We'd take our earned cruzados to the cafes lining the sand and splurge on feijoada, a dark, smoky black bean and pork stew that, oddly enough, satisfied us in the Rio heat.

WSJ: The Feijoada From Ipanema

Boys, on the other hand, may become stuck on less typical activities, such as lining up blocks or running sand through their fingers.

CNN: How girls and boys differ when it comes to autism

The berry is most popularly consumed as part of a smoothie, found at stands lining the beachfront or from vendors plodding through the sand.

BBC: A seaside taste of Rio de Janeiro