Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Birds are not always easy to observe. Lots of them are in the habit of flitting about high in the tree tops, appearing only as a silouhette against the sky. Others squeak and chirp from deep within a thick bramble of underbrush, making only brief appearances to taunt. These behaviors [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com

Heron Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is among the Australian resorts recently acquired by Delaware North. Delaware North specializes in tourism in national parks and significant sites, including Yosemite National Park in the United States and Niagara Falls. The company is yet to announce its plans but hopefully it intends to improve on what’s there and not try to over-develop it. Likely there will be limits to what they can do anyway, since part of the island is protected by the Capricornia Cays National Park.

The pristine beaches of Heron Island

I loved my time on Heron Island back when it was owned by Voyages so I wanted to share some of the things that make it so special. Heron Island is a coral cay on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef – the largest coral reef in the world. The tiny island is covered with dense vegetation, habitat to a vast array of bird life, and fringed with white sand beaches and shallow aquamarine waters filled with tropical fish.

The beach at Heron Island is also an important turtle nesting site. Early in the year, you might see huge mother turtles haul themselves out of the water and up the beach to lay their eggs by moonlight. By March and April, you could see hundreds of turtle hatchlings running to the sea as you take a sunset walk along the beach. We did and it was quite magical!

There are thousands of islands on the Great Barrier Reef and each is special in its own way. On Heron Island, you won’t find high-rise construction and vast swathes of concrete. The island has been left in as natural state as possible and guests are asked to help protect that, for example by closing the curtains at night so baby turtles don’t get confused by the light, and sticking to the pathways so you don’t accidentally collapse the nest of a ground-burrowing ‘mutton bird’ (or burrowing shearwater). All the buildings are low rise.

View of Heron Island from helicopter

Heron Island is a family-friendly holiday destination. Although it’s a small resort, there is plenty to do for adults and children alike – diving and snorkeling on the coral reef, swimming at the beach or in the pool, guided walks around the island and reef, and playing tennis (though they needed new balls when I was there). I recommend a package that includes meals since there are no other restaurants on the island. The closest mainland town is Gladstone on Queensland’s mid-north coast and you can reach Heron Island either by boat or helicopter transfer. If you can afford it, the helicopter ride is very cool!

Many flights to Australia from North America are via Sydney – and I certain recommend you check out the sights of Australia’s biggest city (and my hometown).

Photo credit: Caitlin Fitzsimmons. All rights reserved, used with permission. See more of Caitlin’s photos on Flickr.

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Caitlin Fitzsimmons is a native Sydneysider currently based in San Francisco. She runs the travel and food blog Roaming Tales.

This video is by Vimeo user Mike Ambs, it was filmed in Long Beach Aquarium. I thought it was absolutely great seeing these amazing animals float around showing off their many different colors and shapes. I agree with Mike, I could spend a lot of time watching these animals’ underwater dance.

Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
The Spanish didn’t name our state “La Florida” for nothing. We have flowering plants in bloom every month of the year.
Do you like learning about plants and flowers? Do you like meandering about in the woods with a field guide discovering what’s in bloom?
Combine a classroom introduction to Florida plants [...]

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Looking for something to do the day after Christmas? Something that involves nature and walking perhaps? Check out the late December events at the Barrier Island Center web site calendar. They are having a “Who’s Home for the Holidays? hike at the Maritime Hammock Sanctuary pond.
Looking toward January, the Barrier [...]

As host to nearly 14 million visitors per year, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is one of the most popular tourists destinations in the U.S. Developers have sought to capitalize on that tourist trade by building new attractions such as Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, performance theaters, Ripley’s Aquarium, and more than 100 golf courses. Amenities have been constructed to the north, south and west, but not in the downtown, leaving it to decline as fewer and fewer people visit the city center.

To remedy the situation, the city and the Downtown Redevelopment Corporation designed a plan to stop the decline and return the downtown to the focal center of Myrtle Beach. The centerpiece of the plan is a $16 million, 1.2-mile raised wooden boardwalk along the oceanfront between 2nd and 14th Avenues North.

Central section of boardwalk

Three different sections are planned. The center section, running from Plyler Park to the former Pavilion Amusement Park site at Eighth Avenue North, will be the widest section and will feature oceanfront dining, shops, and businesses. Both the northern and southern portions will be traditional narrow boardwalks through the natural environment, connecting to beach accesses. The South Promenade will also have an oceanfront park.

Northern section of boardwalk

Southern section of boardwalk with oceanfront park

The project broke ground on September 9, 2009 and is expected to be completed by spring of 2010, in time for the spring tourist season.

Renderings courtesy of the City of Myrtle Beach

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
Long before the European explorers first set foot on Florida’s Atlantic beaches, the Timucua were well established inhabitants of this windswept coast. They are gone now, largely victims of diseases brought over by sailors from far off lands. But they’ve left behind many traces of their existence, including more than [...]

In 2003, Florida officials decided to renourish 6.9 miles of beach in Destin, Florida to repair damage from hurricanes. In the process, the State created a new boundary line between the oceanfront property owners and the public portion of the beach. Although the beaches in Florida have always been public up to the “mean high water line,” this new line, which the state called the “erosion control line,” effectively allowed the State to claim a portion of the beachfront that previously lay above the MHWL.

Property owners fought back, filing a lawsuit that charged the State with illegally seizing property without compensation (municipalities and governmental entities can legally take property through a process known as eminent domain, as long as they can prove it is for the public good, but the owners of the property must be fairly compensated for their property). The case has been in the courts ever since, with the initial Florida appeals court ruling in favor of the property owners eventually being overturned by the Florida Supreme Court.

Now being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, the case has far-reaching implications for all owners of waterfront property. Throughout the long legal proceedings, Destin property owners have insisted that the beach had not eroded and that the State widened the beach and changed boundary lines to draw more vacationers and increase revenues from tourism.

If the owners prevail, it could have the effect of making it very difficult, if not impossible, for coastal States to conduct beach restoration projects. If the State prevails, renourished beaches previously considered “private” may become much more accessible to the public.

Video credit: kgiannis1389

Article by Barbara Weibel @ Hole In The Donut Travels

Concerned that spring breakers are giving Panama City Beach a bad reputation, the Bay Area Tourist Development Council recently voted to withdraw its funding support for the month-long party, refused to issue permits for the annual Beach Scene Music Festival, and severed ties with MTV, which films the annual event. According to the Panama City News Herald, “A consensus emerged among TDC board members that Panama City Beach needed to shift the model of how tourists viewed the destination, marketing the area as a more “family friendly” year-round region, especially as the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport comes online in May.” Accordingly, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched its new campaign, “Spring Break, Family Style,” hoping to lure parents looking for sun and fun during Spring Break 2010, rather than the party hearty crowd.

Panama City Beach is just the latest in a string of communities that have chosen not to welcome the college spring break crowd. Issues such as excessive public drunkenness, security, and stress on public infrastructure and services have been cited by local authorities who decided to ban spring break activities in past years. In the case of Panama City Beach, two stabbings during a Lil’ Wayne performance last year may have been the impetus for the decision.

Local businesses are concerned about the potential loss of revenue from college students who flock to the area each March, as Spring Break is one of the largest money-making events of the year. Private entities have stepped up to replace the TDC sponsorship, but it remains to be seen whether they will be able to raise enough cash to attract the big name stars of previous years. The News Herald is already reporting that South Padre Island in Texas is the likely candidate for the Beach Music Festival in 2010.

Video credit: MaLaKaY289

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

My brother Simon comes to visit the States in the summer. When this was shot we were in the Outer Banks in North Carolina on the eastern coast of the United States. This was shot on a simple point and shoot which was in an underwater sports case and was a lot of fun.

The music is by Neon Indian.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

Yes, you are right, aquariums are not beaches but hey! What is a beach but the very meeting point of the land above and the land below? Is an aquarium not the same? In any case, Okinawa’s Churaumi Aquarium is one of the largest in the world, I believe it may even be second to the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. The specific aquarium featured in Jon Rawlinson’s video posted on Vimeo, is known as the Kuroshio Sea Aquarium. It holds 1,981,290 gallons of water.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

Tropical Storm Ida stalled off the coast of North Carolina from November 12-15, 2009, wreaking havoc on the oceanfront communities of the Outer Banks. The southern beaches of Hatteras Island were hardest hit, with the worst damage occurring in the village of Rodanthe, made famous by the film Nights In Rodanthe, starring Richard Gere. However, even before Gere and company put Rodanthe on the map, its S-Turns Beach was famous with surfers.

S-Turns takes its name from the the highway that fronts the beach, U.S. Rt. 12, which curves in an “S” shape at this particular point in the road. Surfers have long been congregating here for the perfect waves that form just offshore, and spectators are usually on hand by the score to watch surfers work their magic. Over the years, S-Turns has been slightly damaged by the occasional storm, but when this Nor’easter rolled in, huge waves not only stripped away the beach, they overwashed the road and tore out a stretch of pavement. With access between the main northern beaches and Hatteras Island cut off, the State of North Carolina quickly arranged for a ferry to carry cars and passengers around the breach on the calmer Sound side of the barrier island and immediately began rebuilding the highway and the barrier dune between the road and the ocean. However, the  beach was severely eroded and may never be replenished, since the Federal government no longer authorizes funds for beach nourishment and the Outer Banks municipalities have no funds for such projects.

The house used in the filming of Nights In Rodanthe is still standing, although there is no beach whatsoever in front of it and the ocean is washing under the house. The County has declared the house a danger and put the owners on notice that they must have the house torn down. The above video from the Virginian Pilot shows both aerial and ground footage of the storm surge and many other videos documenting the damage are available on YouTube. For the moment, surfers and beachgoers are holding their collective breaths in hopes that S-Turns Beach is not beyond repair.

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Next year’s swimwear trends look very exciting. In 2010, the focus is on print, color, and detail. What is really cool about the upcoming season is that designers are mixing it up and combining all of these elements into a single suit, whether it be the triangle, bandeau, or one-piece.

On this Gypsy Bandeau & Gypsy Skimpy Pant, Rusty combines a flirtatious mauve ruffle with confetti and snakeskin, a popular animal print in 2010 swimwear collections.

Toughen up a girly bikini with snakeskin print. Image courtesy of Transworld Business.

Roxy updates the traditional triangle with graffiti writing in neon colors, reversible in black.

This traditional triangle bikini becomes edgy with neon graffiti writing. Image courtesy of Delia's.

Earthy geometric tribal prints go uptown with gold hardware and black and white punk edging in Leilani’s Bali Lounge bandeau.

Ethnic meets urban with a touch of hardware. Image courtesy of Transworld Business.

My favorite is Kooey’s Spear Neck One Piece. Who can resist the contrast of the demure leg with the plunging neckline, gorgeous detail and that hot color!

Glam it up in this one piece with plunging neckline and chic detail. Image courtesy of Transworld Business.

All people who walk slowly down the beach, hunched over, peering down at the ground are not looking for shells. These days, many beachcombers are looking for sea glass. Defined as glass that has been tumbled by natural wave action to the point where there are no sharply-defined edges and all surfaces exhibit a frosted or etched appearance, sea glass is created when debris from glass objects end up in the ocean, breaks into pieces, and is smoothed by the action of waves and sand.

Sea glass specimens

In the days before environmental laws prohibited such actions, some of this glass came from trash dumped off ships. In other cases, the source of debris was old garbage dumps located near the ocean. Over the years, wind and rainstorms caused trash to migrate toward the shore, tumbling until it disintegrated, leaving behind only the more durable glass. In areas where perfect geography, wave action, and wind combined, sea glass deposits grew deep and were left undisturbed, since the glass was still regarded as useless trash.

Gradually, people began to notice the beauty of this delicately etched glass. They marveled at colors ranging from frosty white to deep turquoise, cobalt blue, and even blood red. Initially collected as pretty baubles to be displayed in a glass bowl, jewelry makers eventually began creating pieces from the unique material. Today sea glass is in such demand that it is growing scarce; many of the beaches that had contained thick beds have been thoroughly picked over. However, the following beaches still offer beachcombers a good selection of quality sea glass:

Bar Island – Bar Harbor, Maine
Bar island is a tidal island in Bar Harbor, Maine that is located directly north of the West Street town pier (look for Bridge Street on the north side of West Street to gain access). Glass found on the island has a tendency to collect at the high tide line. Check for the local times of low tide and plan to stay no more than one hour before and after low tide.

Farthest left island, Bar Island, which is connected by the mainland at low tide, offers excellent sea glass hunting

Rosario Beach, Fidalgo Island, Washington State
Sea glass on this beach is typically mingled with agates, shells, tumbled pebbles, and driftwood, so beachcombers may need to look closely, but 6-15 jewelry grade pieces can normally be found in less that two hours. To find Rosario Beach, going north on Highway 20, turn left about 1/3 mile past Deception Pass Bridge and follow the signs.

Sea glass collection in a glass brandy snifter

Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California
For many years the people in this town dumped their trash over the bluffs and onto a strip of beach owned by the Union Lumber Company. Locals simply called it “The Dumps.” In 1967, city leaders closed the area and various cleanup programs were begun, but by that time, much of the glass had been washed down to the shore, becoming the small, smooth, colored pieces that coat the beach today. Although much of the material has been carted away by collectors, there is still a good deal left. A few years ago, this beach was taken over by the California State Park Department, which voiced concern over disappearing sea glass. Rumors soon began circulating that sea glass could no longer be taken. While it is true that the Parks Department discourages the collecting of sea glass, California beaches are public up to the mean high water mark, thus collecting cannot be banned. Current opinion seems to be that it is perfectly legal to collect glass on any of the beaches in Fort Bragg, although care must be taken not to trespass on surrounding private properties to get to any of the three collecting sites. Of these, the best known is Glass Beach, located inside McKerricher Park, which is said to holds the highest concentration of sea glass in the world. Although generally depleted of the larger specimens, great quantities of small pieces are abundant and larger pieces can still be found after storms churn the beach. The path to Glass Beach is located at the end of Elm St.

Sea glass layer is many inches thick on Glass Beach at Fort Bragg

Seaside State Beach, Monterey, California
Located just northeast of Monterey, California, Seaside Beach is very long and is flanked by sand dunes and sand cliffs. On the main beach at high tide, sea glass is found in a narrow five-foot band just above the water line, as well as underwater near the shore. At low tide, much more of the glass is exposed on the beach. For better pickings, head north to the rocks, where sea glass can be found by the handsfull. Fort Ord Dunes State Park and Sand City lie along the same stretch of beach and are also good collecting sites.

Monterey State Beach, Monterey, California
Beginning next to Fisherman’s Wharf and continuing to the town of Seaside, Monterey State Beach is popular with beachcombers who often uncover sea glass. Pieces of vintage green are often discovered here, the source of which is an old beach dump site.

The beach at Cannery Row, California, near Monterey State Beach

Glass Beach, Port Townsend, Washington
A 90-minute hike from North Beach (also not too shabby a site for sea glass), the area known locally as Glass Beach lies at the foot of a bluff that once served as the town dump. Although this particular shoreline is unmarked, collectors know they have arrived at the correct spot when they spot corroded auto parts jutting out of the sand.

Playa Media Luna, Isle Mujeres, Mexico
Collectors have reported finding two pails full in about two hours. There are numerous beaches on this small island, and any of them are likely to offer up sea glass treasures, but the best scavenging is found on the rocky northeast side of the island.

Isla De Mujeres, Mexico

Antonio’s Beach to River Mouth Beach in Puntas, Rincon, Puerto Rico
Antonio’s Beach to River Mouth is a favorite place to hunt for sea glass. From the public parking lot at Antonio’s Beach adjacent to the new Punta del Mar Beach Resort development, head north to the river. Sea glass becomes more abundant nearer the river. On some days, it is not unusual to gather a plastic bag full of pretty pieces in less than an hour.

River Mouth, Puntas, Rincon, Puerto Rico

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
From the capital building, descend via steps along the fort wall to Playa Ocho, or look around the public beaches down from La Perla (near the stadium and the Caribe Hilton). It is best to go right after high tide and look in the rockier areas on the edges of the beach. Pieces of all sizes and colors are easily found here.

Glass Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai’s Glass Beach isn’t mentioned in many guide books, mostly due to its location in the middle of an industrial zone not far from the popular tourist area of Poipu on the southern end of the island. To get there, take the Port Allen exit off the highway, then turn down a street past some warehouses, then follow a very rutted dirt road to the water. It’s worth the effort, for this beach is inches thick with sea glass of all colors – even the rare cobalt blues. But don’t get greedy; local law limits each person to a gallon of the shiny stuff per day.

Photo credits, in order of appeaarance: Patricia Scott Interiors (sea glass in brandy snifter); Barbara Weibel (Bar Island); Patricia Scott Interiors (sea glass in bowl); BillLovesMarcy (Glass Beach at Fort Bragg); brunkfordbraun (Cannery Row Beach); sarunas.b (Isla de Mueres); Richard Monteverde, Rincon, Puerto Rico.

Article by Barbara Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

Ocean Beach Dog Beach - San Diego

As blogger Barbara Weibel noted, our country has a nice selection of dog beaches where you can have some fun in the sun with your pooch. Barbara pointed out a lovely dog friendly beach in Carmel, but San Diego has a handful of other terrific dog beaches.

One of them is Ocean Beach Dog Beach. I used to visit this dog beach frequently when I lived in San Diego - it’s so much fun! Not only is it a completely off-leash beach, but there are shallow portions of water where even smaller dogs can easily splash around and swim. I love to just put down a towel and watch the doggie mayhem – on warm summer days, there might be up to 100 dogs running around playing. It’s great fun to get in the water with them. (Just don’t go too far out!! This part of Ocean Beach is known for some nasty rip tides, so make sure neither you nor your pup venture out too far in the warning, especially if you notice the warning flags. )

You can also choose to walk your pet on a paved sidewalk that runs along this portion of beach – less sand, but just as much fun.

There’s no entrance or parking fee, so you can visit as frequently as you like.

Photos: Dagmar61

Washington Coastline and Beaches

When many people think about the beach and hotels on the beach, they picture beaches in Florida and California. Fair enough – the beaches in both states are gorgeous and known worldwide for their surfing and sunbathing possibilities. But what about the fantastic beaches in the Northwest such as those in Washington State? Talk about picturesque! The water here many not get as warm as it does in Florida (though Southern California beaches can have very chilly water as well!), but the picturesque scenery, quaint towns and fresh, breezy beach air more than makes up slightly cooler waters in summer. 

Ocean Park, Washington offers almost thirty miles of sandy beaches, all of which are less crowded than those you’ll find on the East Coast  in summer. You’ll also find quaint historic villages, beautiful Willapa Bay and more spectacular scenery than your digital camera card can likely capture.

If you plan to visit Ocean Park, you’ll likely want to stay for a few days and enjoy everything that the area has to offer. There are numerous Ocean Park hotels which can offer you ocean views and beach access, as well as those which are steps away from the charming towns and villages. Check out the following hotels the next time you’re in the area!

Blackwood Beach Cottages

Very close to the water - and if you like them enough, you can purchase them as well!

Charles Nelson Guest House

Overlooks beautiful Willapa Bay – it’s a B&B, and the breakfast is generous!

Ocean Park Resort

Only 4 blocks from the beach! You can camp as well as stay in lovely accommodations.

Photos: Akarmy

Hunting Island State Park - Beaufort, South Carolina

Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, South Carolina is  South Carolina’s most popular state park, and its beach areas are heavily visited as well, especially in summer. Visit just once, and you’ll soon see why. The beach here is clean with white sands and dotted with assorted sea grasses, and at low tide, the beach looks incredibly wide – perfect for exploring tide pools. Don’t forget to take your dog with you to Hunting Island! Dogs are allowed on the beach, so long as they are on a six-foot (or less) leash. Unfortunately, they’re not allowed in any of the cabins or campground areas. If you  have a dog like mine though, sometimes it’s nice to be in complete control over them at all times. As much as she loves me, I’m not sure my dog would ever come back to me if let off leash on such a beautiful beach as this!

There are over five miles of beach to explore with your pooch, and there is plenty of room to jog and walk on the beautiful sand.

When you drop your dog off at a nearby pet-friendly Beaufort hotel, you can explore the historic lighthouse here as a variety of lagoons, marshland and tidal creeks.

Photo: Hawkwild

Posted by David McRee at BlogTheBeach.com
This morning I noticed that I had a new follower on Twitter (@ActiviTourist ). I checked out his ActiviTourist web site and zoomed in on his “World’s Best Surf” category where I found this embedded video called “Biggest Waves Ever Surfed in Australia.”
I thought it fitting to do a completely [...]