Forgotten Realms is High Fantasy, not Dark or Grimdark. There are places magical and whimsical (Fey Wild, Suldanessellar). There are places dark and creepy (graves, crypts, the City of Baldur's Gate, the Shadowfell). There are places that are hellish and cruel (Avernus, the Underdark, the Abyss).
What I'm saying is, there is so much variety in this setting. Having a colorful beach or forest is only one slice of the world at large.
