What does it take to plan that summer beach vacation and what should we place as an emphasis in our packing. Through the years my wife and I have taken week long beach vacations. First as a married couple enjoying each others company then as a small family unit with two parents and one child, and now as a unit with two adults and two children. Along the way our travel planning has improved.
During our pre-children years we simply packed in two duffel bags and off to the beach of our choice. This took a total of about two hours to pack up the bags and get on the road. Prior to packing we simply selected a destination site and called ahead for reservations. Planning was not at a premium at this stage of our life.
Into our lives popped our first child. That first beach vacation was harrowing to say the least. We decided that maybe a little pre-planning was in order. So we choice our favorite destination at the time, Litchfield, SC. We booked our trip with cost in mind and stayed about ? mile from the beach in the golf cottages. This was our first mistake, traveling too and from the beach with a 10 month old can be harrowing at best. Even worse if the distance is daunting. So lesson number one plan on staying at the least Beach Side, within 500 yard of the beach if you plan on being at the beach with your young children. They will need to go back and forth from the condo or house on a frequent basis.
Lesson number 2 from this first beach vacation. Do not pack the entire kitchen including the sink to bring with you on your trip. We had an extended cab pick-up truck so the wife, baby, and I were all snuggly secured. We packed all of our needs as we thought that we could accommodate into the bed of the truck, Playpen, Highchair, and changing table were all part of our packing entourage. The entire bed was full of goodies and items for the little bambino. We never thought to ask the rental agency if this could be provided. Of course it can, some companies offer it for free others will charge you a small fee to place these into your units. Just be aware that the service is available.
Finally if you are staying for a week don't worry about stocking up on your consumable goods before heading out. The beach has the same prices at SAM's and Wal-Mart that you have at home. You can go out once you arrive and avoid all the extra baggage that would be associated if you were to travel with your food and disposable goods.
So after all of this minor knowledge and planning we had the system beat with child #2 right. Wrong, she taught us a few more things. One is that if your youngest is not accustomed to sleeping in the same room with your other children please make plans to accommodate the situation. Having two children on your hands that are sleep deprived is not a fun event.
Lastly make sure to book a site with a pool available on your first trip. We found out during daughter #2's first beach trip that she hated the feel of sand on her body. She would go board stiff and start screaming at the top of her lungs should she feel that gritty substance on her body. We wound up using the pool almost exclusively on this trip.
These are just a few of the tips that my wife and I have learned over the years. Please feel free to use them for your trip planning and execution of that summer vacation.
There is no question that it is great to be on a beach vacation, outside in the warm and sunny weather. But are you protected from the sun? When planning to be outside for an extended period of time there are a number of precautions to take in order to prevent painful sunburns, sunstroke and protect yourself against the future risk of developing skin cancer. Here are 10 helpful hints to ensure your summer beach vacation doesn't lead to something unexpected.
Choose and Use a Sunscreen! Sunscreen is a product that you apply to the skin, and once absorbed can protect you against the sun's radiation. Choose a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Also ensure that you choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more, especially for use on babies 6 months or older and children, who are more sensitive to the sun. Once sunscreen is applied it tends to wear off within 2-3 hours and should be reapplied for the duration of your sun exposure.
Between 10 and 4, stay indoors! Between the hours of 10 AM and 4 PM the sun is at its most intense given its height in the sky and proximity to the earth. By limiting your exposure to ultraviolet radiation during these hours you can lower your risk of harmful sun exposure. If you simply love being outside, or your job requires you be outside your best protection is to choose and use a good sunscreen, or wear clothing that will keep your skin covered.
Cover up, don't get sun struck! Wearing clothing that covers exposed skin can help to block the sun's rays as well. Choosing to wear long sleeved shirts, long pants or long skirts can protect as much skin as possible. Dark coloured, tightly woven fabrics may provide more protection than light coloured loosely woven clothing. Ideally sun protective fabrics are lightweight, comfortable, and stylish as well.
Cover your lid! While wearing an ordinary baseball cap may protect your scalp and face from sun exposure and help to prevent sunstroke wearing a proper wide brimmed hat may offer the additional benefit of protecting all of your vulnerable skin from the sun. A hat with at least a 2-3 inch brim or a shade cap is ideal because it protects areas that are often exposed to the sun. The areas of your body that typically receive the most sun exposure include: the ears, neck, eyes, forehead, nose and scalp. The back of the neck and the ears are the most common places skin cancers are found, so preventing burns and cumulative skin damage to these areas may help prevent skin cancers from forming.
Protect your eyes from what's high in the sky! Wearing sunglasses protects your eyes from the same harmful UV rays that sunscreen protects your skin from. Long hours spent outdoors over the course of your life without adequate eye protection may increase your likelihood of developing eye disease. UV protective sunglasses can help prevent sun damage from reaching your eyes. You don't have to spend a mint to find sunglasses that will do the trick against UVA and UVB rays - just be sure that the label on the sunglasses identifies them as having 99- 100% UVA and UVB protection.
Avoid tanning beds! Although tanning beds do not emit light from the sun, they can be equally if not more dangerous than the sun. Many people suffer from the incorrect notion that tanning beds are harmless; this may not be the case as tanning beds emit high levels of UVA and UVB rays. Exposure to tanning beds is close up and self regulated and as such can cause serious skin damage which can eventually lead to the formation of skin cancers. Serious dangers are associated with overexposure for people with all skin types.
Following these simple sun related tips can help to ensure that you and your family are protected against the suns harmful rays. Protecting yourself is the best way to sit back and relax on your next beach vacation.
Amy Nutt has sinced written about articles on various topics from Culture and Society, Recreation and Sports and Women. About PEI is blessed with 800 km (500 miles) of the warmest. Amy Nutt's top article generates over 368000 views. to your Favourites.