Sydney, Australia: Bondi Beach

It can be warm in Sydney during a good portion of the year, and a nice place sometimes is needed to escape the heat. Luckily, Bondi Beach serves as the answer to that problem. It's a beautiful spot on the ocean, and not too far from downtown Sydney (a mere four miles). No wonder it's been used for film and television backgrounds.

The area was private property until 1882, when the city decided it had to insure public access to the area. A tramway was built there in 1884, and bathing sheds arrived in 1903. By 1929 as many as 60,000 people were showing up on a summer day.

In 1951, actress Jean Parker made some international headlines when she escorted off the grounds when she wore a bathing suite that was too skimpy for the authorities. Of course, that may have been the plan all the time. It's worth noting, then, that based on a look around during our visit, many of the bathing suits used by visitors today certainly must have been even smaller than the one Ms. Parker wore. Well, it can be hot there.