We pulled off the road looking for a beach that didn’t show up on most lists, and that ended up being the theme for the whole trip. These hidden beaches in Curaçao were the ones we kept going back to—less crowded, easier to enjoy, and honestly just better days overall. Some take a little more effort to get to, but that’s kind of the point.
If you’re planning your trip and trying to map this all out, I’d glance at Curaçao Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors so you know how these spots fit together.
We stood at the edge of the water here before getting in, and I remember thinking this doesn’t look like much for a beach day. There’s no big sandy setup, and you’re not laying out here for hours.
Once you get in, though, it flips completely. The water is clear right away, and snorkeling both directions is worth it because there’s a lot going on—fish everywhere and we saw a full school of squid moving together.
The entry is crushed coral, which seems fine until you’re walking in and suddenly it doesn’t, so having water shoes made that part easier.
Playa Jeremi felt like a true hidden beach. It wasn’t crowded, mostly locals and a few people who clearly knew about it ahead of time. We swam out pretty far on the left side and didn’t deal with any current, which made it easy to just stay in the water.
There’s a restaurant above the beach and chairs to rent, plus security in the parking lot, which is always a plus. We didn’t rush here and ended up staying longer than expected (no complaints).
Playa Lagun looks completely different from most beaches because it’s tucked between cliffs. We got there before 10, parking was easy, and it didn’t feel overly crowded (which I was fully expecting).
The snorkeling was good, the water was calm, and we stayed longer than planned. There’s a smoothie stand right there (I got one immediately and didn’t regret it), plus a couple food options nearby, so we didn’t feel like we had to leave for lunch.
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If you’re trying to pair this with other stops, it fits well into a day like what I mapped out in West Side Beach Hopping in Curaçao: Porto Mari & Grote Knip Guide.
Playa Kalki is small—like you notice it right away. We didn’t treat it like a full beach day, more of a stop to snorkel and hang out for a bit.
There’s limited sand space and only a couple rows of umbrellas, but there’s also a dive shop, bar, and restaurant. It’s set up enough to stay for a while, just not somewhere I’d plan to spend all day.
If you’re planning beach days like this, it helps to know where everything is—my Best Beaches in Curaçao (with Map + Tips) breaks that down.
Cas Abao isn’t really hidden, but going early made it feel like it was. We got there before it filled up and had way more space than I expected.
The water here was some of the clearest we saw, and this is one of the beaches that as soon as I saw the water I knew we had to get in and stay a while. Later in the day it fills up, but early it feels completely different.
If you’re figuring out where to stay to make mornings like this easier, looking into where to stay in Curaçao helps cut down on driving. We booked our hotel on the west side here and got a great deal.
We had a rental car, and getting to all of these was straightforward. The roads are easy to follow, and even when they turn into smaller dirt roads, it still feels manageable—not like you’re driving somewhere you shouldn’t be. Nothing felt remote in a stressful way.
We’ve been to other Caribbean islands, and Curaçao just felt more spread out once we got outside the main areas. It wasn’t empty, but we weren’t dealing with packed beaches unless we chose to go to those spots.
You notice it more when you’re at places like these, where it feels like people aren’t all following the same plan.
By the end of the trip, these were the beaches I kept thinking about. Not because they had the most going on, but because they didn’t.
They were easy to enjoy, easy to stay longer than planned, and didn’t feel like you had to plan your whole day around them. Sometimes the quieter spots end up being the ones you remember the most—just go with the flow and beach it easy.
If someone told me I’d spend five hours at SkyPark, I would not have believed them. And yet. 😅
Gatlinburg SkyPark sits above the strip and it’s one of those places that looks like a quick stop on paper and turns into most of your afternoon. The SkyBridge alone is worth it — longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, and yes, you will look down.
✨ SkyBridge (longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America)
✨ SkyLift ride up with views of the Smokies
✨ Walking trails with mountain views in every direction
✨ Way less crowded than downtown
Fair warning: if heights genuinely freak you out, the bridge might not be your thing. The rest of the park is still 100% worth it. Full guide with tickets, tips, and what to skip linked in bio. 🔗
I walked into Goo Goo Cluster in downtown Gatlinburg thinking I’d spend five minutes and leave with a small piece of candy. I was wrong on both counts. 😅
You build your own chocolate cluster at a kiosk: caramel, sea salt, pretzels, cocoa pebbles, you name it, and then watch them make it right in front of you. The whole thing takes about 15 minutes and costs $15.
The caveat? This is not a snack. This is a full-size brick of chocolate that I was still eating two days later.
If you’re already walking the Gatlinburg strip, this is an easy yes. Especially if you have absolutely no self-control around caramel. (Asking for a friend.) Full experience breakdown linked in bio. 🔗
Your Knoxville Airport survival guide, from someone who’s flown through TYS 100+ times is now up on my blog🛫
Parking, TSA wait times, where to grab food before your flight, rental cars, all of it, from someone who actually knows this airport. No guessing, no googling at the last minute.
TYS is small, easy to navigate, and honestly one of the less stressful airports I’ve been through. You just need to know a few things going in.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗
Hundreds of motorcycles. Tweed suits. Tennessee roads.🏍️
The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is a global charity event, classic and vintage bikes, dressed-up riders, raising money for prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. The bikes are stunning. The outfits are even better.
Full guide linked in bio. 🔗 | @gentlemansride
Went in for Italian. Left thinking about pasta for three days straight.🍝
Osteria Stella in Knoxville is THE date night spot, pink door, moody lighting, and a radiatori con broccoli pesto that I would genuinely go back for alone. The lasagna comes out as its own perfect slice with crispy edges all around. The focaccia with garlic confit disappeared before anyone admitted to eating it.
Make a reservation. Order the pasta. Thank me later.
Full review linked in bio. 🔗
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