It’s summertime and the sun is bright, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and it’s as hot as can be. There’s no better place to be than at the beach! But remember, it’s imperative that you have all the necessary equipment/gear before heading off to your fun-filled day at the beach. Not bringing the essentials, or forgetting even one item like a beach towel or blanket, could negatively impact your whole beach experience.
Assuming that you’re wearing your bathing suit, a cover-up, and a pair of sandals, we’ll go from there. I recommend a large beach bag with different storage compartments to separate your gear. In no particular order of importance, I’m going to list the items that you’ll need to bring. Sunglasses are an important item because the sun is very bright on the beach due to its reflection on the white sand and you’ll need to protect your eyes from UV radiation. Any type of your favorite sunglasses will work but I recommend ones with yellow/orange lenses because they increase color distortion and contrast. Next, you’ll need a beach blanket or towel. The bigger the better! You may want to bring one beach blanket to lie on, and a smaller beach towel to dry off with if you’re going to be swimming in the ocean. Depending on what you prefer, you may or may not choose to bring a beach chair. Also, you’ll need some type of entertainment while you’re at the beach. I’d recommend bringing a magazine and some music. If there’s more than just your company at the beach, a small radio or CD player with batteries works well, and an iPod with headphones if you’re alone. Next, you’ll need sunscreen. I would advise you to bring at least two different levels of sunscreen. One being a high SPF such as 45, and one lower one such as 15 or 30 SPF depending on your skin type. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect the skin from sunburn by absorbing or reflecting the sun’s UV rays. If you are at the beach to obtain a suntan, then you may also want to bring a tanning oil, which intensifies sun exposure. Be careful with tanning oils because they can seem very deceptive. A little bit of oil could result in a really bad sunburn. And be sure that your tanning oil also contains a bit of sunblock, even if it’s only an SPF 4. And lastly, you’ll need to bring a cooler filled with ice, bottles of water, and some snacks. Also, be sure that any bottles you bring are plastic because no glass bottles are allowed on the beach. That means no beer bottles or liquor bottles either! Sub out cans and plastic bottles filled with your favorite pre-made cocktails.
Including all of these beach essentials is mandatory in order for your beach day to be perfect and comfortable. So, before you step outside your house, make sure that you have your beach essentials in hand!
Surfing could be a single of probably the most enjoyable and fascinating seaside actions to engage in. Most viewers, nevertheless, generally reside about the west coast simply because surfing demands tall waves. Tall waves are created by wind, assigning them the name wind waves. You will find several elements that figure out the formation of wind waves. Wind speed and drinking water depth are two self-explanitory elements which figure out wave size.
The 3 kinds of waves are called ripples, sea waves, and swells. Ripples are little waves that appear on best with the drinking water or ocean and they last as lengthy as the breeze lasts. You are able to see ripples on the really calm, stunning evening out about the boat or searching out onto a crystal clear lake. Sea waves would be the following step up from ripples. They often be a bit bigger and taller than ripples and will be described as a lot more of the “choppy” appear when searching out onto the ocean or lake. A evening out about the drinking water wherever the wind has picked up and also the waves are bigger than ripples does not usually make for that greatest evening simply because it could be hard to drive a boat quick. After which, when these seas separate and also the wind picks up even a lot more, you’re left with what are known as swells. And also you certainly do not wish to be getting the boat out on the evening with swells simply because the boat will be rocking back and forth and a number of your passengers would most likely turn out to be sea sick.
When a wave becomes as well tall and also the bottom can no longer assistance its best then it collapses, or breaks. Breaking waves are what viewers use to “ride.” Viewers identify several various kinds of waves that they like to utilize. Spilling waves would be the safest and most typical kind of breaking wave and will be the simplest to surf. Plunging waves break abruptly and will throw viewers down, producing them slam difficult onto the seaside bottom. Plunging waves could be triggered by offshore winds or perhaps a risen sea bottom. This kind of breaking wave is harmful and utilized by only probably the most skilled viewers. And lastly, you will find surging waves. These waves occasionally do not even break as they achieve the edge with the drinking water and often form on shorelines which are really steep. Also, the drinking water beneath surging waves is considerably deep and will be a harmful simply because they are able to drag viewers down into the depths with the ocean floor.
So, prior to grabbing your lengthy board and heading down towards the seaside, take into account a number of this info simply because should you aren’t an skilled surfer then this sport could be very harmful and also the waters could be treacherous.
A day at the beach should be accompanied by friends and games to play with your friends. Of course, the types of games you may decide to play can depend on the type of beach you are at. Some beaches have very fine sand, some have small stones and hard shells mixed in the sand, and some can be narrow or wide. One of the most popular and well-known beach games is beach volleyball.
Beach volleyball has the same rules as indoor volleyball. The game of beach volleyball originated in Southern California and was designed to give surfers an activity to do when the surf was down and is now widely played around the world. There are two teams separated by a high net and its objective is to score points by landing the ball on the sand of the other team’s court. Competitive beach volleyball is played with two players but recreational teams can have up to six players. The differences between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball include surface area, team size, and court size. Clearly, the main difference between the two games is the playing surface. Beach volleyball is played on a sand floor and indoor volleyball is played on a hard surface area. The team size for indoor volleyball is six players per team whereas in beach volleyball there is usually two players per team. Another difference between beach volleyball and indoor volleyball is court size. Indoor volleyball has a court size of nine by eighteen meters while beach volleyball courts measure eight by sixteen meters. Another difference between the two is uniforms. Beach volleyball uniforms were standardized in 1999. The required uniform for women is the swimsuit, given the option between a one-piece and a two-piece bikini, most women have chosen the bikini. The chosen uniform for men is shorts and a tank-top. In some conservative cultures however, the swimsuit is just too revealing to be worn as a uniform and the rules have been adjusted and replaced the uniforms with less revealing shorts and tank-tops instead of bikinis.
There is a certain type of lifestyle and culture associated with beach volleyball. With this sport having originated in Southern California and Hawaii, the beach volleyball culture is similar to the surf culture. The types of people who play beach volleyball tend to be the beach-bum, hippie types, with their tanned skin and Jerry Garcia’s “I will get by” attitude. The type of clothing they tend to wear includes swimsuits, board shorts, and tank-tops with sandals or bare feet.
Beach volleyball can be a fun sport to play one-on-one with your best friend, or with a group of people with up to six players on each team. So next time you go to the beach, reserve a nice spot next to a beach volleyball net and have some fun!
Grab your beach towels and lets go to the beach!!!
When one thinks of Florida, what often comes to mind is the word beach, followed by alligators, palm trees, manatees, and sunshine. And incredibly, the state of Florida possesses more miles of beaches than California with almost 2,000 miles of coastline and nearly 1,200 miles of sandy beaches. Because the state is surrounded by water it includes several coastlines. The East coast is composed of the most popular Florida beaches such as Miami’s South Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Daytona. The Keys, which extend into the Florida Straits, encompass Key West and Key Largo. And lastly, there is the Gulf coast, which includes the more appealing cities such as Naples and Marco Island, and the spring break capital: Panama City.
The sand on the beaches of the northern peninsula and the Panhandle is known as quartz sand, meaning that it is snow white in color and fine-grained and soft in texture. Beaches further down the state contain sand composed of small, broken shells and the sand is tinted brown in color. And in the Florida Keys, crushed coral becomes a part of the sand. It’s unfortunate, however, that most Florida beaches are artificial, no longer natural, and have been widened to accommodate tourists.
The state of Florida contains a total of 400 beaches. Some however, have been either overdeveloped or destroyed by hurricanes. Siesta Key Public Beach is a tourist favorite because it’s nearly perfect, containing white, soft, fine-grained quartz crystals over a wide beach area. And since these crystals are so reflective, you can walk on the dry sand and not burn your feet. Siesta Key is located inside Sarasota County and the public beach is almost a mile in length. It contains all the needed facilities and in addition, there is beach volleyball, a beach cafe and picnic area, and lifeguards year-round.
Lover’s Key State Park is located on the Southwest coast of Florida, in Bonita Springs, just south of Fort Myers beach. A little over 700 acres, Lover’s Key is an ecosystem of mangrove-filled estuaries and beaches. The beaches of Lover’s Key are covered with sea oats, driftwood, and shells and are some of the most naturally beautiful and appealing on the Southwest coast of Florida.
Fort Myers beach is what has come to be known as a party-goers beach. It includes a long public pier, condos, and small motels along with bars and beach volleyball 7 miles long. Fort Myers beach area is full of night-life and “red-necks.” Fort Myers beach remains an affordable tourist attraction and if you’re looking for a good time then this is the place to be.
While lying on a beach blanket soaking up the tropical sun is one of the favorite ways of enjoying Naples, it’s not the only way. Not by a long shot. Not that we want to take away from the natural tropical beauty we enjoy here, but we wouldn’t want anyone thinking Naples was a one trick pony.
Feel free to leave the beach towel at home for a day or two and try some culture and fine food, as we take a brief tour of just some of the things you can do while staying here.
Let’s start with culture. The area has over one hundred galleries alone and was named the top Small Art Town in America. Highlights include the Naples Museum of Art, the von Liebig Art Center and the Marco Island Center for the Arts. All these venues have permanent collections as well as featured displays and traveling exhibits. We all know that art appreciation is very subjective, and that what is good for one isn’t necessarily good for another. If the masters aren’t your style, then you can find modern, abstract, impressionism and all sorts in the wide array of galleries and museums.
The shopping districts also have galleries where you can purchase prints and artworks to take home with you. Both 3rd Street South and 5th Avenue South have numerous places to begin your own art collection.
If you prefer your art to have a pulse, then the Philharmonic Center for the Arts will be right up your street. This is the number one performing arts center in the area and plays host to the Naples Philharmonic as well as visiting musicians and orchestras.
Eating in Naples offers just as many choices as the culture. The aforementioned 3rd Street South and 5th Avenue South areas have plenty of cafes, bistros and informal restaurants to enjoy, as well as deli’s and a Caribbean pub. Venetian Bay has Tin City and the Village which both offer both casual and more up market dining experiences, as does the bay front.
If high class, gourmet food is more to your taste then you’ll love Marco Island. It’s home to some of the finest restaurants in the region, specializing in locally sourced seafood. It isn’t all formality though, as there are plenty of grills to eat and relax while enjoying the tropical paradise we call home.
Everglade City offers a lot to the adventurous diner from our locally caught seafood to ‘gator tail to frogs legs. It hosts a range of restaurants that offer seasonal seafood and regional dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Some of them even offer a view of the ten thousand islands to enjoy while you eat.
So you see, the beach plays a big part in our lives, and beach towels are a staple in our wardrobes, but it isn’t all we are, or all we have. Naples is a thriving, cosmopolitan city that has a lot to offer any visitor.
If you’re a sun worshipper and consider a beach blanket an essential holiday item, you need to know where you can find the best beaches in the world. Over the next couple of posts, we list the ten best beaches of the world, as voted for by beach lovers across the world, and travel site Guardian Travel.
Our first stop is Spain, Las Islas Cies in Galicia. This beach fronts the Atlantic coast of Spain, slightly north of Portugal and near the town of Baiona. A quick boat ride to the island finds you in a pristine national park that was once the haunt of pirates. Only open during the summer, this is a secret that not too many people know about. That allows visitors to enjoy the stunning beaches, turquoise waters and beautiful surroundings without hordes of people getting in the way.
The next beach is in Colombia, which maybe isn’t a natural holiday destination for the average American. However, it is home to one of the loveliest beaches on the planet. It can be found in the Tayrona National Park and is a Caribbean paradise of epic proportions. It has beautiful, soft white sand, clear turquoise water, and is quiet enough to be enjoyed without interruption. This is an untamed area, with jungle butting the beach and waves crashing over rocks the size of cars along the coast. This is a deserted paradise that Robinson Crusoe could only dream of.
Up next is Brazil. Slightly more appealing to the American traveler. It sits on the edge of Brazils oldest city, Salvador, and nestles between a white fort at one end and a church at the other. It is the hub of the community, with boats unloading their catch, children playing volleyball or soccer and people just hanging around. The beach is in a bay and is calm, clear and lovely to behold. The clear water laps serenely against soft sand and faces west so you can enjoy an amazing sunset that brings tears to your eyes.
We traverse the Pacific now to the Philippines, and to Palawan. Palawan is a group of islands is about as exotic and tropical as it’s possible to get. A series of gnarled archipelago with rocky coves, underground waterways, rainforest and deserted beaches, just begging you to throw your beach towel down and enjoy. As there are so many islands, it is perfectly possible to find a deserted one and enjoy the beach completely alone. The soft, powdery sand and clear blue waters make this the stuff of dreams. If you thought the movie “The Beach” was good, it was based on the writer’s experience here.
Last up, for this post anyway, is Africa. In a country with so much coastline, it’s surprising that it doesn’t feature more prominently here. The area of Nungwi in Zanzibar has sand so fine it’s like dust. The sand gives way grudgingly to sapphire blue seas that are calm and bustling with life. Sand and coral outcrops vie for space along the coast with fishing villages and animals. Sitting on this beach is like going back in time 500 years. It’s an unspoiled paradise in the true sense of the word.
We continue to list the ten best beaches according to tourists and the travel site, Guardian Travel, with our final five beaches. These aren’t listed in order, and are all equally worth a visit. Many of them are only frequented by backpackers and independent tourists so are mainly quiet and unspoiled. So pack a bag, throw in a beach towel and join us as we travel the world visiting the world’s best beaches.
Last time we left you in Zanzibar. A quick hop of the water to India finds us in Goa. This is probably India’s most famous resort that conjures up images of hippies and backpackers laying around drinking beer and smoking dope. While this is still true for much of the area, the northern end, Arambol doesn’t see so many tourists. This is a good thing because the beach here takes your breath away. The sweeping stretch of sand is surrounded by a rocky headland, jungle and a beautiful, tranquil sea. You won’t see a line of beach blankets here. It’s possible to be here days without seeing another soul.
Now we fly south to Australia. Almost as famous as America for its beach culture and outdoor lifestyle. We find ourselves in Queensland, and Whitehaven in Whitsunday Islands. It isn’t hard to conceive that the word gorgeous was first dreamed up here. This is an island with the finest, softest white sand and warm, clear azure water you have ever seen. It really does make you stop and just marvel at natures beauty. It’s mostly deserted, uninhabited and amazing. It takes a while to get there, but once you do, it’s difficult to leave. Stay overnight and camp on the beach to enjoy everything this island has to offer.
A quick hop over the Pacific to the Cook Islands is where we’re headed next, to Aroa, One Foot Island on the south part of the Aitutaki atoll. One Foot Island is a small islet on the south of the lagoon and is mostly spared mass tourism. This is mainly because it takes forever to get here, but it’s well worth it once you arrive. The atoll is made of coral and borders a beautiful azure colored lagoon. It was recently voted the best beach in Australasia and sitting here on the shore it’s no surprise. Bring a beach blanket and a snorkel, then forget about the world for a while.
Now our unlikely destination is the United Kingdom for the last two beaches. First up is Shell Beach in Dorset, which is on the south coast of the island. It’s just a few miles from civilization, but it feels like hundreds. Miles of golden sand beaches, dunes, woods and wildlife separates you from the rest of the world. While the sea is probably the least inviting out of all the beaches here, this offers a more wild, untamed beach experience. It’s full of hollows and places where you can lay your beach towel and not see anyone for hours.
Last up is Caithness, which is only eight miles from the UK’s most northern point, John O’ Groats. This again is a more wild experience in Sinclair’s Bay, which is bordered at either end by 16th century castles. On a good day, the sparkling white sand and blue water is more reminiscent of the Caribbean that England. Wildlife abounds, from birds and porpoise to orca.
Anyone who lives in Naples or its surrounds knows that life begins, and ends at the beach. As soon as college is over, or when we don’t have class, my buddies and I hit the beach. It’s a great place to hang out, enjoy the sun, work on our tan, and bodies and watch the girls go by. Sitting down on a beach towel and being one with the beach is the best feeling in the world as far as I’m concerned.
I bought a Bodacious Beach Blanket, partly for the name, which is cool, but partly because of the iPod pocket. I ruined one last year by getting it wet when we came back from swimming. I hadn’t put it away and had left it under my towel, it got wet when I lay down to dry off. Not a good move when it was stuffed full of music. Some of which I had to get again as I didn’t have copies of them.
So despite the stripes, the Bodacious Beach Blanket is pretty cool. Mine is the royal blue version which is less camp than the others, and I think it’s great. It has a sling, pockets, sand pouches and all the toys only someone born on the beach would think of. Best of all is the little pocket for the iPod, and the small hole to put the headphones through. It does leave it a little exposed as it’s a pain to take it out and put it away when we go play ball or swim, but apart from that it’s perfect.
My buddies also bought these beach blankets once they saw how cool they were, and how it kept everything dry. It also keeps my cell handy for collecting numbers and keeping in touch.
It’s nice to not have to worry about a beach towel flying off in a breeze or folding over you when you’re sleeping. Not being covered in sand just after applying lotion is always a bonus. It also gives me an opener when talking to a girl. The blanket has room for two, and two pillows so I can ask a chick if she would like to share my blanket with me, it’s a great line. Although it hasn’t worked yet.
The towel is okay, the buttons round the edges are inspired. It takes a few minutes to remove it, but having it weighed down so it doesn’t fly off is a real bonus. There’s nothing as uncool as chasing a beach towel around the beach as it flies off. I know that for a fact, and my buddies sat there laughing at me instead of helping. Not cool.
Now I’m the one who laughs when a strong breeze throws their towel up, or covers them in sand when it’s blown. Mine doesn’t move, so those of us with one of these sit there smug while the dudes cuss about the wind and wipe sand off themselves.
Clearing up is a breeze, just empty the pockets of sand, shake it and roll it up, job done. A good product, invented to make beach life easier.
My mom bought me one of these Bodacious Beach Blankets as a gift for getting A’s this semester. It’s a bright pink color and weighs a little bit, but it makes life so much easier, I can’t fault it really.
The girls and I generally head to the beach after school for a couple of hours before heading home. If the weather is particularly sunny, we might skip a class or two to go there too. A tan is a very important thing in a girl’s life. We have to look good no matter what.
I did wonder what on earth she had bought when she first gave it to me, but she looked so pleased to have gotten me something “cool” that I made all the right noises so I didn’t hurt her feelings. I tried it out in the garden at first so I could get the hang of it, but I shouldn’t have worried. My best friend came over and loved it. We lay together on the lawn and got some sun while she ordered her own from her cell. It’s good to be the first with something.
It’s just the right size to fit in the trunk, so we can take them to college with us. It’s a little bigger than a folded beach towel, but you get used to it, the handles are just like a heavy school or shopping bag and fit over the shoulder.
Once at the beach we can stuff each corner with sand to stop the breeze throwing them up. We can also put our cell, MP3 player and mirror in the little pocket. If we need to get changed, or if someone forgets to put their bikini on underneath their clothes, they make a good changing room when put on their side and rolled into a ring with you inside.
I share mine occasionally with a girlfriend as there’s plenty of room for two, but I try not to as I like spreading out. That way I get tanned everywhere, no white bits. I use one of the pockets for a mirror and it’s very handy to be able to glance down to check the hair is in place, especially if there are cute boys around. A girl has to look her best!
The MP3 pocket is also useful for using hands-free on my cell. That way I can talk to my girlfriends while working on my tan. I just make sure to move the wire regularly so I don’t get lines.
The guy who made these is from the beach, you can tell. The way the beach towel buttons on the back, the little pockets for sand, the other ones for makeup, purses and mirrors and the way it’s all water and sand proof. I’m glad my mom got me one of these, I didn’t even know they existed. I wonder what she’ll get me next time I get A’s.
Although we don’t do it much here, on the Gulf, surfing is a big part of beach life for many people. Go to any beach along the US west coast and you’ll find rows of beach towels, and upended surfboards either ready to be used, or having just been used. It’s a part of beach culture and for some, a complete way of life. We’re going to explore the history of this most famous beach-side pursuits over the next two posts to give you an idea of the history of surfing.
As far as we know, surfing was taking place in Polynesia for hundreds, if not thousands of years. They had no written language until they met the white man so had no libraries or archives. Their history being told in story and song. It’s believed the Polynesians colonized Hawaii around 400 AD, drawn by both the hauntingly beautiful landscape and the need for space. They brought their culture with them, and kept the traditions and ways of life until the white man arrive in the 18th century.
Part of that was of life was surfing, which wasn’t only a sport, but had deep religious significance. It also played a part in elevation, like deeds in battle did for other cultures. Commoners could become famous and wealthy as well as elevate their status with feats of skill and daring on a surfboard.
The first record of surfing comes from Captain James Cook’s narrative of his third Pacific expedition. He was killed by the Hawaiian people for trying to kidnap their chief, but the book was finished by his second in command, Lieutenant James King. In it he describes the Hawaiian people surfing on short or long planks of wood, either standing (alaia) or prone (paipo).
He describes in detail the Hawaiians mastery of the coast and the sea and mentions they could swim out to the ships lying offshore, play in the water for hours, then swim back to shore without even seeming tired. The narrative was completed in 1779 and became the first written record in the Western world of surfing.
It seemed to King in his observations, that surfing was an integral part of Hawaiian culture. Many places were named after surfing related events or incidents and prowess in the surf translated to position within the tribes. The Hawaiian culture was deeply rooted and strict, adhering to taboos which dictated how things were to be done, and how they lived. Contact with the white man began the downfall for this culture and for the part surfing played in it.
Within 50 years of Cook’s first visit to the island, the “kapu” or traditional system was no more, and western influence held sway. From then on, surfing lost its significance in the society. The arrival of Christian missionaries was the last nail in the coffin of surfing as a lifestyle as they convince the locals to wear more clothes, work more and play less. Having broken the last link with surfing, it declined steadily.
It’s summertime and the sun is bright, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and it’s as hot as can be. There’s no better place to be than at the beach! But remember, it’s imperative that you have all the necessary equipment/gear before heading off to your fun-filled day at the beach. Not bringing the [...]
Surfing could be a single of probably the most enjoyable and fascinating seaside actions to engage in. Most viewers, nevertheless, generally reside about the west coast simply because surfing demands tall waves. Tall waves are created by wind, assigning them the name wind waves. You will find several elements that figure out the formation of [...]
A day at the beach should be accompanied by friends and games to play with your friends. Of course, the types of games you may decide to play can depend on the type of beach you are at. Some beaches have very fine sand, some have small stones and hard shells mixed in the sand, [...]
When one thinks of Florida, what often comes to mind is the word beach, followed by alligators, palm trees, manatees, and sunshine. And incredibly, the state of Florida possesses more miles of beaches than California with almost 2,000 miles of coastline and nearly 1,200 miles of sandy beaches. Because the state is surrounded by water [...]
While lying on a beach blanket soaking up the tropical sun is one of the favorite ways of enjoying Naples, it’s not the only way. Not by a long shot. Not that we want to take away from the natural tropical beauty we enjoy here, but we wouldn’t want anyone thinking Naples was a one [...]
importance, I’m going to list the items that you’ll need to bring. Sunglasses are an important item because the sun is very bright on the beach due to its reflection on the white sand and you’ll need to protect your eyes from UV radiation. Any type of your favorite sunglasses will work but I recommend ones with yellow/orange lenses because they increase color distortion and contrast. Next, you’ll need a beach blanket or towel. The bigger the better! You may want to bring one beach blanket to lie on, and a smaller beach towel to dry off with if you’re going to be swimming in the ocean. Depending on what you prefer, you may or may not choose to bring a beach chair. Also, you’ll need some type of entertainment while you’re at the beach. I’d recommend bringing a magazine and some music. If there’s more than just your company at the beach, a small radio or CD player with batteries works well, and an iPod with headphones if you’re alone. Next, you’ll need sunscreen. I would advise you to bring at least two different levels of sunscreen. One being a high SPF such as 45, and one lower one such as 15 or 30 SPF depending on your skin type. The purpose of sunscreen is to protect the skin from sunburn by absorbing or reflecting the sun’s UV rays. If you are at the beach to obtain a suntan, then you may also want to bring a tanning oil, which intensifies sun exposure. Be careful with tanning oils because they can seem very deceptive. A little bit of oil could result in a really bad sunburn. And be sure that your tanning oil also contains a bit of sunblock, even if it’s only an SPF 4. And lastly, you’ll need to bring a cooler filled with ice, bottles of water, and some snacks. Also, be sure that any bottles you bring are plastic because no glass bottles are allowed on the beach. That means no beer bottles or liquor bottles either! Sub out cans and plastic bottles filled with your favorite pre-made cocktails.
