Summer is here, and the number one vacation destination for lots of people would be the beach. When planning to go to the beach, you'll probably have a list of stuff to bring, right? You'll be bringing towels, bathing suits, lotion, flip-flops, food, beach wear, and so many more! You'll be bringing so much stuff; you need to get yourself a nice, big beach bag to accommodate all your stuff.
There are different types of beach bags to choose from, depending on how much stuff you want to bring. You can get types of bags that can accommodate your other vacation essentials, as well as your food and if ever you need some extra space for souvenirs. You can also personalize your beach bags, and have them monogrammed for that special touch.
Extra large beach bags are what you call whale beach bags. They can accommodate all your beach wear and they have lots of pockets so you can organize your stuff. If you're the type of person who brings a lot of stuff to the beach, you can definitely benefit from a whale beach bag, because it has enough room for all you need. But if you're the type of person that only brings the basic essentials and don't really need a large bag, then you can buy a smaller beach bag, that is easy enough to carry.
There are beach bags available in backpack styles too! If you prefer to have your hands free, you can get this type of bag. This way you will be able to carry your other beach gear with your hands conveniently. Backpack style beach bags come in different sizes as well, so you have lots of options.
For your cold drinks and food, you can get an insulated beach bag, which is perfect because it helps keep your food and beverage chilled. Insulated beach bags are also great for protecting medicine from the heat, if you need to bring some medications with you. An insulated beach bag is a good substitute for heavy water coolers.
If you're worried about getting your bag wet, you'd probably be better off buying a vinyl beach bag. This is perfect for carrying wet suits and towels because the bag won't get wet, and if something spills on it, you can just wipe it off easily, no problem.
Whatever your needs may be, there's a particular type of beach bag for you. So choose the perfect beach bag for yourself and you're ready to go. It's time to bask in the sun, go swimming and have the time of your life!
I'm sure you've seen them there, when you went to the beach: sunglasses, hat, and shorts wearing barefoot guys with long slender fishing rods staring off to the horizon. I also bet you wondered about what, if anything they ever caught and how they know where and when to fish.
I know I did until I tried my hand at surf fishing, and after a many hours of getting nothing but pruney toes, I finally figured out what surf fishing is all about, and since then, it has become an almost spiritual hobby, being alone on the beach, at first off hours of the day staring off into the sunset, truing to outsmart wily surf fish.
The truth is that when the surf fish are running, they're almost ridiculously east to catch so long as you understand the basics of surf fishing. Every year, between Christmas and New Years, I head down to the beach with a bucket and a fishing rod, and half fill the bucket with barred surfperch, a staple of Southern California and the coast of Baja California down Mexico way. Barred perch spawn in this time so there are plenty to catch in a couple hours to make up a nice meal for a crew of six or eight.
After mastering the barred perch, I've turned my attention to other denizens of the beach, including Corbina, the king of California and Mexico surf fishes, and Spotfin Croaker, one of the finest eating fishes of the surf. I have friends who even target Halibut form the surf and have seen them land 36 inch California Halibut fishing with a fly from the surf. In fact, the Halibut world record holder fly fisherman in two separate line classes fishes regularly form the surf not 5 miles from my home, and it is there that he hooked his record holders.
I have exported my surf fishing knowledge successfully deep down the MexicanPacificCoast, the GulfCoast of the US, the Northeast, the Mid Atlantic States, and even in the Far East. I fished along side and Old Japanese man sitting on a beach on the inland sea in YamaguchiPrefecture on the southern tip of HonshuIsland, as he explained to me in excruciating detail exactly how to catch, handle, and hook the appropriate bait.
H was speaking in Japanese of course, as I smiled, nodded and interjected an occasional "ah so." Actually I do speak some Japanese but it's limited to ordering food, finding the bathroom, and teasing young girls, so the vast majority of what he was saying was going totally over my head, but I would never have let on that I was only catching about every fourth word.
Ok, so much for my surf fishing exploits, I'm sure you're wondering, "How DO I catch fish in the surf anywhere in the world?" Well, I'm glad you asked. The first thing you have to understand is that the fish you are going to catch in the surf know what they're doing. This is their habitat. These aren't fish that normally inhabit deeper water but just happened to wander to the water's edge, these fish are there intentionally. It's what they do. They're good at it. The only reason they're here is that they're hunting for food. They've leaned how to carve out an existence by eating what is on the very beach you are standing on.
I have to laugh when I talk to surf fisherman that I happen across. I was talking to one particularly frustrated guy who was fishing in Malibu and was complaining that the guy who had this spot just before he came was catching lots of perch but he wasn't having such good luck. I asked him what he was using for bait and he showed me this package of fresh shrimp he'd just bought at the supermarket. Well, trust me, this wasn't fresh shrimp, it was defrosted, and it sure looked to me like the farmed shrimp from Thailand.
He's have been far better off taking those shrimp home, sautéing them in some butter, garlic and lemon, and pouring them over some pasta, than wasting his time fishing with them on a CaliforniaBeach. This was mistake number one.
As I stood there watching and talking with this fisherman, I also noticed another serious gap in his surf fishing knowledge. The tide was receding. A receding tide is the worst time to fish in the surf. Take a moment to think like a fish that lives and hunts in the surf. The tide recedes exposing the beach to the other great predators of the surf line, the birds. The birds scatter about prodding and poking in the sand looking for small creatures to eat.
They unearth clams, sand crabs, worms, and ghost shrimp, whatever they can find to munch on, now that the newly uncovered seabed is exposed, they find a kill all sorts of critters and leave a mess. They dig small holes with their beaks, scratch up the sand with their feet, and do their best to leave no stone unturned.
As the tide starts to come in, each wave goes a little father up onto the beach, chasing the birds away and dragging the newly loosened sand hither and yon. While the sea birds found lots to eat, they certainly didn't get everything. Many creatures successfully evaded the birds, but their semi secure burrows, nooks and crannies where they hid are now in disarray and the incoming tide breaks them down even further. Many of these creatures now find themselves being washed away by the swirling whitewater of the surf.
The now free creatures are now fair game for the sea-bound predators, the surf fish. The surf fish follow the tide in feasting on the buffet the birds uncovered and the incoming surf is now washing free. This is how the surf fish make their living.
OK, you should have learned two very important principles so far. First, is that surf fish are looking for natural food as they hunt the surf? A piece of cut squid, a deep water denizen, is out of place in the surf line, and while a particularly dumb fish night snap at it because it looks interesting, or a fish frenzied by the spawn might eat it in his spawning stupor, the average, intelligent (since it's lived this long) surf predator will view it with some suspicion.
When you go to a surf beach, look for local, natural bait. Dig around in the sand at the surf line looking for small shellfish, clams, sand crabs or worms. The best time to do this is at low tide because you'll have the most amount of undersea surface exposed. You'll probably chase the birds away as you poke and prod in the sand. In Southern California, the most common beach critter is the sand crab.
These pea-sized shellfish are rather easy to catch with a special rake that allows you to sieve them through a screen that passes the sand but not the crabs. You can also catch them with a bucket and some water, just like you would be panning for gold.
You'll do so much better using local natural bait than anything else. I know a well off retired man who surf fishes and still hasn't figured out this fact. He sends off to Maine to buy special worms that cost $7.50 each and has them Fed Ex'ed in to surf fish with and can't understand why the kids with their home made sand crab rake out fish him. If you'd rather buy bait, find local bait shop and ask them what works best and what they have for sale. They often do have local baits, usually live to sell to serious surf fishermen.
The second principle is to fish the incoming tide. The surf fish wait for the tide to come in. They know when it comes in and are lined up waiting for it to come in. Experience and a keen nose have taught them that the time to eat is the incoming tide. The absolute best time to surf fish is from halfway between two hours before high tide until the high tide.
This is the only time I fish - those two hours. It comes around twice a day so you should be able to work that into your schedule. While you're at the bait and tackle store ask them for a tide table. They're usually free, and if not there are tide calculators on the Internet that will allow you to calculate the tides on any day anywhere in the world.
Beach house decorating should never be a chore, in fact, when deciding how to decorate a vacation home or beach house you need to keep one thing in mind: relaxation.
By its nature, decorating a beach house should not occupy a huge amount of your time. Instead, you should be doing what you bought the beach house for in the first place, relaxing by the beach.
If your beach house is a hideaway retreat for your, your loved on or your family, don't worry about a large amount of furniture and fancy furnishing. Instead, opt for a simple kitchen setup, one where you can all enjoy a nice breakfast and good meal without worrying about ruining the china or spilling on the table or rug.
Pick chairs and tables that capture the relaxing feel. Leathers and expensive fabrics should be avoided. Think about it, beach means sand dirt, wet bathing suits, shell collections, maybe the occasional bucket full of fish and, most importantly, lots of lounging. Get a few comfy couches for afternoon naps in the ocean breeze.
Wicker has proved enormously popular in beach communities, many choosing it for its durability, its natural and summery feel and the ease in which it can be cleaned. Wicker furniture definitely captures the beach feel, but without the proper cushioning, can be somewhat uncomfortable. Don't worry so much about matching. Walk into any beach home, and often the furniture is a rag-tag collection of mixed and matched (or unmatched) thrift store pick ups, discarded old furniture from the main home, or furniture that has been around for ages.
If entertaining is your thing, plastic tables and chairs are not only the perfect solution, but are almost an expected staple of the beach house.
When guest arrive, they are generally there to enjoy the view, soak up the ocean air, and engage in some casual conversation over a cocktail or a nice cup of coffee. While it should not be completely ignored, don't stress over style and elegance, that's not the idea here. Instead, the idea is to enjoy the company of others. Since mingling is key, make sure you have extra chairs around that can be pulled out and put away when more people come to join.
A buffet table is a great investment, especially folding ones that can be set aside in a closet or attic and brought out and set up inside or out when the need arises.
Make sure the furniture is lightweight as well. One of the reasons plastic sets prove so popular is they can be moved with ease around the house, and can be taken outside. Another practical reason for plastics is its durability and ability to stand up to the elements, beach house decorating should also take into consideration the fact that rain, high winds and humidity are par for the course. Salt air also can have a negative effect on furniture, which makes plastics such an attractive option. Not only can it be moved when the wind and rain arrive, but it can stand up to the salt air and humidity.
In the end, remember that beach house decorating should be done with the ultimate goal of relaxation. Don't worry about the furniture, focus on the view.
Karon beach is one of the most popular travel destinations on Phuket and travelers will be able to choose from a wonderful selection of excellent restaurants.
I have lived on the island for a long period of time and I frequently dine there so I am able to recommend you some really great places where you can dine at during your holiday. Mali Waterfront Seafood:
Who doesn't enjoy some lovely fresh seafood from the Andaman? There is no better place to enjoy that then at the Mali Waterfront Seafood. They also serve a variety of other Thai dishes as well as European cuisine. Special parties and events are frequently organized after hours at this eatery. Buffalo Steakhouse:
The Buffalo Steakhouse is one of the best eateries which tourists can visit if they feel like having a good steak. It is located next to the Waterfront Suites and they also have three other locations on the island. Karon Café:
This dining establishment is a long time favorite among the local expat community and is owned by Uncle Eric who is a very nice American chap. Their meat is flown in from Australia and they offer a free salad and soup bar to their clients. Wildfire:
This Karon restaurant is part of the Movenpick Resort & Spa which is located along the beach road. This venue offers an excellent selection of pizzas, Thai dishes and Brazilian Churrasco. This is the ideal establishment for those of you that would like to dine outside. Long Beach Terrace:
The Long Beach Terrace is part of the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and is an excellent choice for those people that are looking for a very romantic restaurant and which offers great views over the water and excellent food. The Long Beach Terrace offers a wide selection of Italian specialties as well as fresh seafood.
Bangladesh, located in the South Asia is considered to have the most beautiful and attractive beaches in the world. Because if the country's geography which most of its land areas are just slightly above the sea level, making the country packed with beaches and sea coasts. Here, one can find the beaches that are known throughout the world with their remarkable beauty and attractiveness.
There are top five interesting and beautiful beaches to visit in Bangladesh. These beaches have their own exquisiteness and splendor most people from around the world love to visit. Here is the list of the top five beaches in Bangladesh: Cox's Beach Bazar:known to be the world's longest sea beach, stretching up to 121 kilometers long. The beach is located in the south part of Bangladesh, known as the Cox's Bazar district. The name Cox's Bazar was derived from the man who founded the beach in 1798, the great Captain Cox. Cox's Bazar beach is a very beautiful extended white sand beach which is the favorite of most travelers for a place to spend their vacations and leisure breaks. The beach is mostly favored for its quietness and peacefulness because it is often less crowded unlike the other stunning beaches in the world. Here, visitors can fully enjoy the tranquility and stillness of the beach. St. Martin's Island:- is a small island in located in the southernmost part of Bangladesh, just along the northeast division of the Bay of Bengal, around 9 kilometer south from the Cox's Bazar peninsula. The island is also called "Narical Gingira" which means 'Coconut Island'. This island is a popular tourist spot because of its fascinating beauty. The beach is a quiet place to go to, without the bustling noises of beach bars like the other beach have. Here, only the breezing sound of the beach can be heard. St. Martin's Island is truly one of the country's treasured prides. Kuakata:- is a very attractive beach located in the south-western part of Bangladesh. Kuataka is around 320 kilometers south of Dhaka, the country's capital. The beach has a total of 30 kilometers long, and is a famous destination site for both its local people and also foreigners. Visitors adore amazing sunrise and sunset panorama of the beach, which stunningly picture perfect. There are also establishments built around the beach like restaurants and stores where visitors can eat, and shop. Communications here are also made better nowadays, considering wi-fi services available. Inani Beach: - a fine golden sandy beach located about 32 kilometers south of Cox's Bazar. Inani beach is part of the Cox's Bazar's long stretch of beach. The beach is famous for its uniquely shaped Rock and Coral boulders. Visitors love the natural beauty of Inani together with its bright blue waters, which truly breath-taking. Unlike other well known beaches, the Inani beach doesn't have establishments around like hotels and beach clubs so people can peacefully enjoy the calmness and amazing view of the beach. Patenga Beach: - a very striking beach located about 14 kilometers south of Chittagong, Bangladesh. The beach has a truly magnificent view of the sea's blue waters. Tourists visit Patenga beach to view the amazing of its sunrise and sunsets which are extremely captivating, especially while the sun's radiance glows among the rock boulders along the beach bay.
These are the top five beaches Bangladesh has, which are all definitely alluring and satisfying to visit. Everyone is recommended to visit all of these beaches once they take a trip to the country to have a truly memorable Bangladesh trip.
Thailand is known for the country's amazing beaches. One can find all the things they need in a beach trip in this beautiful country. Here is a list of the top eight most beautiful beaches in Thailand:
1. White Sand Beach, Ko Chang; - Ko Chang, also known as the "Elephant Island," is the second largest island in Thailand and located around 180 miles east of Bangkok. Ko Chang's white sand beaches contain a lot of other beaches which are considered the best beaches in Thailand.
2. Hat Sai Kaeo, Ko Sametalso:- also called the "Diamond Beach" or the "Crystal Sand Beach", is a very beautiful beach in Bangkok. Hat Sai Kaeo is about one-third of a mile long and is filled with plenty of activities to do such as swimming, jet skiing, windsurfing and riding with what the locals called banana boats which is a long, yellow inflated float that leap riders off if they did not hold on tightly enough; a really fun ride every visitor loves to try.
3. Ao Manao, Prachuap Khiri Khan: - located around six miles from Myanmar's border. Also called the "lemon Beach" the place was once a battleground for the Thais and the Japanese forces. Today it's a quiet sanctuary, untouched by western tourists and one of Thailand's secret treasures. Here, visitors can find many miles of striking white sand beaches, some of them formed momentarily by sandbars during low tides. This is also the place where the best seafood cuisines are served.
4. Pharanang Bay, Krabi; - Krabi is famously known for its unusual rock climbing services for both beginners and professional climbers. The bay is reached via boat rides and takes almost 20 minutes from Ao Nang Beach. After reaching Ao Nang beach there would be another 15-minute walk on a zigzag sidewalk along the base of a sea cliff. The exciting ride to the place will bring everyone to the elegant Phranang Bay. Visitors can swim under the suspended limestone karsts, or climb through the small cliffs into the profound emerald green waters of the Andaman Sea. The beach is perfect place for families, swimmers, snorkels, and nature explorers.
5. Ao Nang Beach, Krabi: - is one of the most admired beaches in Thailand; a well developed beach that offers street shopping, and top western and Thai restaurants, and with definitely charming and affordable commodities. There is one particular stretch of the beach on the southern most point of the place that is just really wonderful which are adored by many and it will just take a short walk in its south along Ao Nang beach.
6. Tonsai Bay, Ko Phi Phi; - the well-known Ko Phi Phi is covered with two islands which are the "Don";the larger island, and "Leh"; the smaller island located at the southern tip of Krabi town. It will take a two-hour ferry boat ride from Ao Nang beach to Tonsai and with just a very affordable fee. Tonsai bay or the Ao Tonsai is on the southern part of Ko Phi Phi Don. The beach is undeniably drop dead charming which one would surely love to see.
7. Noppharat Thara, Krabi:- with just 400 Thai baht as entrance fee, one can enjoy the spectacular beauty of this national park. A perfect family beach, where one can sit below the shades of the coconut palm trees while eating picnics like the locals often do, or take a stroll during low tide seasons in the petty waters. Noppharat Thara is one mile in length and located west of Ao Nang in Krabi.
8. Tong Takien Bay, Ko Samui Island: -located on the southeast part of Ko Samui, roughly veiled between Chaweng and Lamae, is an remote and secluded bay which is perfect place for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Some call it the "Silver Beach." This beach is very much family-friendly, clean, and has some bungalow-style lodgings where visitors can stay for as low as 500 Thai baht in the low seasons.
Queensland's beaches rank right up the top with the best beaches in the world, with visitors flocking from every direction to enjoy the long white coastal stretches and shimmering waters. From Coolangatta through to Daintree in the far north, you are guaranteed a taste of paradise. The ideal choice of travel is by campervan, as you have the freedom and flexibility to stop as long as the waves are rolling and the sky is blue. There are plenty of caravan parks dotted up and down the Queensland coast, ideal to be used as a base to swim and explore.
Growing up in Queensland, I spent most of my holidays on the Gold Coast, and today's favorite tourist beaches were my playground. Coolangatta, located about half an hour from Surfers Paradise, has an esplanade perfect for small children to paddle, and is also a popular meeting place for surfers. Further up is beautiful Burleigh beach, known for its pine trees lining the sand. Although a lot more populated than all those years ago, this is still one of the premier beach locations on the coast.
Nobbys and Main beaches are long and inviting. There is plenty of space for families, surfers and sunbathers. Sunrise is one of the favorite times to enjoy the salt air and meet the early morning walkers, populating the shoreline up and down the coastline. Surfers Paradise is the most famous and known as the tourist strip for obvious reasons. The beaches are fantastic and excellent for surfing, but I would stick to the local beaches just to get some towel space.
The Sunshine Coast beaches have a more relaxed pace, Maroochydore being my favorite. With excellent surfing beaches, ideal caravan parks (Cotton Tree is one of the best) and large shopping centers you could spend weeks here and always have something to do. Alexandra Headland is one of the most popular locations for surfers, with breaks to be found along most of the coastline.
Noosa Heads is one of the most well known destinations on the north coast, with an abundance of holiday choices. There are four beaches, the most popular at Hastings Point for swimming and surfing. Tea Tree and Granite Bay are more suitable for experienced surfers. From Hastings there are some easy beach walks taking you around the headland to a lovely beach alcove. The beach is the heart of Noosa and every walk seems to wind back to its sandy stretches.
Once you start the trek up to Cairns and beyond, you need to plan your itinerary and then take the plunge as there are a lot of miles in between. However, the rewards are priceless, with exquisite pure white beaches waiting for you. Close to three hours from Brisbane, Fraser Island is the world's largest sand island, with the equally beautiful Rainbow Beach a complete destination in itself. The advantage is that crowds are smaller and the beaches are endless, the perfect place to escape.
Halfway between Cairns and Townsville is an undiscovered paradise, Mission Beach. There are not many places where the sun shines every day of the year (well almost) and the rainforest meets the sand and coconut palms. Combined with the pristine, flat beach and rippling waves you have the ideal tropical holiday.
The beaches just north from Cairns are unique and unparalleled. The most famous is Palm Cove, offering something for every type of beach holiday maker. There is a long jetty for fishermen, plenty of water sports, tall palm trees lining the entire stretch of beach and a number of restaurants and shops when you need a break from the sun. Surfers may have to venture elsewhere, such as Yorkey's Knob where half meter waves are delivered which still a bonus for this region.
Trinity Beach is another favorite with locals and tourists and easily accessible from Cairns via the Captain Cook highway. The Cairns esplanade now features a large lagoon ideal for families, and a great retreat for those who would prefer to base themselves close to the city.
Heading further north to Port Douglas, Four Mile Beach is one of the last of Queensland's jewels. This is remote and beautiful, with the palms common to this area combine to create the perfect holiday destination. Although this area
is common to stingers there are nets in place so you can still enjoy a swim.
Whichever location you choose, you will have to keep coming back to make the most of the sun, surf and sand in Queensland greatest treasures, its beaches.
