Tag Archives: beach

Have Duck Will Travel

Who knew a 99-cent rubber duck could be such a valuable part of a family vacation? We just returned from Hawaii and are still readjusting to life minus the sun, sand and surf. (Going from 85 degrees to a high of 10 is enough to shock anyone’s system.) As always my 3-year-old daughter had a blast spending time with grandma and grandpa, “other-side grandma” (my grandmother), her uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. And, of course, my little fish could not get enough of the beach. She loves jumping over the waves, swimming in the whitewash, and practicing her dance moves … Continue reading →

More Tips to Keep Your Camera Safe at the Beach

In a previous blog I listed some tips to consider before taking your camera to the beach. The sand, saltwater and wind combine to make beach days memorable, but they can also wreck havoc on your expensive pieces of photo equipment. Luckily, there are ways you can safeguard your camera from the elements. Take a look: Filters. Invest in a protective filter for your camera. If you have a SLR use a UV filter. By doing so you get the optical benefits plus an added layer of protection for your lens. After all, there is nothing more disheartening than discovering … Continue reading →

Tips to Consider Before Taking Your Camera to the Beach

Spring break is right around the corner, which means many families are getting ready to ditch the snow and ice and head for the surf and sand. In my opinion nothing serves as a better backdrop for a family photo than bright blue skies, cobalt water and pale, sugary sand. On the flipside nothing can ruin your expensive camera faster than scorching hot temperatures, salt water or tiny pieces of sand getting lodged in all the wrong places. I grew up in Hawaii and learned the hard way what can happen to photo equipment when it is exposed to the … Continue reading →

Simple Design Ideas to Bring Home the Beach

Now that the cooler weather is starting to set in, why not hold on to summer just a little longer with a breezy beach design? I love the feel of a summer design. The colors are soft and crisp, and the mood is definitely carefree and serene. It is an especially nice design choice for a bedroom, where you can dream long of your summer at the shore. Here are some ways to incorporate beach-like design elements that will charm you. Let’s start with color. Choose crisp whites, the light blues of a summer sky and the delicate pinks of … Continue reading →

Travel Warning: The Dangers of Sand

If you thought large waves, strong rip currents, and sharks were the only dangers at the beach—-think again. There is nothing that makes my 3-year-old happier than digging a massive hole in the sand at our favorite beach in Hawaii. (Okay, she doesn’t exactly do much of the digging, but she really nails her role as sand hole foreman.) The sand hole becomes a mock playpen/playhouse for her while we are at the beach. Unfortunately, I recently learned that sand holes can become shallow graves for young children. A new report reveals that in the last ten years more than … Continue reading →

How To Treat A Jellyfish Sting

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We’re getting close to the start of the summer… and that means beach time! If you’ll be spending time at the ocean with your family, you may need to know how to treat a jellyfish sting. There isn’t usually much warning before a jellyfish sting. You may not even know a jellyfish is near until you’ve been stung. The sting comes from the jellyfish’s long tentacles that trail behind the bell-shaped body. The venom in the tentacles is alkali-based, and has a chance of causing a severe allergic reaction. If you or someone you’re with gets stung, here’s what you … Continue reading →

For Mother Ocean Day: The Hammerhead Story

Photo by Jason VanDorsten My husband is always shaking his head over my love for animals, reptiles, and everything in between, and my enthusiasm for “helping” them when I see them in distress. Since today is Mother Ocean Day, I’d like to honor it by sharing one of my dearest beach memories. From 1999 until 2005, my husband and I lived in Jacksonville, Florida, and we often frequented the beach. It’s common for people to fish from the shoreline, and common for them to catch things. Sharks (mostly small ones, sometimes larger ones) among them. On this particular day, a … Continue reading →

Sarasota, Florida – An Introduction

There is a little slice of heaven located about one hour due south of Tampa. This place is ripe with first class accommodations, inventive cuisine, activities and shopping galore, perfect weather and miles of world-renowned beaches. Sarasota, Florida is a beach bum’s paradise and an ideal family vacation spot. Two airports – the Tampa International and the Sarasota-Bradenton, serve Sarasota very well and make getting into and out of the city quite simple and headache free. The main reason folks travel here are the 35 miles of pristine beaches accessible, many within minutes, from downtown Sarasota. Directly across the bridge … Continue reading →

Hawaii’s Free Activities

If you are jetting off to Hawaii for the holidays—congratulations! Spending time in the tropics while others are dealing with wind chills and snow shovels is priceless. However, the price of paradise can be a bit steep at times (depending on where you stay and what you eat). But, there are ways to have fun in the Hawaiian sun without going home broke. Here’s one of my favorite free activities offered by the Sheraton Kauai. They are 6 to 8 feet long, and weigh more than a typical sumo wrestler. Their big dark eyes will make your heart melt and … Continue reading →

Waikiki Beach Makeover

It’s an event that hasn’t taken place in more than three decades, but now it is just days away from starting—Hawaii’s famed Waikiki beach is getting a makeover- of sorts. It’s really more of an expansion than an actual makeover, but when the project is complete you will be able to spread out on the powder white sand without worrying about elbowing the visitors tanning themselves next to you. According to state Department of Land and Natural Resource, the sand replenishment project should take a month to complete—just in time for the influx of holiday travelers. Project organizers plan to … Continue reading →