San Agustinillo Beach, Oaxaca, Mexico

The Mexican state of Oaxaca is blessed with a gorgeous Pacific coastline littered with tiny beach destinations that are off the beaten track. When driving from Oaxaca towards the coast you arrive at Puerto Angel where you can either choose to head west towards Puerto Escondido, or east towards Huatulco. If you take the beach road towards Puerto Escondido you will come across beach town after beach town with nothing but tiny cabanas and huts that sit directly on the beach. If you’re after a tranquil setting with gorgeous ocean views and nothing to do except lounge on the beach, San Agustinillo is the place for you.

Bambu is an eco-friendly cluster of about 5 cabanas made up of, you guessed it, bamboo, in an eclectic Mexican style. They don’t take reservations and they have no formal address. You just show up and ask the proprietor, Memo, if there is any availability. For about US$50/night you can expect charming accommodation right on he beach, sleeping to the sound of the ocean and a gentle breeze under a mosquito net.

A Cabana at Bambu, San Agustinillo, Oaxaca, Mexico

This particular stretch of the coast is popular among surfers, even though I wasn’t able to spot any during my stay. The water is a bit rough, so you want to be careful if you decide to go in. La Termita is an excellent pizza restaurant operated by a family from Argentina close to Bambu.

San Agustinillo Beach, Oaxaca, Mexico

Photo credit: Marisa Marchitelli

The Charming Beach Town of Akumal, Mexico

Akumal is a small beach town nestled between the popular tourist destinations of Playa Del Carmen and Tulum along the Riviera Maya on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. While I have been to this region of Mexico several times, I never thought to stop in Akumal until my most recent trip. After asking locals for snorkeling recommendations, I was consistently told that I could never expect to see as many sea turtles as I would in a matter of breaststrokes from the shore of Akumal.

When I arrived at the beach, my “common sense” told me that it wasn’t really possible. The beach was littered with sunbathers emerging out of the hotels that line the coast, and the waters were packed with small fishing boats and snorkelers. How could turtles be casually hanging around all this activity? I gave it the benefit of the doubt and took the plunge.

I swam as far away from shore as was safe and saw nothing but an infinite field of kelp and felt disappointment. I decided to turn back. Then, all of the sudden, I saw three turtles feeding! It was incredible and as I kept snorkeling around I came across at least a dozen more. Completely unfazed by human presence, I swam alongside one for several minutes that had two remora fish attached to it. I even saw a sting ray and a fairly large barracuda.

I’m told the turtles tend to stick to the northern section of the beach and you really don’t have to swim out too far to encounter them. I later learned that Akumal means “place of the turtle” in Mayan language.

Sea Turtle with Remora in Akumal, Mexico

Photo credit: Marisa Marchitelli

Birds seem less fearful of people in a kayak. So these nimble boats offer birders an effective approach to getting close-ups of some of our most evasive critters.
The Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival is offering water adventures for the birder and nature lover during its week-long festival January 27 – Feb 1, 2010. Boat [...]

The beach in Den Haag, Netherlands.

Most don’t think of the Netherlands‘ Den Haag (the Hague) as a beach town.  Most probably wouldn’t put the words “beach” and “the Netherlands” in the same sentence at all.  But behind the Holland Casino Scheveningen, one of Den Haag’s most famous buildings, you’ll find 11 kilometers of gorgeous beach and coastline.  And if you possess an adventurous spirit (and cold-blooded nature), you don’t have to wait until summer to indulge.

No matter what time of year you visit Den Haag, you’ll find people on the beach.  Some walk.  Some lay out when the sun pokes out its sleepy winter head.  Some just take a glance and head back into the casino to play the slots.  But many – many more than you’d ever think – swim.  Even when the weather seems much too cold to even consider the notion.

During my last trip to Den Haag, I was saddened that I had missed New Year’s Day.  A festive time of year in the Netherlands, Den Haag’s beach hosts a Polar Bear Swim event that’s quite popular.  I wanted to see with my own eyes just how many people would come out for it.  Especially since that year, it was absolutely freezing outside.  Alas, I was two weeks late and could only see the highlights on television – it looked like a great turn-out despite the weather.  But when I finally did arrive and went to walk along the coast line, I found that several people were swimming in the water just for their own sake.  Even though it was only 5 degrees Celcius outside.  And a few weren’t even wearing wetsuits.

While I don’t think I’ll be doing any winter swimming soon – at least, not without a wetsuit and a dare – and can’t necessarily endorse the activity, I do recommend getting out to Den Haag’s beautiful coastline.  If only to enjoy the gorgeous scenery and shake your head at the winter swimmers.

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Photo of Den Haag courtesy of soroll.

History buffs may know Bodrum as the spot where the famed city of Halicarnassos once stood.  That was home to the Mausoleum, one of the original 7 Wonders of the World, and birthplace of Herodotus, the father of History.  The Hospitallers also stood guard here for a while during medieval times and built an impressive stone fortress called the Bodrum Castle.  But these days, folks flock to this peninsula in Turkey to enjoy sun, sea and sand without the hustle and bustle you find in so many other towns along the  Mediterranean and Aegean.

For years, Bodrum was an undiscovered spot – considered to be very much off the beaten path.  It was popular for sponge diving and fishing but it wasn’t as easy to get to as some of the larger cities along the Turkish coast – and so, for a long time, it remained anonymous but to a few.  But word of mouth travels eventually – and Bodrum’s tranquility and beauty (as well as its historical significance) aren’t something visitors soon forget.  And it’s those things that keep people coming back again and again.  Today, Bodrum is a thriving coastal town with a new local airport.   Yet, it remains small and unassuming enough to allow visitors to truly kick back and relax.

Although Bodrum is largest city on the peninsula, there are villages dotting the coastline that are ready and willing to host you.  It is the perfect place to pick up a gulet, or wooden sailboat, to tour the many coves and beaches nearby or to simply walk and get into the rhythm of a small, peaceful town.

Like the other beaches along the Med and Aegean, the beaches in the area are a mix of sand and stone.  But many of the private resort beaches offer pristine white sand along the crystal blue water.  Bodrum’s location, tucked away in the nestles and coves of the Bodrum Bay, offers only lulling, gentle waves.  It’s a perfect beach destination for families with small children.  Water sports like boating, water skiing, jet skiing and kayaking are also readily available.  And with the town’s resurgence, you can find plenty of resort options, from budget to luxury, to enjoy its many offerings.  All you have to do is show up and enjoy.

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Photo courtesy of Kayt Sukel.

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
I’m sure this is going to go down in the record books as one of the coldest winters on record in Florida. (I promise I’m not going to make any wise-cracks about global warming). My friend and fellow writer Kevin Mims got some video of the white fluffy rain up [...]

Anyone who’s ever been to a beach has made designs in the sand with randomly collected pebbles. Now the Victoria and Albert Museum in London is encouraging beachgoers to put that artistic talent to work creating unique works of pebble art that will be displayed in an online world gallery of beach art.

Artist and weaver Sue Lawty, who often uses small stones in her work, devised the World Beach Project in association with the V&A. Lawty feels that the structure of rocks mirrors the structure of our planet:

“…whether stones are satisfyingly smooth… or like long thin fingers… or beautifully, almost purely round; whether they are knobbly, shiny, dull, crinkly, holey, patterned or plain, black or white – they reflect the language of their making i.e. how they look in this de-constructed state is as a direct result of their construction, probably millions of years ago. I find this exciting.”

World Beach Project, open to anybody, anywhere, of any age, was conceived as a global drawing project that speaks about time, place, geology and the instinct of touch. To participate, simply choose a beach where stones are readily available, make your pattern and record the work-in-progress and finished work of art with photographs. Later, upload the photographs to the V&A website to complete the project. Although drawings made on shorelines all over the world will inevitably be erased by the next tide or rain, the photographs will become a permanent record of the individual desire to make patterns. For more information, visit V&A’s World Beach Project website.

Rock art at Porth Ysgo Lleyn Peninsula Wales, UK July 2006

The above beach rock art was made by three families in between swimming, rock leaping, sand wrestling and catching the rays. Eventually, nearly everyone on the beach got involved. The evening tide just tickled the edges. Aside from a small creative streak and the energy to collect pebbles on the beach, the only requirements for submission are the name of the beach where the art was created and the year it was completed.

Credits: Video; Photo

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Many people have never been to a landfill–you know, the place where the garbage collectors take your trash. So many folks would be surprised to learn that one of the best places to observe and identify gulls (that’s “seagulls” for you novices) is at a landfill where there is a [...]

A new rash of legislation is beginning to affect beaches around the country. On the heels of successfully passing smoking bans in buildings, cities are now turning their eyes to outdoor spaces. According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF), as of January 5, 2010, 92 cities or counties in the U.S. have already banned smoking on their public beaches and many more have restricted smoking to certain areas of the beach.

Proponents of smoke-free beaches point to butts discarded by smokers as a reason to approve the ban

Many beachfront tourist destinations have smoke-free beaches. Communities along the New Jersey shore led the way with the first legal bans in 2001. In California, numerous beaches from San Diego to Los Angeles are smoke-free. In 2009, Maine became the first State to ban smoking on all its beaches and began promoting tourism with the slogan “Breathe easy. You’re in Maine.”

Now it appears that New Hampshire, which already has laws banning indoor smoking in public buildings, grocery stores, public conveyances, hospitals, restaurants and bars, may become the next state to join the ban on beach smoking. Elected officials sponsoring the NH legislation point primarily to the dangers of secondhand smoke as justification for the measure, but also are concerned about the issue of litter and fire hazards in outdoor spaces.

ANRF points out that the trash created by cigarette butts tossed on the ground is a significant environmental problem and a leading source of pollution in parks and beaches, since they contain the same chemicals and toxins as the cigarettes themselves. Filters are considered a particular problem, as they are made from cellulose acetate, a non-biodegradable plastic that can degrade into tiny pieces but never completely disappears. They are hazardous and highly toxic to fish, birds, plus pets and young children if ingested. Opponents of the ban insist that the State’s motto: “Live Free or Die,” should protect their right to smoke on the beach.

Photo Credit: shnnn on Flickr

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

See? It's a beach!

A beach in Switzerland? Believe it. It’s no secret that the Swiss love their lakes and who can blame them?  A lake is like the ocean, but pocket-size! (And other differences too numerous to mention, but hey, water!)

The shores of Lake Morat near the towns of Avenches and Murten (among others) offer camping with state-of-the-art amenities between April 1st and September 30th, and plenty of sandy beaches for all of your sun-bathing needs. Also, sand castles.

The lake is host to a marina with dry and wet moorings available, which is nice.

The relatively mild climate around Lake Morat and the perfect combination of sand and shade make it a perfect place to get your beach fix.

The area is accessible by car and rail and hosts tons of events throughout the year including Surfclassics in June.  July offers the opportunity to combine the worlds of fashion, water and music with the Wake and Jam Festival.  Also in July is the Lake Crossing  (for trained swimmers only).

See? Beach activities!

See? Wait, I'm not sure you want to see this part.

Added bonus! The town of Avenches is built upon the Roman town of Aventicum which has nothing to do with the beach, but is still pretty cool.  When in Avenches and all that…

Photos from the official Avenches site.

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
If you are on vacation at the beach in Florida this first week in January 2010, my apologies to you for the weather. High temperatures in much of the state will remain in the 50’s Fahrenheit. That doesn’t happen very often.
If you aren’t on vacation here this week, be glad [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera attracts birders from far and wide. If you’d like to visit, it will be the location of a field trip during the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival coming up in January 2010.
When: Jan 27, 29, 30, 31; 6 a.m. till noon.
Advance registration required. [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
I’ve gone through my 2009 photos and picked out some of my favorites to share. They are favorites because they evoke wonderful memories, not because of any photographic excellence. Any photos that qualify as technically good are the result of pure dumb luck on my part.
We spent three days in [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Although all Festival activities are appropriate for youth, some may be of particular interest to young naturalists. Here are the activities listed in the Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival program catalog (link opens as a pdf file) that may be of special interest to families with children and teenagers:
Field [...]

Here are a couple of photos from my last trip to Cayo Costa State Park.

Posted by David McRee at BlogtheBeach.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stignygaard/ / CC BY 2.0
In 1975 I saw my first coral reef (John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park), and in May 2009 I had a chance to do a little snorkeling in the Dry Tortugas.  I’m looking forward to going back soon to snorkel more reefs in the Florida Keys.
Anyone who has ever seen a [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
“How does she do that? She’s been doing that all day,” observed a birding festival attendee about Paddy Cunningham-Pascatore’s amazing ability to find birds in the field.
A South Florida naturalist for more than 20 years, Cunningham-Pascatore specializes in helping birders in a non-intimidating field experience.  She is the owner [...]

New York may be famous for its 11,875-pound, 12-foot diameter Waterford crystal ball that drops over Times Square every New Year’s Eve, but it’s no longer the only for revelers wishing to count down the minutes to the new year. For the second consecutive year, Panama City, Florida will celebrate New Year’s Eve by dropping an 800-pound glowing beach ball at Pier Park.

Watch the video below of last year’s event, which attracted more than 12,000 attendees:

Festivities, all of which are free and open to the public, begin at 5:30 p.m. with family entertainment that will include bounce houses, party favors, street performers, stilt walkers and face painters, and culminates at 8:30 p.m. with fireworks and a drop of 7,000 inflatable beach balls.

Streets will be closed for the countdown celebration from 9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m., and the 120-foot descent of the beach ball will begin just before midnight, followed by a midnight fireworks display over the Gulf of Mexico. Southwest Airlines is sponsoring this year’s event in celebration of the May opening of Panama City’s new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and their entry into the market. In addition to the lineup of events, Southwest has donated six pairs of round trip airfare tickets as prize giveaway.

Panama City Beach is also offering great packages on accommodations, with rates at select properties start at $99 per night for gulf-front accommodations when reservations are booked online using promo code: NYE. It’s a novel, family-friendly event, and best of all, there’s no freezing temperatures to endure.

Video courtesy of Panama City Beach

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Nothing says “summer” to me like a towering thunderstorm spreading itself slowly over the barrier islands on a hot afternoon. This photo was taken a few blocks south of Magnolia Avenue, looking south toward Holmes Beach.