If you’ve every been to Ft. Myers Beach, you understand that there is a major traffic and parking problem. Get there early or you may have trouble finding a decent place to park. It goes without saying that you will be paying for parking, regardless. Last year the Lee County Board of County Commissioners authorized [...]

I shot the video below at Coquina Beach on Wednesday, April 13, 2011: Coquina Beach, at the south end of Anna Maria Island (near Bradenton on the Gulf Coast), has been suffering from erosion for quite some time. Below are a couple of photos I snapped back in July of 2009 (You can click on [...]

1. Make sure your camera is sealed in a watertight case.
2. Use anti-fog droplets on the lens before putting the camera in the watertight case.
3. Shoot parallel to the ground and lower. Don’t point your camera into the light! The light should always be to the side or behind you.
4. Have some kind point of reference so that we can tell where we are. This could be showing a hint of the ocean floor, a reef, the surface of the water above you, etc. Unless your motivation is to make a picture that feels like oblivion.
5. Adjust the white balance (if your camera model has this feature). Without it, the picture will come out very bluey-green. White balancing will tone that down to give you truer colors, which is great if you don’t have Photoshop or any other picture-editing software.

Photo credit: Wiki user Nick Hobgood http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Reefscape.jpg

Check out National Geographic’s David Doubilet for some excellent underwater photography.

If you’re a serious beachcomber you’re probably already making a note on your calendar to look for debris from the Japan tsunami washing up on beaches in California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in about 3 years. That’s about how long it takes for flotsam to make its way across the Pacific Ocean via the North [...]

Oliver Rhudy sent me these photos back on March 10, 2011. He wrote: “I am currently stationed in Pensacola and on a recent trip to Pensacola Beach, there were hundreds of Man-of-War washed up on the beach. I did get stung by a couple on the ankle but did not get medical attention. It was [...]

On Midway Atoll, a remote island in the middle of the Pacific, photographer Chris Jordan is uncovering an environmental tragedy that is taking place in the bellies of Albatross. This is an important film that is currently in production. Lots more great stuff on Chris Jordan’s YouTube  channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/journeytomidway Or, for more context, visit Chris [...]

I just had to share this awesome video posted by Pam on her ILoveShelling blog. Be sure to visit her blog to see the photos and read about her experience with the octopus mom.

Plum Island is a barrier island located on the north eastern coast of Massachusetts. It is only about 11 miles in length bordered by the Merrimack River to the north and the Ipswich River to the south. Ron Risman‘s video “Day on the Beach – Plum Island” does a fantastic job of capturing the feeling of being there. Check out UpTake’s full list of things to do and places to stay here.

I’m a sucker for anything overlooking the ocean but the Piere Giorgio Restaurant (La Puntilla de Piergiorgio) could possibly be one of the most romantic restaurants on this planet. I recommend going for dinner and particularly during sunset preferably with a date (of course). It is authentic Italian fare made with the freshest ingredients from the sea and imported from Italy. I know that I’ve always been an advocate of engaging yourself wholeheartedly in local cuisine (local everything actually) but this time; I would probably make an exception. In fact I, if you are able to secure the table under the gazebo, you would be in perfect form. Below is a video from Vimeo user Viacon Dima – it is a single shot of the restaurant but in its simplicity it conveys the feeling of being there quite well.

For a number of years I’ve often felt a bit like a concierge. I get emails every day from people planning their Florida beach vacation, wanting to know where to find this or that. For those who ask me for help with their beach vacation I’ve got good news and bad news. First, the good [...]

In early March 2011 we had the chance to go to Puerto Rico for a few days. It was great to get some sun and the food there was fantastic (if you don’t mind fried…well, everything). We had a car for one day and decided to go to a stretch of beach not too far away from San Juan, Condado and the Isla Verde area. This stretch of beach is called Piñones and the best thing about this area are all the street food vendors that line up along the side of the road.

I get quite a few images of jellyfish emailed to me. Once in a while I receive an image that is unusually beautiful, like this one. I’ve identified this jellyfish as Pelagia noctiluca, commonly known as a Purple-striped jellyfish. It is reported to have a rather strong sting. This jelly was photographed by Chris Kiely [...]

A while back I was contacted by writer Jenni Stahlmann concerning an article she was writing for Venice Magazine. Would I do a short phone interview? I did, and Ms. Stahlmann used a few quotes from the interview in her article, which explores the effect Venice beach has on life in that city. Venice Magazine [...]

‘Tis the Spring Break season! It is an important season for us here at UpTake’s Beach Blog because it means that we get to ramp up again and start talking about sand, waves, surfing, fashion and all that good stuff. What better way to start of the season but with a list of the top spring break beach destinations for families. Here we go, in no particular order:

Hilton Head, South Carolina

Hilton Head, South Carolina has just about everything you would need for an awesome family vacation. The twelve miles of Atlantic facing beach is fantastic as far as East Coast US beaches go. There is certainly enough to do on the island to keep both parents and children happily occupied from biking, golfing and kayaking to fishing and getting some sailing time in. For the full luxury experience check out the Sea Pines Resort.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay, California in San Mateo County has a lot to offer a family on the hunt for a beach spring break. Apart from the fantastic beach setting there is Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, one of only 34 coastal habitats that the State of California has designated as having “Special Biological Significance.” If dad happens to be a pro surfer, he would already know the significance of Half Moon bay and more specifically the legendary Mavericks where big wave surfers challenge 50 ft. waves. Obviously I urge you to not even consider Mavericks as a ‘cool swimming spot’ because it isn’t. If curiosity gets the best of you, go check it out and WATCH the PROS. Apart from beach life you can head over to Montara Mountain for some outdoor fun.

Naples Fishing Pier Florida

Rated America’s Best Beach in 2005 by the Travel Channel, Naples’ 10 miles of pure white sand beach and blue waters does not disappoint. What is most impressive about this beach is how clean it is and to me that is quite simply a must for a beach to make it onto any list. Naples’ Botanical Garden is a great place to check out if you need a break from the sun and surf in addition to hunting down some historic homes such as the Palm Cottage and perhaps a visit to the Keewaydin Club, an inn that was open from 1934 until 1999 and has been added to the US National Register of Historical Places.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Why Myrtle Beach for spring break? Well, for starters they have a lot of beach, next they have a boardwalk that National Geographic considers the #3 boardwalk in the US. Then there is the water park, the nature preserve, the sculpture garden and a lot more.

San Diego Night - by Wikipedia user Rufustelestrat

Keeping the family classy this Spring Break? Then San Diego is for you. Once again, we have a destination with great beaches and LOTS to do. I sense a theme here, do you? Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Belmont Amusement Park; there is so much to do. One of my favorite things about San Diego are the historical sites in the city such as Mission San Diego de Alcala and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park.

Kona Sunset - by Wikipedia user Mbz1

When it comes to beach destinations in the US, Hawaii seems to always come up, I wonder why…Hawaii is not close for everyone but if you are able to go for spring break, Kona is my recommendation. The beaches here on this piece of the Big Island are breathtaking. If you have been saving up for a beautiful and very memorable spring break, consider staying at the Kona Village Resort – a former fishing village that now offers inclusive packages. Just get there and start unwinding.

2-3-11, February Warm-Up Sesh from Nokomis Surf Visual on Vimeo. Fun, glassy waves with some good barrels, too! Note: the sound track is a bit intense, so you might want to adjust the volume.

The hubby and I have planned a week long escape to Aruba in July, and I’m getting very psyched looking at all the photos of the beautiful beaches. There are so many of them, and they all look so pristine and gorgeous. Here’s a list of some of five of this beautiful island’s best beaches, all of which on on the island’s western side (very few are on the eastern side). This list is by no means exhaustive (I could list about 5-6 more!), but it’s a good start if you want to get a feel for what Aruba has to offer.

Malmok Beach in Aruba

1. Malmok Beach

This beach on the northwestern tip of the island is wonderful for snorkeling because the water is shallow with lots of rocks for the fishies to swim around. There aren’t any bathroom facilities, so plan ahead.

Aruba's Eagle Beach

2. Eagle Beach

This is the beach the timeshare we’re staying at is directly across from, and some say it’s the most beautiful on the island. It’s definitely not the most deserted (which is good for activities) or the most crowded (like Palm Beach, but again that’s fine for relaxation).

A Divi Tree on Aruba's Baby Beach

3. Baby Beach

Love the name of this one! You’ll see a bunch of the island’s famous Divi trees, which grow at a 45 degree angle due to the winds on the island. Apparently, if you’re lost, you can follow the direction the Divi trees point because they always point towards the hotels.

Palm Beach in Aruba

4. Palm Beach

This beach is lined with hotels and restaurants, and it’s probably the most busy beach on the island. But, this also means there are plenty of opportunities for water sports and rentals. Palm Beach has lots of white, soft sand and tons of chairs, but get there early to grab them!

5. Arashi Beach

Arashi means “storm” in Japanese, but don’t let that fool you – the water is crystal clear here! It’s the northernmost beach on the island, near the California Lighthouse, and it has beautiful white sand and a few beach huts.

Photos: Joskrum , jen’schapter3, sergi melki, madmack66

Shhhh…have you heard about these beaches? I suppose that, since they’re published online, they’re no longer “secrets,” but they’re at the least beaches that not as many people know about. Which have you heard of or visited? Here’s a list of all of them, courtesy of Sunset.com, and a bit of commentary about each (I’ve only been to two of them myself, and I’m a beach person!)

Hamoa Beach

1. Hamoa Beach (Hana, Maui)

Ah, the Road to Hana. It’s long, it’s windy and did I say it’s windy already? Luckily, there’s a very pretty beach at the end of it called Hamoa Beach. It’ll take you a good 3-4 hours to reach from the start of the Road to Hana depending on how many stops you make.

2. Indian Beach (Oregon – Ecola State Park)

This beach is a perfect little horseshoe of relaxation. Surfers abound during the summer months.

3. Salt Creek Recreation Area (Washington State)

The tide pools here are wonderful, and you can camp, too! Fantastic place to bring the family.

4. Robert E. Badham Marine Conservation Area (Orange County, CA)

I’ve been here, and although it’s a bit tough to get to, it’s worth it. Get there early or you’ll be driving around for over an hour looking for street parking (seriously).

Beautiful Point Buchon

5. Point Buchon (San Luis Obispo County, CA)

Finally, beach goers can access Coon Creek Beach. Keep an eye out for the boobies, and I don’t mean the birds.

Grand Tetons from Leigh Lake

6. Leigh Lake (Teyon County, Wyoming)

Wish I had known about this tiny beach when I visited Grand Teton National Park! It sounds absolutely gorgeous.

7. Mahai’ula Beach (Kona Coast, The Big Island)

It’s amazing that there are still beaches in any part of the Hawaiian islands that few people visit, especially on The Big Island. Then again, some of the beaches are very difficult to get to and can only be accessed by kayak in good weather. This one is no exception — you can reach it by car, actually, but it’s 1.5 miles off the main highway.

8. Bean Hollow State Beach (San Mateo County, CA)

I visited this beach after I heard that, if you’re lucky, you can find glass floats that arrive all the way from Japan after a big storm – it happens more often than people realize. Gorgeous sea life in the tide pools.

Bean Hollow State Beach

9. Sandcut Beach (Sooke, B.C.)

After reading the description of this beach, I nearly packed up my bags. Waterfalls, tide pools and pebbles as smooth as eggs? Yes, please! The beach’s name just does not do it justice.

Bowling Ball Beach - Now You Can Understand the Name!

10. Bowling Ball Beach (Mendocino, CA)

Sandstone boulders are the main attraction here, and luckily, not many people make the trek down — be one of them!

Photos: Nordique, docentjoyce, Alaskan Dude, grant_joy, Peter Alfred Hess

3 great ways to watch the final space shuttle launch / mission without leaving your computer screen, via Wired Science. Thursday, 4:50 p.m. EST.

Gorgeous Cancun, Mexico

Ahhh, Playa Mujeres. This area, located about 25 minutes north of Cancun’s main strip of hotels and restaurants, is a year-round playground for families, couples and wedding celebrations. A gorgeous, brand new resort called Villa Del Palmar just welcomed its first guests in December.

According to this article from Dallasnews.com, the resort is offering a opening special: $159 per person per night, including all taxes and gratuities. You must end your stay by April 30, and if you book by February 28, you are eligible for a free upgrade to an ocean view room. Not bad!

The Isla Mujeres beach area, seen below, is where this new resort is located. Its known for its pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. Tired of this bitterly cold winter that seems to be hanging on for dear life? Take advantage of this new resort’s fantastic opening rates and escape to the stunning beaches of this region. You might want to book an open-ended return ticket!

Isla Mujeres Beach Area

Photos: Mike_Fleming, Sarunas B