Summers often demand a trip to the coast to cool off and relax. Though the world has many standard sandy outposts, there are also a number of beautifully bizarre beaches: those that are striking colors—such as red, green, pink, or black—coastlines that border airplane runways, or even ones with glass beads in place of sand. The unique looks have turned these spots into more than just places to unwind, and into specific destinations in their own rights. Perhaps this is the year to visit them. After all, they may be relatively lesser-known for now, but that may not be the case forever. Below, AD tours nine striking beaches that look nothing like what we’ve come to expect of these landscapes, proving that beauty is often even more compelling in the unexpected.