Minecraft wiki entry for Best_biomes_for_homes, associated text: When it comes to how to live on a beach, it really comes down to how to survive in their adjacent biomes. Beaches themselves are biomes of barren sand/gravel except for sugar cane, turtle nests, and buried treasure, if you manage to stumble on some when terraforming. Beaches are mainly appealing for players who want to be able to see the ocean or have an above water base for ocean operations.