This Week at TravelGolf.com: Feb. 14, 2008

Beyond just golf: Hawaii's crazy beach laws give it a super vacation edge

You don't have to be Miss Teen South Carolina (maps whiz and world affairs expert) to understand that the planet would be much better off if places tried to emulate Hawaii.

No, not that Aloha spirit that's all marketing bunk (when Four Seasons and Marriott are waxing poetic about the Aloha spirit in their in-room pamphlets, you know it's about as authentic as Mickey Mouse). You can find plenty of grumpy people in Hawaii - just like anywhere else.

Where Hawaii stands a good two steps above the rest of humanity, though, is in its beach-access laws.

Every beach has to have public access. Every beach. It doesn't matter what five-star hotel or billionaire's compound it is near. If there's sand and water, any Average Joe or Down On His Luck Schmo can enjoy it.

In fact, one of the great underrated pleasures in Hawaii is pulling up to a posh resort (one of those places that jacks up its guests for outrageous parking charges) and saying, "I'm just going to the beach." Then, they often have to let you park for free. That's right, Hawaii doesn't only mandate every beach is public, it requires free public parking within a reasonable distance.

This attitude can be a little bewildering for first-time visitors. Just try and walk around Jupiter Island, Fla. - where both Tiger Woods and Greg Norman have compounds - asking for the public beach and see what reaction you draw.

And people wonder why Hawaii has so many of the world's top-rated beaches?

It helps when people can actually see your best beaches. Other countries claiming their beaches are No. 1 are equivalent to New Jersey boasting it has the best golf in America because Pine Valley (a golf course you'll never play) is there.

Even Jersey's not that crass.

You likely appreciate Hawaii's beaches more after you leave and go somewhere else. For decades, almost all the better beaches on major Bahamas islands like New Providence were as open to the general public (and the country's own citizens) as Dick Cheney's bunker is to Democrats.

The government began buying back some, but even as a tourist, you can still be stopped from walking on the sand of a resort next to the resort you're staying at. It's like a beach cage.

As Miss Teen South Carolina might say, can't we um find like a better way?

As always, TravelGolf.com welcomes your comments.

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