Go beyond the picture-postcard clichés—the rosy pink sunsets, the powdery white sand—and you’ll find that the landscape of global beach culture is a vibrant, ever-evolving scene. This series of photo essays gives a snapshot of summertime style around the world and celebrates the universal bliss that comes from life by the water. These stories chronicle the life of pro-surfers in Australia, street style-influenced swimwear in Tel Aviv, the world’s largest indoor beach in Germany, and the once-thriving American vacation hub known as Myrtle Beach.

Read the stories.