Summer is here! It’s time to pack up the car, get the family together, and head to the beach! Although beach days can be fun, they can be stressful if you aren’t a seasoned pro (especially if you have little ones). Don’t worry, we’ve got the best beach hacks for you and your family to have the best summer ever!
First things first; having a good beach bag is essential for a day at the beach! A bag that’s large enough to fit everyones needs and that is easy to carry is a must. Some of the best beach bags can be found at local surf shops, and souvenir stores. Backpacks also make a great beach bag, just make sure you don’t mind getting a little sand in it!
When you’re on the beach, please keep in mind that we all need to make an effort to keep it clean! Put those plastic grocery bags to good use (and out of our oceans) and use them for trash disposal. Most beach public beach accesses on the OBX have garbage cans for disposal of your trash the end of your beach day. If you want to go a step further and eliminate the need of single use plastics, bring a recyclable bag to the beach for your trash, dump it at the end of the day, and wipe it out for the next time!
Each family and group that visits the Outer Banks is different and has different needs. Beach accesses up and down the Outer Banks feature beaches that have lifeguards on duty, bath houses with changing facilities, handicapped parking and wheel chair access, and more. The handy website OBX Beach Access shows beach accesses from Corolla to Hatteras and the features of them all!
While the beach and the ocean can be fun, it’s also important to be safe. Make sure to be safe while swimming and keep a very close eye on children and pets. Rip currents occur on the Outer Banks and can be very dangerous and can pull you out to sea quickly. If you find yourself in a rip current, remain calm and swim parallel to shore until you’re no longer being pulled. Whenever red flags are up at the beach, DON’T SWIM. If they’re yellow, exercise extreme caution. Remember, if in doubt, don’t go out!
If you’re bringing baby to the beach, be sure they have a good space to play! Inflatable kiddie pools are great for babies and toddlers. The pool can be filled up with ocean water for a little play space or left empty for a perfect play pen or nap area. Make sure the area over the kiddie pool or wherever baby plays is well shaded.
When leaving the beach at the end of a long day, being covered in sand is guaranteed. Baby powder helps get sand off of the skin with ease! Just sprinkle baby powder on the sandy area and wipe away. No more sand tracked in the car, in the house, or in the bed!
A fitted sheet in your beach bag can be the difference between the savannah desert on your sitting area and a sand free oasis. To keep sand out of your sitting area on the beach, bring a fitted sheet and place coolers, beach bags, and backpacks in the corners of the sheets for a perfect beach setup.
Nothing is a bigger bummer than dropping your phone in the water or getting sand in the speakers and between buttons. Place your smartphone in a ziplock sandwich baggie to avoid spills and sand. By using a sandwich bag, you can still use the touch screen! If you want a longer lasting solution, Lifeproof cases are amazing.
Unnecessary ice packs make lugging your cooler to the beach that much harder. Eliminate the middle man and freeze your drinks! They’ll keep everything else in the cooler cold and when it’s time for a drink of water or juice, the bottle will be thawed out enough!
Practicing safe sun care is super important at the beach. Make sure to reapply sunscreen often and wear hats and sunglasses. For more information on sun safety, check out our blog right here! In the event you get sunburned (it happens) turn to apple cider vinegar (ACV). Dilute 1 part ACV with 1 part water in a spray bottle and spray on sunburn. It’ll take the sting and redness out. After, apply aloe or coconut oil to soothe and rehydrate the skin.
What Is Beach Nourishment?
Beach nourishment is the process of pumping sand onto an eroding shoreline to widen the existing beach. Sand is taken from either a sandbar, a dredged inlet, or an offshore borrow site on the ocean floor. Beach nourishment increases defense from coastal storms and beach erosion saving beaches and homes and business that border the beaches. Beach nourishment provides More Beach To Love!
Jennette’s Pier before and after 2012 beach nourishment – via the Town of Nags Head
Here on the Outer Banks, tropical storms and hurricanes are the norm and we usually take a beating from these storms. The last hurricane we experienced, wiped out part of Highway 12 in Kitty Hawk. Beach nourishment, in short, will save the existing shoreline from eroding and prevent some damage when hurricane season rolls around.
Highway 12 in Kitty Hawk after Hurricane Matthew 2016
Not only will beach nourishment protect the Banks from storms, it also allows more space for visitors and locals alike to spread their beach gear out without being on top of each other on nice beach days.
How Will The Beach Nourishment Process Affect Me?
Any given section of beach might be shut down for 4 to 6 days to ensure public safety. Bulldozers, loaders, and excavators will be used in this process. This equipment contains back up lights and alarms so it may be a bit noisy. Shore pipeline will be laid to allow for sand to be pumped from the offshore station to the active construction site. This pipeline will run parallel to the beach so they will be visible, however, sand ramps will be built over the pipelines to allow safe access from the beach to the ocean. All in all, you can still enjoy soaking up the sun, playing in the waves, and spending time with friends and family and make OBX memories that will last a lifetime!
For more information and updates visit the More Beach To Love website!
By Clicking Yes, Please you agree to our terms & conditions