From £330pp. BOOK HERE
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Golem is what happens when you take Albania’s dirt-cheap local prices and pair them with a fully loaded, modern beach-resort strip.
Sitting six miles south of Durres, it serves up miles of soft sand backed by beach clubs, seafood spots and modern hotel blocks.
The water is remarkably shallow and calm, making it a dream for families with young kids.
Even better, Tirana Airport is a painless 40-minute transfer away.
It’s livelier than Albania‘s smaller fishing villages, but that just means you’ve actually got options once you step outside the hotel gates.
Our booking data shows guests spent an average of £335pp for a four-night break here over the last year, making holidays just £84 per person, per night.
The four-star Albanian Star Hotel sits right on Golem Beach with its own private lounger section, an outdoor pool and sea-view balconies.
You can grab a five-night B&B package from £285pp, flying direct from London Luton on September 30.
Albanian Star Hotel, Golem
From £285pp. BOOK HERE
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Herceg Novi sits right at the entrance of Bay of Kotor, where the mountains drop straight into deep blue water and a historic old town tumbles down to the coast.
It looks like an ultra-exclusive luxury hideaway, but the price tag tells a completely different story.
You’ve got waterfront restaurants, hidden swimming coves, and the long Pet Danica promenade linking it to neighbouring resorts.
You can easily catch boat trips around the bay or explore the famous Kotor without paying the eye-watering hotel rates in the centre.
Despite the high-end views, our average booking here came in at £455pp for five nights – just £88 per person, per night.
To do it in proper style, check out the five-star Carine Hotel Kumbor Superior.
It sits right on the water with a private beach, indoor and outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a full all-inclusive setup – meaning those five-star views won’t come with a terrifying bar bill at check-out.
You can book a five-night all-inclusive break here from £425pp, flying from Manchester on October 23.
Carine Hotel Kumbor Supeior, Hercig Novi
From £425pp. BOOK HERE
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Gdańsk is famous for its cobbled streets, colourful townhouses and craft beer spots along the Motława River – but almost nobody in the UK realises it doubles as a proper beach resort in the summer.
The city boasts long, wide Baltic sand beaches like Brzezno and Jelitkowo, reachable via a quick tram ride from the historic centre.
It delivers a brilliant holiday hybrid: spend your mornings exploring medieval architecture, your afternoons lounging on the beach and your evenings eating fresh seafood by the river.
From May to September the weather gets really warm, while prices remain almost absurdly cheap compared to the Med.
Our booking data has Gdansk averaging just £246pp per trip, making it one of the single cheapest destinations in our database.
A great base is the three-star Hotel Number One by Grano.
It puts you right near the Old Town and gives guests access to the Grano Life wellness centre, complete with an indoor pool, jacuzzi and saunas.
You can secure a five-night room-only stay here from just £220pp, flying from London Stansted on September 19.
Hotel Number One by Grano, Gdansk
From £220pp. BOOK HERE
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If you think Poland is only good for a winter city break, Sopot completely dismantles that myth.
Sitting just down the coast from Gdańsk, this is a proper, glamorous Baltic seaside resort featuring grand spa hotels, wide beaches and Europe’s longest wooden pier stretching out into the sea.
The main pedestrianised boulevard, Monte Cassino, is packed with open-air cafes, cocktail bars and restaurants, giving it a buzzing, high-end atmosphere after dark.
You can easily hop on the local coastal train to explore Gdansk, giving you a beach break and a world-class city break in one go.
And Brits paid an average of just £190pp for a break here, taking the absolute lowest price crown on our board.
To go all-out, look at the five-star Haffner Hotel & Spa.
It sits 250 metres from the sand with an indoor pool, spa and a private beach area in summer.
You can bag a five-night room-only stay at this luxury hotel from £395pp, flying direct from London Stansted on September 28.
Haffner Hotel & Spa, Sopot
From £396pp. BOOK HERE
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Sitting right next door to Herceg Novi, Igalo swaps the historic fortress vibe for a much more relaxed, traditional beach-resort atmosphere.
It’s known for being a wellness hub thanks to its natural mineral waters and therapeutic mud flats.
The resort itself has a long, managed beach with warm, shallow water, backed by a flat promenade lined with family-run cafes.
You can stroll along the coastal path into Herceg Novi’s old town or use the harbour as a launchpad for boat trips around the Bay of Kotor.
Our booking data shows holidaymakers paid an average of £563pp for a five-night stay here, which equates to a very reasonable £110 per person, per night.
If I were booking, I’d go for the four-star Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa.
It has its own private beach club, two outdoor pools and an indoor pool filled directly with natural mineral water.
A five-night B&B package starts from £370pp, flying from London Stansted on September 28.
Palmon Bay Hotel & Spa, Igalo
From £370pp. BOOK HERE
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Split itself isn’t a secret obviously, but far too many travellers treat it as a hub to visit the islands – despite that being a massive missed trick.
Stay a while and enjoy ancient Roman palaces in the morning before cooling off with a swim in the Adriatic (chased by a cocktail on the palm-lined promenade).
The newly redeveloped Znjan seafront has given the city a proper beach-resort complex, complete with landscaped pebble bays, lounge bars and playgrounds.
While it came in as the highest-priced destination in this data group – averaging £744pp for a five-night stay (£155 per night) – it still delivers a premium combination of culture and coast that few places can match.
The four-star Amphora hotel sits directly on Znjan Beach, boasting three swimming pools, a spa and a rooftop lounge bar overlooking the sea.
And you can lock in a five-night B&B stay here from £430pp, flying direct from London Luton on October 17.
Amphora Hotel, Split
From £430pp. BOOK HERE
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YOU don’t need a celebrity budget to jet off to Europe’s most stunning beach destinations.
We’ve scoured Wowcher‘s holiday deals to find the best beach breaks with return flights included, slashing prices by up to 56%.
Whether you fancy living the high life at a five-star resort in Mykonos, floating in a rooftop infinity pool in Malta, or soaking up the sun on Turkey‘s Turquoise Coast, we’ve got you.
Here are the top sunny stays you can book right now from £99pp – before they sell out.
With this gem of a deal, you can soak up the Malta sunshine from this four-star hotel’s rooftop infinity pool for under £100pp – saving up to 46% off full-price.
This stylish spot has sweeping views over the Mediterranean, plus a spa to unwind in and multiple bars and restaurants to pick from.
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The hotel sits in the charming hilltop village of Mellieha, which is home to Malta’s longest sandy beach and historical landmarks like the 17th-century St. Agatha’s Red Tower.
The deal also comes with return flights from your pick of London Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, Southend, London City & Manchester airports, plus you can pick the number of nights you stay.
Bag a beachfront break to Portugal with this £99 stay at a luxurious 5* hotel in The Algarve, saving up to 56% off full-price breaks.
The glamorous resort, named Wine & Books by the Sea, boasts a huge, glimmering outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees and bright white parasols.
Indoors, the Library Spa has a heated indoor pool and offers treatments like aromatherapy massages and soothing facials.
When you fancy exploring the local area, this resort sits in Portugal‘s Reserva Natural dos Salgados, where wildlife like flamingos wander the wetlands.
Antalya’s Citrus Park Hotel has everything you’d want in a Turkey holiday – comfy sea view rooms, a huge hotel breakfast spread, and the golden sands of Konyaalti Beach a short walk away.
This hotel comes with some pretty amazing views, sitting on the beachfront and framed by dramatic mountains.
Just a short walk away you’ll find a promenade lined with bars, cafes, souvenir shops and water sports stations.
You can save 30% on the holiday with this Wowcher offer, which also includes breakfast during your stay and return flights from London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh or Manchester.
This 4* Fuerteventura hotel places you right in the heart of the action.
There’s white sands just steps away and a plethora of beachfront bars and restaurants.
There’s a huge swimming pool here with a dedicated kids section, plenty of loungers, plus a poolside bar serving up fruity cocktails.
The hotel is a short stroll from Corralejo Harbour, where you can hop on a ferry to the island of Lobos, or even take a day-trip to Lanzarote.
A 5* holiday to Mykonos sounds like something only celebs can afford. But this Wowcher offer means you can book one for under £300.
The offer includes a stay at Saint John Hotel Villas & Spa, home to its own private beach, gourmet restaurants and infinity pool facing the sea.
Here you’re also perfectly positioned to explore the best of Mykonos – with its white windmills, Mykonos Town and Little Venice all nearby.
This offer can save you up to 22% off full price, giving you some extra cash in your pocket to hit the island’s stylish bars and clubs.
Majorca’s quieter sister island Menorca offers all the same stunning beaches and scenery – but in a more relaxed, peaceful setting,
This Wowcher bargain includes flights plus a stay in the beachfront Aparthotel Sol Parc, surrounded by scenic pine woodlands.
Here you’ll get a spacious apartment plus access to multiple swimming pools and sports facilities like beach volleyball, mini golf, basketball and a tennis court.
Even better, you can walk directly out of the building onto the beach where there’s clear waters to paddle in and a restaurant overlooking the sea.
Prices correct at the time of publication.
The Russian River was running low and slowly. A few miles outside Guerneville at Steelhead Beach, several men stepped into the water, laden with flotation devices. A duck, a flamingo, a unicorn …
“Don’t you know?” asked Anna Deurloo, standing by me on the shore. “It’s Lazy Bear Week! That’s why the river is full of bears: big hairy men with beards. And Speedos.”
Deurloo, who lives in Guerneville, had made glittery bandannas for her crew of bears to wear at the annual celebration. Out on the water, Joe Souza of Long Beach adjusted his blinged-out headgear, hollering that he’d been coming to Guerneville every summer for more than 20 years.
“It’s a nice place to meet our friends from all over the country,” Souza said, “and get tricked into this river.”
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1. Steelhead Beach is a popular starting place for warm-weather floats down the Russian River. 2. Families play in the Russian River near Johnson’s Beach. 3. The view from Korbel Winery includes vineyards and forest along the Russian River. (Photographs by Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
When the weather is warm, the Russian River draws dawdlers of all kinds, including LGBTQ+ vacationers, longtime locals and Bay Area families. On summer weekends, thousands show up in Guerneville with kayaks, canoes, inner tubes — just about anything that will float, preferably with a cooler attached. Then they spend hours gliding downstream past scenery that might as well be a Northern California highlight reel: vineyards, redwood forests and eventually a beach scene full of driftwood and sea stacks.
They know that time is of the essence. Many places on the river in and around Guerneville shut down November through early May because it gets cold and rainy and the river can run high and fast.
But for now through early October, with little rain and seasonal dams controlling the water’s flow, this might be California’s laziest river.
Still, for plenty of Californians, including me, this corner of Sonoma County is little-known territory. I’ve just gotten my first good look at the area, which is about 85 miles north of San Francisco, and I’m glad I arrived when I did.
For years, as Sonoma County’s wine country has grown ever more pricey and elegant, the communities of the lower Russian River have clung to their rustic, quirky and more affordable ways, in part because of the area’s vulnerability to changing seasons.
But the riverside scene is evolving. Since the pandemic, several new or revamped lodgings have boosted glamping and other upscale elements in a territory once better known for old cabins. At privately owned Johnson’s Beach in Guerneville, where parking was free in the old days, the fee is up to $10 a day. In the Johnson’s Beach lodgings, long known for summer-camp vibes, some rooms now come equipped with luxury linens and a French press. On the menu at the River Electric, there’s a “high-low dog” — a hot dog with black caviar — for $40. In other words, the lower Russian River is edging up-market.
“There’s a lot more new blood up here. A lot of new people in the last five years,” said Robert Baba, who runs Ideal Hardware in Forestville.
“Prices are going up and hotels are getting more posh,” said Michael Rex, owner of Guerneville’s Russian River Bookstore. But still, he said, “there’s a lot to do here where you don’t have to spend a dime.”
Here’s what I found in four days as a Russian River rookie.
River guide Keith Chandler prepares to kayak at the Russian River estuary at Jenner on the Sonoma County coast.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
If you want to imagine time standing still, start at Burke’s Canoe Trips, which has been renting canoes and kayaks for decades. At Burke’s, which sits at the edge of Forestville (population: about 3,300), most customers rent a watercraft ($95 per canoe, $60 per kayak) before noon, drift 10 miles down river to Guerneville, then catch a Burke’s bus back to where they began.
The river water is shallow, often 3 to 5 feet deep. The beaches are pebbly. The redwood groves begin within stone-skipping distance of the Burke’s property and follow the river downstream. Drinking water and sunblock are vital. Sightings of blue heron, egrets and river otters are common. (Burke’s also has camping with hot showers and fire rings, at $20 per person per night.)
Canoes await paddlers at Burke’s Canoe Trips in Forestville along the Russian River.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
A cat sleeps alongside a Jesus statue and beach gear at Burke’s Canoe Trips in Forestville along the Russian River.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
“People know that no matter how the world is doing, when they come to the river, it’s going to be like it used to be,” said Linda Burke, second-generation owner of the business.
“It could be 1946 when you’re paddling,” said Ted Schroeder, longtime manager at Burke’s.
But even at Burke’s, things change: Demand is up for kayaks, down for the metal canoes, which are heavier.
Along Front Street, Forestville’s tiny commercial core, you could get a corn dog for $3.30 at Carr’s Drive-Inn, which looks like a time capsule from 1979. Or you could get some wood-fired pizza on the big, bright patio of Sonoma Pizza Co., which opened in 2022; or maybe a cup of organic ice cream at Angela’s (since 2023).
If you want to go luxe, you can eat or sleep at the Farmhouse Inn, a 6-acre property on River Road that includes 18 rooms and cottages, a pool and some spa services amid lushly landscaped grounds. Its restaurant occupies an 1873 farmhouse. (Nightly rates start around $440.)
For a lot of people, however, Forestville is just a place to slip into the lazy river — often at Steelhead Beach, half a mile downriver from Burke’s.
Glamping tents are a central part of Dawn Ranch, near the Russian River in Guerneville, Calif.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Guerneville (population: about 4,500) is the hub of human activity on the Lower Russian River. River Road becomes Main Street there, and in summer its shops and restaurants buzz with people. Riverfront recreation at Johnson’s Beach is a block away. A network of redwood forest trails awaits 2 miles up the road in Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Preserve.
Be warned, however, that on weekends, Guerneville is often short on parking. Consider parking for the day ($10) in the big dirt lot at Johnson’s Beach, which has food, drinks, rental kayaks, canoes and inner tubes, campsites, historic bungalows, modern tiny cabins, canvas cabanas and a four-bedroom lodge. There are about 35 units in all, open mid-April through October. (The bare campsites start at $55, historic bungalows at $165.)
“It’s a lazy river and walkable to town, so we can camp and eat at restaurants,” said Kim Loda of Oakland as her son, Axel, 10, showed off his juggling skills near the Johnson’s Beach snack bar. “I don’t know why my family didn’t bring me here growing up.”
The River Electric, a resort along the Russian River in Guerneville, Calif., includes glamping tents.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Guerneville grew up as a 19th century logging settlement, prospered as a weekend getaway for San Franciscans arriving by ferry and train in the 1920s, slumped in the ‘30s and suffered extensive flooding in the 1960s. It entered a new chapter in the late 1970s, when a handful of gay entrepreneurs began buying up and revamping rustic resorts and bars.
First, in 1978, was a riverside getaway called Fife’s. Another early gay-owned venture was the Rainbow Cattle Company bar, still in business on River Road, a.k.a. Main Street. (Every week on Give Back Tuesday, the bar stages raffles, offers $5 dinners and earmarks 10% of revenue for charities.)
When the 1980s and 1990s arrived, Guerneville suffered deeply — from the AIDS epidemic and from repeated floods.
Nimble & Finn’s sells ice cream inside the Guerneville Bank Club building in Guerneville, Calif.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Yet a generation later, the community has gained ground.
Since 2008, entrepreneur Crista Luedtke has built a series of businesses, including Boon Eat+Drink and Boon Hotel+Spa. The Guerneville Social Club, “Russian River’s First Queer-Owned Social Club,” is due to open with a restaurant, bar and shop in 2027. Lazy Bear gatherings have been staged every July since 1996 by the nonprofit Lazy Bear Fund to raise money toward LGBTQ+ community health. There’s also a Russian River Pride parade Sept. 19.
Cars park along Main Street on July 30 in Guerneville.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Timing my visit to avoid weekend crowds, I ate a dinner of chicken in tasty mole negro at Three Cultures Kitchen, which opened last year. I got ice cream at Nimble & Finn’s, lunch at Coffee Bazaar and a $15 sandwich to go at the Korbel Winery, which offers a deli, tasting room, wine shop and free tours at its scenic site about 3 miles west of Guerneville. I also browsed at Russian River Books & Letters.
“I ended up here because of the pandemic. It just went on and on, so I decided to open the bookstore,” said bookshop owner Michael Rex. Since that time, Rex said, he’s seen a growing number of remote workers.
Most notable among the new and renovated Guerneville resorts: Dawn Ranch and the River Electric, both with a glamping focus, both with docks on the river.
Dawn Ranch, dramatically upgraded in 2023, is a 22-acre, all-ages property that once held the Fife’s resort. The verdant grounds feature 86 cabins, cottages, chalets and glamping tents (open year-round) that share bathrooms and showers. There’s an upstairs restaurant, spa services, a pool and boathouse bar, along with a dock and private beach at the end of the short trail that feels like a secret path.
The tents, which start at about $300 nightly, have furniture, electricity and Wi-Fi, but if you show up on a 93-degree afternoon, as I did, your un-air-conditioned tent will be about the same temperature. That’s when it’s time to jump in the pool or river.
The Russian River runs past a dock at Dawn Ranch in Guerneville, Calif.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
The River Electric is sited on long-idle, flood-prone 12-acre expanse of riverside land that old-timers remember as the site of J’s Amusement Park in the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. In 2025, the current owners unveiled a newfangled resort with a restaurant, two pools (one of them round) and 46 furnished, electrified tent units, which start at about $260 nightly.
The resort stays open until Oct. 31. Then, by design, most of the resort will be carted away or submerged when the river rises.
“Everything except the concrete, we take off-site, Which is wild,” said River Electric’s Jessica Baker, who gave me a tour. The resort also sells day passes for $38 and hosts many weddings and special events.
Yet another glamping option is Guerneville’s Autocamp Sonoma, which opened in 2016. It doesn’t have river frontage, but it includes 25 Airstream trailers and 10 glamping tents in the shadow of a redwood grove.
Stand-up paddle-boarders are common at the Russian River estuary, next to Jenner on the Sonoma County coast.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
Heading west from Guerneville, you roll through Monte Rio, seeing more redwoods, cabins and glimpses of river.
You might spot the 11-room Inn on the Russian River, a recently upgraded property whose riverside perch includes a private dock and summer rates of roughly $260 to $430 nightly.
Kayakers often come across harbor seals in the Russian River estuary at Jenner on the Sonoma County coast.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
What you’ll need to imagine is the Bohemian Grove, which hides in the nearby forest, serving as a haven for the rich, powerful, famous and all-male members of the Bohemian Club since the 19th century.
Gathering every July at that 2,700-acre compound, club members, who have included Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and Bob Weir, are said to stage a ritual “cremation of care,” burning an effigy of “care” in front of a 40-foot owl statue. (Suddenly, Burning Man seems a little less original.)
Anyway, a casual tuber or kayaker can’t float all the way to the Pacific from Forestville. (Obstacles include seasonal dams at Johnson’s Beach and Vacation Beach.) But if you drive the river road past Monte Rio and the historic but touristy shops at Duncans Mills, you reach the coastal hamlet of Jenner. That’s where the water flows into the Pacific, where the Russian River goes from mild (in summer) to wild.
To see the converging waters and feel the roaring wind, you can drive to Goat Rock Road and Goat Rock Beach. Or you could stop for a snack at Cafe Aquatica, whose patio fronts the water’s edge.
Or you could do both, followed by a night at River’s End, where a restaurant and five woodsy guest rooms enjoy sweeping views of the river, sea and sea stacks.
Kayakers paddle through sunset on the Russian River estuary, which looks out at the sea and sea stacks near Jenner.
(Christopher Reynolds / Los Angeles Times)
I did that. And on my last morning along the river, I got up early and met Keith Chandler of Jenner-based Watertreks Ecotours at water’s edge. Then we paddled around the estuary on a pre-breakfast kayak tour.
“I never get tired of this,” Chandler told me.
Some tours go out by night, focusing on bioluminescent plankton. We skirted Penny Island, where native Pomo people lived and farmed for generations before immigrants from Europe arrived. In fact, Chandler’s boss, Suki Waters, is part Pomo. Jenner might be small, but river, sea, natives and newcomers all converge there.
For a good chunk of this morning, however, there was just two of us in a kayak, sidling up to egrets, cormorants and harbor seals, watching pelicans glide in formation over the long, empty beach where the Russian River ends.
FORGET the Costa del Sol – the hot new place to be is the Costa del Kent.
As the Sun’s unofficial Kent expert (having made the move from London to the seaside county during Covid), it’s fair to say it’s my new favourite place for a staycation.
Having lived in both Folkestone and Margate, the beauty of Kent is not just its beaches, but how easy it is to explore thanks to a vast rail network and roads connecting them all.
But how to do you know which ones to visit? Well, there are six major seaside towns that are the most popular, but which to pick depends on what you love.
Are you more of a traditional beach town fan with sticks of rock and fairground rides, or do you love a fancy wine bar and boutique stores selling fancy trinkets?
I’ve ranked the six most popular resorts on the Costa del Kent – and how to pick the right one or you.
Coming lowest in my list is Ramsgate – that’s not to say that it is a bad place to visit, but I feel it ranks the lowest in comparison to the others.
On arrival, the train station dumps you in the middle of a housing estate, so you have to get a bus to the seafront. Not a great first impression.
It also doesn’t have the prettiest seafront, with the marina overlooked by chains such as Travelodge and boarded up shops.
But while not the prettiest, this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth a visit.
History buffs will love the Ramsgate Tunnels, with guided tours of the WWII shelters.
It has a great drink scene – for coffee, try Giants, and for wine, try Noa Rooftop – and pop into the shops and cafes found in the bridge arches.
And of course it is home to the world’s biggest Wetherspoons, Victoria Pavilion with is both right on the beach and has a rooftop bar.
While short of any boutique hotels, you can grab a cheap £35 stay at the Travelodge which is a short walk from the beach.
Whitstable is one of Kent’s more established seaside towns – I think of it as the St Ives of Kent.
It has all the trimmings you’d expect – oyster shops, fancy charity stores and pricey art galleries – but I like my places with a bit more edge, hence its lower ranking.
It is also relatively small, so you can expect it to be very busy in the summer months as tourists flock to it by train (don’t even try and find a car parking space).
But its is beautifully traditional, where you can take the kids to go crabbing in the harbour, or grab some fresh lobster from The Lobster Shack.
Kids will definitely love Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium which has some very unusual flavours….
Pub lovers will need to go to The Old Neptune, where the beer garden is on the beach, or you can go to the recently-opened Keller for fantastic wine.
Otherwise its a place to simply wander the high street and peruse the shops, nearly all locally run.
I stayed at The Marine Hotel which has sea-view rooms that feel just like a retro B&B but more chic (and expect to see wedding parties downstairs, it’s a popular spot).
You might be surprised to see Margate not in the no.1 spot, having sung its praises for many years after living there for nearly two years.
Yet having since explored the rest of the county, its nickname the Shoreditch on Sea has almost worked too well in making it popular, with so many fancy wine bars and cafes that even I, an ex-Londoner, now feel out of place.
But if you can step outside of this, the food and drink scene here really is one of the best.
Two must-visit pubs are the Rose in June and George & Heart, which are both traditional but modern when it comes to the food and vibe.
And I adore Lilie’s Margate which serves some of the best tapas, and the Italian at Bottega Caruso which was even praised by Madonna (yes really).
Of course if you want some fine dining, you’re spoilt for choice, from the pier-front Sargasso to elevated Brit cuisine of The Wellington, and of course it has the famous Turner Contemporary for art along with the Carl Freedman Gallery.
And there are still inklings of the town’s retro seaside days – the historic Dreamland theme park which feels like stepping back in time; the cheesy arcades that blare loud music; the vintage beach fairgrounds that pop up every summer.
While it can feel slightly performative when it comes to the cool factor, there is little that can compare to stepping out of the train station and seeing that glorious rich yellow sand, begging you to come and sit back and relax.
Deal might be small, but she is mighty when it comes to being one of Kent’s best seaside towns.
Due to her size, she is more suited to a day trip – anymore than a few days and you might find yourself a bit bored.
But head straight to the brutalist pier to get a sense of the place, walking past fisherman catching for the day, followed by lunch at Deal Pier Kitchen at the end.
If Chat GPT spat out a seaside town, Deal it is, complete with rustic old pubs that locals have been going to for decades, as well as your classic chippies, ice cream parlours and arcades.
But it has element of cool – at the end of the High Street is fancy stores selling chic interiors, pup treats and curated gifts.
Restaurants like The Blue Pelican have been raved about for its fresh fish, or grab a Caribbean inspired roast dinner at The Port Arms.
The Rose Hotel is the coolest place in town, with whimsical rooms above a moody restaurant with a menu to match.
Explore its history in Deal Castle and you’ve ticked all the boxes for the ultimate seaside escape.
My beautiful hometown of Folkestone came in a close second, only because, as a local, I am its harshest critic.
It’s popularity has come with downsides – in that I mean huge construction works going on that has caused chaos on the roads in town, as well as seen some awful building plans that if, given the go-ahead, will ruin the beachfront.
But outside of that, I am ready to sing its praises. Come to the beachfront for the Harbour Arms, full of shipping containers selling food and gifts right by a huge TV screen for films and sports events.
Head down the pier and catch some live music at the weekend (best listened to from the top of the converted red The Solstice Bus bar, or the The Lighthouse Champagne Bar).
There is the Sea Scrub Sauna, the largest beach sauna in the UK; Boardroom for darts and shuffleboard or the just-reopened Lower Leas Coastal Park, the biggest free park in Kent.
When it comes to impressing out of towners, I always take them to Pomus for a rotating menu of small plates and wine, followed by a cocktail at Gaia and an ice cream at Herbert’s Gelato (try the malted milk).
And that’s all before perusing the multicoloured shops down the Creative Quarter, all independent sellers.
I feel Folkestone has the mix of fashionable new establishments along with the conventional English seaside resort – so with that, almost comes out on top.
For me, Broadstairs has the best of both traditional and the emerging trendy spots which takes it to the top of the list.
It’s been named everything from the best seaside commuter town and best places to live to one of the best for a day trip.
Head straight to the beach and see boats coming in for the day, traditional beach huts and stripy deck chairs.
Then go drop some pennies at the arcade before a towering ice cream from the retro Morelli’s Gelato.
But weave down the pretty streets and you will feel inklings of ‘cool before the crowds know it’s cool’
Bar Ingo is my favourite restaurant in Kent, offering Basque small plates with some of the friendliest staff (and in this year’s OpenTable Top 100), and I can never leave Arrowsmiths without picking up a few gifts for myself.
You can also explore its history via Charles Dickens, exploring his home and namesake pub after he spent some time there.
But come for Viking Bay, a rare sandy beach in Kent, with some fish and from The Mermaid or even a surf lesson or two and embrace the seaside town life.
Make sure to stay at Smith’s Townhouse – having only opened last year, its one of the coolest in town without the price tag (with some of the best coffee in town too).
And what really takes her to the top is her being all weather – being just as beautiful in summer as she is in autumn and winter.
See you there?
FORMER glamour model Katie Price was seen putting on a very cosy display with Wayne Lineker as she took her son Harvey to party at O Beach in Ibiza.
The reality TV star looked as though she was having the time of her life on the party isle as she got behind the DJ decks.
Harvey, Katie and Wayne cuddled up onstage as they faced the huge crowds gathered.
Katie’s eldest son was movin’ and grovin’ to the tunes and fans were going wild.
In clips shared on Instagram by Katie’s pal Lou Roy, they pair could be seen dancing as she planted a sweet kiss on Harvey’s lips.
Lou dubbed Harvey the “main man” as he got the crowd riled up and ready to party.
The O Beach girls even surprised Harvey, 24, in matching swimsuits, holding up the letters of his name.
Harvey looked over-the-moon and threw his hands up in the air with joy.
Elsewhere, club owner Wayne wrapped his arms around Katie’s waist as she whispered in his ear.
Wayne gave a cheeky grin as the mum-of-five got up close and personal in her skimpy mint-coloured bikini.
She paired the tiny two-piece that barely covered her modesty, with a sheer white cover-up.
In another snap, Wayne, 63, was sandwiched in between Katie and her pal as they smiled for the camera.
Katie, 48, rested her head on Wayne’s shoulder as she took a brief break from tearing up the dance floor.
While the podcast host and party legend Wayne certainly looked cosy the pair are old pals.
They move in similar celebrity circles and she often visits Wayne at his famous Ibiza club.
COPS are warning beachgoers not to dig holes “deeper than the knees” due to the risk of serious injury or even death.
Police have said that while the activity might be good fun, families should be wary of digging too deep and trapping people or pets in the sand.
In a statement on Monday, cops said: “Digging on the beach is part of the fun, but large, deep holes in soft sand can be incredibly dangerous.
“A hole can collapse without warning, trapping anyone inside under heavy sand in seconds.”
They added that even “fit and healthy adults” can get buried and struggle to escape, as they advised the public to “keep holes shallow”.
The update continued: “Deep holes also pose a serious trip hazard for children, beachgoers, and emergency services responding to incidents.
“What takes minutes to dig can take seconds to turn tragic.”
Filling in holes before leaving is essential for ensuring the beach stays safe, they added.
It follows an incident at Skegness in Lincolnshire on Saturday, where a large hole ranging approximately three to four feet wide and 12 to 15 feet deep was discovered.
HM Coastguard Skegness said at the time: “Whoever dug this hole was incredibly lucky that it didn’t collapse in on them.
“Sand is surprisingly heavy and can give way without warning, especially in deep holes.”
It added: “A collapse can trap someone beneath the sand and may lead to serious injury or even death.
“Deep holes can also be a hazard to other beach users who may not see them.”
It is not the first time holidaymakers in Lincolnshire have caused mischief on the beach.
Last year, a team of three coastguards had to fill in a hole on Sandilands Beach that was over two metres deep.
Elsewhere in Cleethorpes, sunseekers at the popular seaside town were warned in April not to dig holes in the wet sand, due to the “avalanche effect”.
Coastguards deputy station manager Shaun Lee said the sand can keep “collapsing” and end up burying people.
“We don’t want to be the fun police – just be aware of what you are doing if you are digging holes,” he said.
TINIE Tempah was spotted crashing a couple’s beach wedding after performing at Boardmasters festival in Cornwall.
The rapper, 37, who has just announced a new album after ten years, looked as if he was in his element as he posed next to the newlyweds.
Bride and groom Jenny and Dave Boorman had just got married in Newquay, when they were spotted by Tinie.
The singer saw the couple from Leicester celebrating with their friends and family on the beach.
The kind-hearted star then came over to Jenny and Dave and congratulated them on getting married, and the three of them all posed for photos.
Just hours before, Tinie had performed to 50,000 at the Boardmasters Festival, as he signals his return to music.
READ MORE ON TINIE TEMPAH
The star announced at the weekend that he is set to release his first album in ten years.
The singer’s last record, Youth, came out in 2017, and included songs Girls Like featuring Zara Larsson and Not Letting Go with Jess Glynne.
A decade on, and Tinie thrilled fans when he shared the exciting news that he’s releasing his fourth studio album.
“Last time I announced an album, lockdown wasn’t a thing,” he told fans.
“The UK was still in the EU, Supreme was selling bricks, memes were taking over the world, and 1 Bitcoin was worth £500.
“So much has happened in the world since then.
“It’s crazy to be announcing my 4th studio album, ‘The Night’s Not Dead,’ coming 16th October 2026.”
He added: “The journey of a night out starts today with Heaven Or Hell ft. Reggie. The track to start your night with. Let’s go!”
The Sun was first to reveal that Tinie was making his comeback.
Last month, he told us: “I’ve not released new music in a while, but I’m back on the grind and it feels good.
“I’ve started putting new music in my sets, but the album is coming in October.”
Tinie’s debut tune, Pass Out, hit the top spot in 2010 and he’s collaborated with massive stars including Rita Ora, Zara Larsson and Ellie Goulding.
