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Category Archives: Beaches

Norfolk is… wonderful beaches which have a special place in our hearts

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#Norfolkis the best for big skies and big beaches like this shot from Wells-next-the-Sea by Mark Poole

David Freezer Tuesday, June 18, 2013 6:30 AM

The beautiful and varied beaches of Norfolk have become one of the most popular topics for followers of the EDPs Norfolk is... campaign.

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We asked people to share their favourite beach in the county in their own words and pictures last week.

From Wells, Hunstanton and Holkham in the west of the county, right round to the likes of Waxham, Horsey and Winterton in the east, we have seen many different beaches highlighted as must-visit locations.

Twitter users have been particularly enthusiastic about the topic, continuing to use the campaigns #Norfolkis hashtag.

Sharon Green (@dsjmgreen) was one Twitter user to get involved, writing: #Norfolkis Cromer beach always where I go when I need a lift, to remember or just walk.

As was Saras Tearoom (@sarastearoom), on Great Yarmouth seafront, saying: Our favourite beach in #Norfolkis Great Yarmouth South Beach, fantastic sea views and dog friendly too.

Another was Helen Smyth, using her Gluten Free Helen (@nels3) account, to say: #Norfolkis beaches that make you say WOW! Like Old Hunstanton, golden sands, dunes and beach huts.

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Norfolk is... wonderful beaches which have a special place in our hearts

Officials identify silvery substance at Indiana beaches

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Swimming was banned at Indiana Dunes State Park after a silvery substance was found floating on the water.

8:00 p.m. CDT, June 18, 2013

The U.S. Coast Guard and Indiana environmental officials continued Tuesday to investigate the origins of a silvery substance that was found in southern Lake Michigan, causing some beaches to clear bathers from the water.

Swimmers along Porter Beach at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore came out of the water Monday afternoon with an "oily substance" on their bodies and saw a silver sheen in the lake, according to the Coast Guard and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

Preliminary tests indicate the substance included D-gluconic acid, a mild acid used to clean metals, and tricalcium orthophosphate, an additive found in food and fertilizers, said Dan Goldblatt, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Management.

"Initial reports make it look like it's not something that's highly toxic," Goldblatt said. "Once we know more we can make a better determination."

A current carried the sheen several miles toward Michigan City, Ind., but investigators found nothing except pollen in the water when they arrived Monday.

The Coast Guard's safety marine unit in Chicago has viewed a week's worth of video showing vessels in the Port of Indiana, but have not seen anything spilling from the ships, said Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Yaw.

The unit also talked to officials at a steel and mining company along the lakefront but determined it did not cause the sheen because only iron-ore based products have left the site, Yaw said.

Monday night's rains and natural breakdown dissipated the sheen from the water. Those who came in contact with the substance reported no ill health effects, Indiana environmental officials said.

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Officials identify silvery substance at Indiana beaches

Rain leads to health advisories at three Milwaukee beaches

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Health advisories were issued Monday for all three of Milwaukee's beaches after heavy rainfall Saturday.

Elevated bacteria levels at South Shore Beach prompted the advisory, which was issued by the city, while pre-emptive advisories were issued due to rainfall at Bradford and McKinley beaches.

Beach advisories are posted if the tested water exceeds 235 colony-forming units, or CFU, of E. coli per 100 milliliters of water. When samples show more than 1,000 CFU per 100 milliliters of water, beaches are closed. E. coli is a common category of bacteria that is regularly used as an indicator of other health risks in the water, like other bacteria, viruses or protozoa.

Friday's water sample at South Shore was 248.1 per 100 milliliters of water, though both samples at Bradford and McKinley were below the threshold of 235 CFU per 100 milliliters of water.

Pre-emptive advisories are posted after heavy rainfall events that may increase the likelihood of unhealthy water quality due to nonpoint pollution from storm water runoff of surrounding surfaces.

2013, Journal Sentinel Inc. All rights reserved.

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Rain leads to health advisories at three Milwaukee beaches

The 10 Best Beaches for Families

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PENNINGTON, N.J., June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent survey* from Family Vacation Critic (www.familyvacationcritic.com), an online family travel planning guide, nearly half of all families reported that the most important factor in choosing a beach to visit with kids is the cleanliness of the beach and its waters. The second most important factor is safe waters with a lifeguard on duty, followed closely by accommodations within walking distance.

"Families want to know that the beaches they're visiting are safe for their kids they're looking for clean beaches to play on, and safe waters for young swimmers," says Lissa Poirot, executive editor of Family Vacation Critic. "At the same time, convenience also plays a big role in the decision-making process over a third of respondents said that they look for beaches that are close to where they're staying and have nearby facilities and entertainment options."

With those factors in mind, Family Vacation Critic has named the 10 Best Beaches for Families. The beaches were chosen by the site's editors, based on the features most important to families -- cleanliness, safe waters, and nearby restrooms, restaurants and entertainment.

Family Vacation Critic's 2013 list of the 10 Best Beaches for Families includes:

For a full review of each of the best beaches, visit the article: 10 Best Beaches for Families.

* Family Vacation Critic surveyed its readers from June 5-10, 2013. The full results of the poll:Question: What's most important when choosing a beach to visit with your kids?Cleanliness of the beach/water: 48%Safe waters and lifeguards on duty: 18%Accommodations within walking distance: 16% Nearby entertainment and restaurants for a break from the beach: 8%Public restrooms within a close walk: 5%An easily accessible parking lot, close to the beach: 5%Total Votes: 1,022

Note to Editors: Lissa Poirot, executive editor of Family Vacation Critic, is available to discuss the best beaches list, as well as offer tips for families planning a beach vacation.

About Family Vacation CriticFamily Vacation Critic is a comprehensive online travel resource for families that offers reviews of family hotels, resort and destinations. The site features vacation ideas, family travel tips and an online forum for family travelers. Family Vacation Critic is published by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (TRIP) manages and operates websites under 20 other travel media brands: http://www.airfarewatchdog.com, http://www.bookingbuddy.com, http://www.cruisecritic.com, http://www.everytrail.com, http://www.familyvacationcritic.com, http://www.flipkey.com, http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk, http://www.holidaywatchdog.com, http://www.independenttraveler.com, http://www.jetsetter.com, http://www.niumba.com,www.onetime.com,www.seatguru.com, http://www.sniqueaway.com, http://www.smartertravel.com, http://www.tingo.com,www.travelpod.com, http://www.virtualtourist.com, http://www.whereivebeen.com, and http://www.kuxun.cn. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 200 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 100 million reviews and opinions covering more than 2.5 million accommodations, restaurants and attractions.

*Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, May 2013

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The 10 Best Beaches for Families

Ottawa’s beaches open for the season

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OTTAWA All five of Ottawas beaches opened for the season Saturday, and all but one of Gatineau Parks remained open for weekend swimmers.

The citys beaches at Britannia, Mooneys Bay and Westboro, and both at Petrie Island officially opened Saturday, with lifeguards on duty every day from noon to 7 p.m. until Aug. 18.

In Gatineau Park, OBrien and Blanchet beaches at Meech Lake, Breton, Parent and Smith beaches at Lac Philippe, and the beach at Lac La Pche opened for the season Friday. Only the beach at Leamy Lake remained closed, due to high water levels.

The City of Ottawa and the National Capital Commission monitor water conditions at the beaches in the city and the park, and post daily updates online on which beaches are open. No-swimming advisories may be issued if E. coli levels rise to significant levels, or in the wake of significant rainfall.

Updates on City of Ottawa beaches are listed here, while the status of Gatineau Parks beaches is listed here.

Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

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Ottawa’s beaches open for the season

Hottest Urban Beaches

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National Geographic circumnavigates the globe on a quest to find the world's best beach cities.

Alessandro Grassani

Call it Miami Beach on the Med. Tel Aviv is the Dionysian counterpart to religious Jerusalem. In the bubble, as its known for its inhabitants tendency to tune out regional skirmishes, some restaurants, discos, and clubs are open until dawn. By day, the scene shifts to the citys promenade and eight miles (13 kilometers) of beach literally steps from town. Head to wide and sandy Gordon Beach to sit in a seaside caf or take a dip in the saltwater pool.

iStock

With layers of architectural wonders, cutting-edge cuisine, and buzzing nightlife, Barcelona would be a world-class city even without the eight white-sand beaches that rim its Mediterranean coastline. Accessible by metro, the nearly mile-long (1.6-kilometer-long) Barceloneta Beachrevitalized in the massive waterfront makeover for the 1992 Olympicsis one of the most popular. Hit the Beach Centre to rent a beach umbrella, chairs, or a bicycle.

iStock

Once an idyllic retreat for 19th-century Hawaiian royalty, Honolulus Waikiki Beach is now chockablock with resorts, some of them historic like the 1901 Moana Surfrider Hotel. The long, rolling breaks are ideal for novice surfers, but most beachgoers here are happy basking in the temperate, turquoise blue Pacific and killer views of the Diamond Head crater.

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With 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of broad, sandy beaches, a fresh ocean breeze, and progressive vibe, Santa Monica has long been a magnet for the Hollywood set. In the 1920s, movie moguls and starlets partied at Club Casa Del Mar; today, celebrities dodge the paparazzi at the Shutters on the Beach hotel. Join a volleyball game, look for sea lions, or just watch the Pacific rollers crash on the beach.

iStock

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Hottest Urban Beaches

Parking Machines Get Green Light At OC Beaches

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(credit: Visit Huntington Beach)

LONG BEACH (AP) A coastal regulator Friday approved a plan to install parking machines and hike holiday parking fees at several popular Orange County beaches.

The California Coastal Commission voted to let the state Department of Parks and Recreation install automated parking machines at the beaches and charge a $20 flat holiday rate up from $15.

The move comes as the department seeks funding to offset a 37 percent drop in general fund cash in the last five years. Parks officials have faced opposition to similar efforts at some Northern California beaches where parking was traditionally free.

Out of Californias 1,100 miles of beach, a third is controlled by the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

People should expect to see us take a statewide look at where we do and dont charge fees, and expect that analysis to produce recommendations of where we should and should not charge fees and what those fees should be, said Mat Fuzie, deputy director of park operations.

Park officials will monitor the new program to determine how it is affecting beachgoers at Orange Countys Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach and San Clemente State Beach. The state could use this data to make changes to parking fees at other beaches, Fuzie said.

Some commissioners voiced concern that a $20 holiday rate might price poorer Californians out of a trip to the beach. But they largely welcomed the plan which was approved for five years as a way to learn more about how Orange County residents use their beaches and ensure that state parks can be properly maintained.

The reality is there is no such thing as free parking. The closer it gets to free the more it is subsidized by some other source seen or unseen, Commissioner Steve Kinsey said.

In Sonoma County, officials are reviewing a hotly contested plan to start charging for parking at some beaches that dont currently have any fees.

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Parking Machines Get Green Light At OC Beaches

Parking at Orange County beaches about to get expensive

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A coastal regulator on Friday approved a plan to install parking machines and hike holiday parking fees at several popular Orange County beaches.

The California Coastal Commission voted to let the state Department of Parks and Recreation install automated parking machines at the beaches and charge a $20 flat holiday rate - up from $15.

The move comes as the Department seeks funding to offset a 37 percent drop in general fund cash in the last five years. Parks officials have faced opposition to similar efforts at some Northern California beaches where parking was traditionally free.

Out of California's 1,100 miles of beach, a third is controlled by the state Department of Parks and Recreation.

"People should expect to see us take a statewide look at where we do and don't charge fees, and expect that analysis to produce recommendations of where we should and should not charge fees and what those fees should be," said Mat Fuzie, deputy director of park operations.

Park officials will monitor the new program to determine how it is affecting beachgoers at Orange County's Crystal Cove State Park, Doheny State Beach and San Clemente State Beach. The state could use this data to make changes to parking fees at other beaches, Fuzie said.

Some commissioners voiced concern that a $20 holiday rate might price poorer Californians out of a trip to the beach. But they largely welcomed the plan - which was approved for five years - as a way to learn more about how Orange County residents use their beaches and ensure that state parks can be properly maintained.

"The reality is there is no such thing as free parking. The closer it gets to free the more it is subsidized by some other source -seen or unseen," Commissioner Steve Kinsey said.

In Sonoma County, officials are reviewing a hotly contested plan to start charging for parking at some beaches that don't currently have any fees.

At the Orange County beaches, state officials installed parking machines and began revamping the fee structure last year to charge hourly and daily rates, but then learned they needed a permit from the Coastal Commission, said Orange Coast District Superintendent Brian Ketterer.

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Parking at Orange County beaches about to get expensive

DOT cites CL beaches

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Morong, Bataan - Impressed by its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters, this province has been cited by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and visiting newsmen as a magnet for tourism. Among the most beautiful beaches of the province are in Poblacion, here, such as the White Corals and its nearby resorts, together with the Pawikan Conservation Center.

The center is a pet project of spouses Gov. Enrique and Mrs. Vicky Garcia. Their son, incoming governor Abet S. Garcia, is determined to further develop the area as a haven for the pawikan. Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a world-class resort hotel owned by construction magnate Jerry Acuzar in Bagac town, is another tourist draw identified by Garcia.

Recently, newsmen who visited Morong's beaches were impressed. "Halos kasing ganda ng Boracay ang mga beaches dito (The beaches here are almost beautiful as Boracay)," said newsman Ferdinand Castro.

Castro's group, though, called on Morong Mayor Cynthia Linao Estanislao and the DOT to regulate the rate of rentals of beach resorts in the area to be more competitive especially to domestic tourists. DOT Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico said foreign tourists spend at least $85 or over P3,000 on rest and recreation (RNR) in famed spots of Central Luzon. "A foreign tourist, on the average, normally stays four to seven days in the region," he said. (With a report from Franco G. Regala)

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DOT cites CL beaches


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