By Ann Abel

I suppose that was a rhetorical question. We all need summer, especially this year, while many of us are trying to hibernate through locked-down Februaries. But around the northern hemisphere, there are some beaches that actually get better around the winter solstice. The emptiness is romantic and the waves are dramatic, making them better than ever for surfers or spectators. And then there are the skies.

Nazaré, Portugal

This fishing village came to international fame ten years ago, when Garrett McNamara surfed a record-breaking 100-foot- high wave. Every year, those massive waves start up around November and last through the winter., making for some excellent spectating. Ocean drama aside, the beach is a long, white, sandy half-moon with a seafront known for its …

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Ann Abel is a travel writer and editor and was a senior editor at ForbesLife. She writes for Forbes, Departures, Conde Nast Traveller, Robb Report, Afar, National Geographic Traveler, Islands, Hemispheres, Brides, Modern Bride, Well + Good NYC, and other print and online publications.”In the name of lifestyle journalism, ” she says, ” I’ve gotten a tattoo in Bora Bora, been bitten by a massage therapist, and flown small aircraft above three continents.” She lives in Lisbon.