The city of Miami thrives on attention, from its much-photographed Art Deco architecture to its celebrated beaches, glitzy clubs and hotels where the lobbies are more like catwalks.

BBC: A perfect day in Miami

New members joining lifesaving clubs that protect swimmers on the nation's beaches aren't that interested in the spectacle, clubs say.

WSJ: In Australia, Traditionalists Strive to Keep Beach Marching Alive

Curl Curl is part of an area known as the Northern Beaches, the heartland of Australian beach culture, where clubs are locked in fierce rivalry.

WSJ: In Australia, Traditionalists Strive to Keep Beach Marching Alive

Much of the rest of the time, winter-fleeing northerners pack beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, crowds in the party town clubs spill out into the streets, and the tourism industry is in full swing.

FORBES: Embracing Costa Rica's Rainy Season