Are the Pinkest Places on Earth Too ‘Extra’ Even for Barbie?

Where would Barbie vacation? There’s a good chance she would pick some of the places we’re about to show you. But is there such a thing as too much pink? Some of these pink places might relax you, while others might be a little too “extra” even for Barbie! But don’t get too crazy on your travels, or you might not like where you’ll end up in the last destination on this list!

Pink Beaches

Bermuda, Spain, the Bahamas, Greece, and Indonesia are some of the few countries with rare pink sand beaches. The sand gets its color from a microscopic coral insect named foraminifera. When these creatures die, waves grind up their pink shells and mix them with sand and pieces of coral. One of the scariest places to see pink sand is Komodo Island, Indonesia, where deadly Komodo dragons are the apex predators.

Pink Flamingos of Africa

Flamingos are beautiful pink water birds indigenous to the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. Algae with carotenoid pigments in the water turns shrimp pink, and flamingos are pink from eating both the algae and the shrimp. If you want to see them in the wild, several lakes in Kenya where they feed attract eco-tourists. The best time of year to see them is November to May when the rainy season fills the lakes and their food supply increases.

Bangladesh National Museum

Ahsan Manzil was constructed in the mid-19th century as the home of a Mughal regional ruler. French traders later purchased it as a trading house. A wealthy local family purchased it and began repairs, which were set back by a tornado. The British made it the seat of the local government under their empire. The government of Bangladesh purchased it and turned it over to the Bangladesh National Museum. This pink palace has stories to tell, and so will you if you visit it.

Cherry Trees of Japan

Visit Japan between March and May and you’ll be stunned by the beauty of an ocean of pink cherry blossoms. In ancient times, Japanese people used the blossoms to divine the coming year’s harvest. Cherry blossoms also provided a Shinto philosophical lesson about the impermanence of life, hope for the future, and the cycle of death and renewal. And if they remind you of the cherry blossoms of Washington, D.C., there’s a good reason for that. Japan gifted thousands of cherry trees to the United States in the early 1900s to make the city as beautiful as it is today.

Tan Dinh Church, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is the home of the pinkest church you’ll ever find. The Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built in the 1870s when Vietnam was a French colony. The architectural style is neo-Romanesque with neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance elements. Colloquially it’s known simply as “Tan Dinh Church.”

Muralla Roja, Spain

“Muralla Roja” translates to “the red wall,” although the color is mainly pink. Designed by Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, this 1970s apartment complex has put Calpe, Spain on the map. The design drew inspiration from the surrounding cliffs and the kasbahs (citadels) of North Africa. The color and complex geometric shapes of the 50-unit complex make it a popular location for photographers.

Lake Hillier, Australia

Lake Hillier is a permanently pink lake on Middle Island off the south coast of Western Australia. It’s about 2,000 ft. (600 m) by 820 ft. (250 m). A narrow rim of sand dunes and vegetation separates it from the sea. The “Pepto Bismol” color of the lake is due to the Dunaliella salina algae, and it keeps its color when you dip some out in a container.

“Big Pink” Skyscraper, Portland

When Barbie’s in one of her career modes, she might just like to work as an executive at the U.S. Bancorp Tower in Portland, Oregon. Affectionately dubbed “Big Pink,” this 42-story skyscraper is the second-tallest in the city, with the most office space of any building in the state. Kind of makes you wonder if the economic outlook always looks rosy from those bank office views.

Craigievar Castle, Scotland

Located in Scotland, Craigievar Castle was built in 1576. The pink color was the original shade. Inside you’ll find a Great Hall, musicians’ gallery, Queen’s bedroom, servants’ quarters, and even a secret staircase connecting the Great Hall to the high tower. Obviously, this is the sort of thing Barbie needs so she can hide from annoyingly love-struck Ken.

The Pink House, Nevada

The Pink House (or Reese-Johnson-Virgin House) was built in 1855 in Genoa, Nevada, the first documented settlement in the state. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains just 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Today it provides a charming ambiance for dining, music, and private parties and events.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Hawaii

Mariott International owns the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was one of the first luxury hotels in Waikiki. The architecture is Spanish/Moorish style with a pink concrete stucco façade. Aptly nicknamed the “Pink Palace of the Pacific,” the Royal Hawaiian’s guests have included celebrities and leaders of business and government from around the world.

Pink Dolphins, South America

According to Brazilian legend, if you swim alone in the river, a pink dolphin will catch you and take you to live forever in the underwater kingdom of Encante. The story is a myth but the pink dolphin is very much a real species: Inia geoffrensis. They live only in the freshwater rivers and lakes of the Amazon basin. And to shatter a stereotype: the males are pinker than the females! Pink dolphins number in the tens of thousands, but are vulnerable due to pollution and fishing in some parts of their habitat.

Pink Tulips, Netherlands

If you find yourself in Europe from mid-April to early May, make sure to visit the Netherlands to vast fields of tulips blooming: pink and every other shade imaginable. One of the best places to see them is Keukenhof Gardens. The wet conditions and soil of the Netherlands have made this the tulip capital of the world since the 15th century.

Pink Sand Dunes, Utah

Head over to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park in Utah if you’d like to see pink sand dunes. They are the result of an estimated 10-15,000 years of high winds passing through a notch in the Moquith and Moccasin Mountains. It picks up sand and grinds away at the Navajo sandstone around the park.

Hawa Mahal, India

Hawa Mahal is a red and pink sandstone palace in Jaipur, India. It was built in 1799 by the Maharaja who founded the city of Jhunjhunu. The hundreds of windows and intricate latticework of the palace facade let breezes blow through on hot days and allowed aristocratic women to watch what was happening on the streets below while remaining unseen.

Pink Prisons

Hopefully, you and Barbie haven’t done anything to land in prison on all these pink travels. If you did, you might just end up in a pink prison. Baker-Miller pink is a shade developed for its calming effect on agitated people. It’s used now in the interiors and exteriors of many prisons around the world. Seems like a perfect color for your cubicle at work . . .

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