Antigua sits where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, so it gets warm, gentle waves on different sides of the island. The beaches on the Caribbean side are usually very calm and perfect for swimming, while the Atlantic side can be breezier and great for spotting sailing boats.
The sand on many Antiguan beaches is made of tiny crushed coral and shells that have been smoothed by the sea over thousands of years. That is why it feels so soft under your feet! Some beaches are completely empty, hidden behind palm trees, and you have to walk through jungle paths to find them.
Local children grow up spending time at the beach the way children in other countries might spend time in a park. Families go at weekends, schools sometimes hold sports days on the sand, and fishermen launch their brightly painted boats from the shore every morning.
The 365 number is one of Antigua's proudest facts, and people there love to share it with visitors. Some beach-lovers even try to visit a different one every day of their holiday — though the island is small enough that you could drive around the whole coast in about two hours!