ResortRealty, Author at resortrealty.com

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!

Just Throw It In The Bag

Backpacks and bags like these from Billabong are perfect for beach days with your family

First things first; having a good beach bag is essential for a day at the beach! A bag that’s large enough to fit everyone’s 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!

Protect What You Love

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 at the end of your beach day. If you want to go a step further and eliminate the need for 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!

Choose The Right Beach Access

Jennette’s Pier in Nags Head features a ramp, bathhouse, and a blanket license to fish off the pier!

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, bathhouses with changing facilities, handicapped parking and wheelchair access, and more. The handy website OBX Beach Access shows beach accesses from Corolla to Hatteras and the features of them all!

Learn About Rip Currents + Ocean Safety

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!

Have A Kiddie Pool For Babies

Keep the little ones cool and entertained in a kiddie pool

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 playpen or nap area. Make sure the area over the kiddie pool or wherever baby plays is well-shaded.

Bring Baby Powder

The quickest way to get rid of sand? Baby powder!

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 it away. No more sand tracked in the car, in the house, or the bed!

Pack A Fitted Sheet

Who knew a fitted sheet could be so handy?

A fitted sheet in your beach bag can be the difference between the Sahara desert in 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.

Protect Your Tech

Avoid a trip to the Verizon store with a weatherproof case

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.

Freeze Your Drinks

Keep your drinks cool and your beach day cooler

Unnecessary ice packs make lugging your cooler to the beach that much harder. Eliminate the middleman 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!

Be Smart In The Sun

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.

If you’ve ever seen a ghost crab, you know where they get their name. They’re small and white and are pretty hard to spot during the day. Here’s how to hunt ghost crabs on your next Outer Banks vacation! Just don’t poke, prod, or attempt to harm them. They’re still an important part of the Outer Banks’ ecosystem and they will try to poke you back!

Wear Darker Clothing + Stay Quiet

Ghost crabs are typically skittish critters. They don’t like loud noises and don’t really like to be seen (which is why it’s rare to see them during the day).

Have Your Camera + Flashlight Ready

Keep your flashlight a good distance in front of you so you can see the crabs scurry in the light and avoid stepping on them. When ghost crabs get caught in the beam of light, they freeze for a few seconds which is the perfect time to snap a picture and get a closer look! Just respect their space and don’t touch, pick up, or mess with them!

Go To Quiet + Secluded Beaches

The best place to go ghost crab hunting is on a quiet, secluded beach, that’s where you’ll find the most! Ghost crabs also tend to be closer to the shoreline. They live in holes in the sand that can range from about the width of a nickel and to get as big as a silver dollar.

Pick The Perfect Time

From late May to early September, ghost crabs can be found in abundance around the shoreline! If you head out with your family at night during the summer months, you’ll be sure to have a blast and making memories chasing down ghost crabs!

If you didn’t know, the Outer Banks opened up the coolest, wildest, and splashiest water park last summer! H2OBX is the premier OBX water park that’s perfect for the whole family. Opening day this year falls on May 26th and we can’t wait! We’ve come up with the ultimate guide for navigating through H2OBX! From the thrill seekers in your crew to the ones that just need to relax, get a feel of what H2OBX has to offer your group!