Beach

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

The Kennebunk River separates the upper village of Kennebunkport and the lower village of Kennebunk

Say the word Kennebunkport and most people immediately think of the summer home of ex-President George H. W. Bush. Nestled between the shores of the Kennebunk River and the ocean, the village is home to historic riverfront shops where everything from fine art to precious gems are sold, and historic mansions that stand like sentinels along the windswept ocean shores.

On the other hand, say the word Maine and people usually think of fine restaurants and mouth-watering, fresh lobster. Strangely, neither Kennebunkport nor Maine conjure up visions of lovely beaches, despite the fact that  the village is home to a wide arc of talcum powder sand that forms Gooch’s Beach and Mother’s Beach.

Even on a blustery fall day, people stroll along the wide crescent that is home to Gooch's and Mother's Beaches, here seen from the jetty on the north side of the Kennebunk River

Gooch’s, at 3,346 feet long, is the main beach. During the summer months it attracts beachcombers, sun worshipers, swimmers, and skim boarders. It is also the favorite haunt of surfers because most days the waves are big enough to ride.

Shops fill historic buildings along the waterfront, leading to the town's tiny harbor

To the north, the jetty at the mouth of the Kennebunk River is a perfect place to watch luxurious yachts sail in and out of the town’s tiny harbor, while at the southern end of the crescent, Mother’s Beach is tucked into a sheltered cove. With a playground right on the beach and gentle waves, Mother’s is a favorite of families with small children.

Both Gooch’s and Mother’s Beaches have lifeguards from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day from July through Labor Day. A permit is required to park at the beach and can be obtained at the Chamber of Commerce or through local merchants. Better yet, just hop on the town trolley and ask to be taken to the beach

Maine, and especially the Kennebunkport area, is great for lobster and shopping and spotting celebrities, but its beaches should not be overlooked, because they rank among some of the finest in the country.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Mt. Rinjani Overlooking Lombok

Everyone knows about Bali, but not everyone knows about Lombok, Bali’s overshadowed sister to the east. Lombok is what Bali was a very long time ago, before the major resorts, before the insane nightlife. Lombok is now a hot spot on many a backpacker’s list and that is because of the untouched forests and deserted beaches. Rural life still dominates this island, you won’t find traffic here at all.

Lombok is prized for its fantastic snorkeling. The Three Gilis, which are small largely uninhabited islands of the northwest coast of Lombok is the place for just that. Coupled with the stunning underwater ecosystem, the natural untouched beauty of the islands itself is awe inspiring to say the least.

Overlooking the island is Mount Rinjani, the third largest volcano in Indonesia standing at roughly 12,200 feet. It makes for fantastic hiking and has been designated, along with its crater lake, as a national park since 1997.

Lets talk about the most important thing though – the beaches. The beaches on Lombok are beautiful white sands that are pure beach, meaning no one except nature takes care of them. Imagine white sands with a few washed up downed trees – basically it is exactly what untouched means. Although, there is the Oberoi Lombok, a luxurious hotel which occupies 24 acres of beach. For roughly $500 a night you can find yourself lounging on a beautifully cared for beach and take your time getting back to that beach side villa of yours.

If you decide to stay on the rustic side though, and I suggest you do, you will find that accommodations on this island will not cost you very much at all.

By Sebastien of Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

Olympic National Park, occupying the majority of the northwest corner of Washington State, boasts a half dozen lovely beaches, but because of its awesome scenery and easy access few are more popular than Rialto Beach.

Stroll north along four miles of beach to Hole-In-The-Wall, while investigating tide pools along the shore

Less adventurous visitors love this beach because stunning scenery is just a few steps from the parking lot. Heartier souls hike along the water’s edge at low tide to Hole-In-The-Wall, a rocky peninsula tunneled through by centuries of wave action. In many places along the way, the beach disappears under stacks of driftwood deposited by heavy winter storms. Exposed sections are carpeted with green malachite, rose quartz, and amber agate pebbles that have ridden the swift Quillayute River down from the mountaintops, becoming smooth and polished during their descent.

Some areas of the beach are carpeted with smooth pebbles that have washed down from surrounding mountains

From the mouth of the river Rialto Beach runs north, passing mile after mile of tide pools. In addition to discovering sea anemones and starfish, lucky hikers occasionally happen upon blown glass balls used as buoys that have broken away from Japanese fishing nets. Offshore, Cake Rock, Dahdayla Island, and numerous other giant sea stacks thrust up from the churning sea. Behind the beach, Bald Eagles soar in updrafts or sit regally in windswept trees that cling to the dramatic cliffs. With all this on offer, it is easy to see why Rialto Beach is considered one of the ‘must see’ jewels of Olympic National Park.

Winter storm waves toss driftwood onto the beach like giant piles of pick-up sticks

Rialto Beach is located 20 minutes from the village of Forks and 90 miles from Port Angeles, Washington, which is considered by many to be ideally located for day trips into the park.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Rip Current Chart - The beach is colored green and the rip is the arrow pointing down.

Getting caught in a rip current can be a scary experience. After all, a rip current is a strong seaward surface flow of water which is the official way of saying “the express line out to sea.” I remember when I was fourteen years old I used to look for rip current while on beach vacations with my family in southern Java, Indonesia. I used to think they were fun, my friends and I would intentionally look for rip currents and ride them on our inner tubes out into the water and then we would swim back to shore and do it all over again. It was silly but for the most part it was safe because I was taught at a young age how to deal with rip currents and which ones to avoid. I highly suggest you avoid rip currents in general, the point I am illustrating with my experience is that if you can recognize a rip and know how to deal with one you will know how to survive one. So stay calm.

There are three easy ways to recognize the presence of a rip current. The first (and most obvious) is to always check the signs at the beach you are headed down to. I know, I know -”DUH!” right? Well, you’d be surprised at people. I used to work at a CD store (which ONLY sold CDs) and I got yelled at by a customer who stormed in and demanded a refund for the defunct watch we sold her…riiiight. Always read the signs and always know your surroundings – isn’t that covered in Travel 101 class?

The second way to distinguish a rip is to look for an unusually calm section of water. It is particularly calm because the water is headed back to ocean, so as opposed to the waves crashing onto the shore, the water swiftly moves outwards in unison without much resistance.

Finally, keep an eye out for differently colored water with and a lower waterline. These two characteristics are classic telltale signs of a rip current. So now that you know how to look for one, we can now talk about getting out of one.

Human instinct would say PANIC! and to swim against the flow towards the beach, but this exactly the WRONG approach. First, stay calm and remember that the rip current is outflowing water and that on either side of it is inflowing water. Swimming against fast outflowing water will tire you and that is when your situation can get very dangerous. What you should do is swim parallel to the shore towards the inflowing water. If you feel you are not a strong swimmer, float on your back and wave towards the shore for help. Also, rip currents eventually die out and you can swim back to shore safely although this could take longer to accomplish.

So here is a recap:

There is a rip current if…

1. There is a sign on the beach that says so.

2. There is a section of water on the beach which is unusually calm.

3. There is a section of water which is of a different color and the waterline is lower when compared to other sections of the beach.

Most importantly:

You get out of a rip current by staying calm, swimming parallel to the beach NOT against the current towards the beach. Or, you can let the current take you out and you can swim back to shore.

Safe beaching!

By Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Bondi Bay, with double overhead surf and an offshore wind

During a recent visit to Sydney, Australia, a friend said I must see Bondi Beach, insisting that coming to Australia and not seeing Bondi was akin to visiting Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. As an ex-surfer, I had long known about Bondi; it is famous with surfers the world over for its waves. To my surprise, however, I discovered that there is much more to Bondi than just surf.

Residents and tourists come from far and wide to take the 3.5 mile cliff walk leading from Bondi’s beautiful crescent, up and over the rocky headland to Coogee Beach. Many begin at the midpoint of the trail, in Bronte. Walking toward Bondi, they arrive just in time to enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the restaurants that offer unobstructed views of the bay, before making the return trip. I did not have a full day, so my friend and I began in Bondi.

The Icebergs Pool at Bondi, one of many oceanfront salt-water pools around Sydney

At the southern end of the beach we followed the concrete ramp up to the cliff walk. The well-paved path hugged the jagged rock face, climbing steeply in some areas. Soon we came to the Icebergs Pool, one of the many oceanfront salt-water pools found at Australian beaches. Home to the Bondi Icebergs Club, this club requires members to swim three out of four Sundays for a period of five years. The water is cold in the winter (thus the moniker “Icebergs”) but the pool is perched on the cliff at just the right height to catch incoming waves, providing calm waters for swimming year round.

The cliff walk between Bondi and Tamarama Beaches

A bit further along we came to tiny Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, both offering great little cafes. We had to turn back at this point, but the walk continued to Clovelly, a sheltered beach popular with families, and then on to Gordons Bay, great for snorkeling and scuba diving. The path ends at Coogee Beach, which is popular with backpackers as it the site of Selena’s night club, famous for hosting top Australian and world bands.

In addition to great surfing and body boarding, topless sunbathing and swimming are allowed at Bondi. Bondi is also home to the world’s oldest surf lifesaving club, so even if you’ve never surfed, this is the perfect place to take lessons, since there’s always someone to rescue you if you take a nasty tumble off your board.

Bondi is the nearest ocean beach to Sydney, located a mere five miles from the city center, and easily accessible by bus or train.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Ibiza

Ibiza, Spain

It seems that since the words “Beach Party” were uttered, Ibiza had already branded itself as the party island to be on. Ibiza has more party goers visit annually than any other of its Balearic counterparts. Every summer at least three famous DJs are on this island playing until the break of dawn.

Mykonos

Mykonos, Greece

Known around the world for THE beach to party on in Greece, Mykonos’ capital Hora, has hundreds of bars ready to quench that party thirst. Not to mention that all the major resorts lining the sandy beach front are armed to the teeth with popular clubs and bars.

South Beach: America

South Beach, Miami

Considered by many people to be America’s best beach town, South Beach offers a lot of party for those who can afford it. With table service easily going for $500 an up, going out to South Beach means you better look good if you are looking to meet people.

Goa Carnival

Goa, India

Goa is the party spot in India established long ago by the 1960s counterculture youth from America. To this day, the ideal of a free spirited life have been translated into some major Rave scenes, most notable of which is the Goa Trance rave scene.

Koh Phangan

Haad Rin, Koh Phangan, Thailand

There was a time when full moon parties were just a myth spoken amongst backpackers kept secret from mass tourism. Those days are long gone and now the small island of Koh Phangan expects at least 20,000 party seekers annually.

Zrce

Zrce Beach, Novalja, Croatia

Not as famous as it’s European counterparts, Zrce Beach in Croatia is no less a party scene. In fact I would go to on to say that this quickly booming party scene has all the seeds required to one day make its mark on the world stage.

Aya Napa

Nissi Beach, Aya Napa, Cyprus

Nissi Beach has been the hot spot for Eurpe’s young party-hardy since the late nineties and exploded in 2002 when BBC Radio started broadcasting live from the party beach. Not to mention the fact that this beach is easily the cleanest beach on our list having won the Blue Flag designation.

St. Tropez

St. Tropez, France

If you think South Beach is an expensive party scene, think again. St. Tropez attracts the world’s rich, famous and all around elite. Spending cash is not going to be a problem for you if you chose to party here but that is the price you have to pay in order to play with the luxurious lot.

Cabo's El Squid Roe

Beaches of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

In Mexico’s Cabo San Lucas, you can find yourself face down in the sand before you even spend that $50 you set aside for a wild night. The Mexican Peso is so cheap that partying in one of Cabo’s many famous nightlife establishments could turn out to be quite the handful!

Kuta, Bali

Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia

Kuta, simply put, is Bali’s entertainment center. The stretch of nightlife now reaches out 4 miles away from Kuta itself and into other towns. Clubs, karaoke bars and everything you can imagine putting into an Asian beach town is right here.

By Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Tiny little beach is perfectly located to enjoy all that the tiny Cedar Key offers

As beaches go, the one at Cedar Key doesn’t have the softest sand. It isn’t the prettiest. The shore is littered with clam shells and the beach itself is fairly narrow. Normally, that kind of review would put a beach way off my radar, but in this case I must make an exception. What makes this beach so special is its location in the center of the tiny city of Cedar Key.

The city is divided into the historic area and the waterfront. The historic district is comprised of a dozen or so disheveled old buildings on the main street, which is located a couple of blocks inland. Most of the action happens along the waterfront. The brand new municipal pier occupies one end of the waterfront, providing and excellent place to drop a line, as well as great views looking back over the hotels, restaurants, and shops that perch on pilings and hang out over the water.

View from the municipal pier, looking back at the shops and restaurants that hang out over the Gulf

This area of Florida, which tourism officials have dubbed the Nature Coast, is more commonly referred to as the Big Bend area. Here, the Gulf of Mexico has a shallow offshore shelf, with average depth increasing roughly one foot per mile. The coastline in this area is dominated by a network of inland creeks giving out onto salt marshes and seagrass meadows that cover 1,800 square miles of the Gulf. These salt marshes are the breeding ground for many important species, including black rum, red drum, blue crabs, spotted sea trout, and clams. It is fascinating to watch fishermen on the small, flat-top boats dig in the muddy flats for clams and cab.

The fishing from the new municipal pier is excellent

Offshore are dozens of islands or keys; many are so tiny they are only visible at low tide. Perhaps a dozen of these keys are part of the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and several are designated as wilderness areas, just begging to be explored by kayak. There are numerous places to rent kayaks and the going rate is very affordable, averaging $30 for four hours. And since Cedar Key lies along a major migratory bird route, it is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

So while the beach may not be anything to rave about, a visit to Cedar Key promises quaint shops, friendly people, great seafood, fabulous fishing, and peace and relaxation. In truth, this is one of the few remaining places where visitors can experience the “Old Florida” – or as locals say – the “Pre-Disney Florida.”

Cedar Key is located about 50 miles southwest of Gainesville or three hours north of Tampa. Accommodations are available to fit all budgets.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Beware the Jellyfish!

Going to the beach is going out and experiencing nature, which sometimes means you encounter nature’s not so friendly surprises. Jellyfish and humans come into contact regularly which means people get stung. So what do you do if you get stung by a jellyfish? You’ve heard all those silly stories and myths before, so now lets see what really should be done in order to avoid more stress than you have to on your beach vacation.

1. Call for help immediately

2. If you were stung while swimming, swim to shore immediately

3. Make sure you have gloves on (or any barrier between your hand and the affected area) when handling the sting.

4. If you know you have been stung by a box jellyfish then pour vinegar onto the affected area, if you know it is a Portuguese Man o’War then avoid vinegar. The best thing to do is use saltwater to wash the area off if you do not know what kind of jellyfish it was.

5. Avoid using freshwater on the sting if you were stung in salt water as this may help spread the venom

6. If there are still tentacles attached to the area, remove all parts of the Jellyfish from your body/victim’s body. Remember that you will not be able to see all of the smaller pieces so the ideal thing to do is to spread shaving cream on the affected area and ’shave it off’ with the edge of a card (credit, driver’s license etc). This will remove all the smaller jellyfish cells which are still pumping venom into the victim’s skin.

7. Drink Benadryl to avoid an allergic reaction

8. Go see a doctor ASAP

Check out this article from WebMD for more helpful information: Jellyfish Sting Treatment

By Sebastien Tobler of Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Most folks who head for the beach in Venice, Florida end up at the municipal beach access, right in the center of town. Since it is miles long with great facilities, few find it necessary to search further afield. Yet just minutes away, on the south side of the airport, is Caspersen Beach, the longest in Sarasota County. The majority of people who find their way to this part of Venice come to experience Sharky’s, a world-class seafood restaurant and bar that sits at the end of an 1,100 foot fishing pier. Content to join an impromptu game of beach volleyball, sip tropical drinks on the upper deck, or watch the sun dip below the horizon, visitors are blissfully unaware that just a half mile further down the road lies one of Florida’s least crowded and most natural beaches.

The further you walk, the more deserted the beach, especially in the heat of summer!

At low tide, visitors search among the tidal pools for shells and fossils

Two-thirds of Caspersen has been left in its natural state. In areas, large rocks jut from the sand, creating tide pools at low tide. In most places the sand is a light tan color, but in other areas the sand is nearly black. These dark sands hold a secret – they are the most likely repository of prehistoric shark teeth. Storms wash these sands into the ocean, freeing the fossils, which are then scooped up by mesh basket wielding beach-goers. For the best results, people work in pairs. One person wades into the water, scoops up a backet full of material from the ocean floor, jiggles the basket around in the water to rinse the sand away, and dumps the remaining material on the beach. The second person crouches over the booty, carefully sifting and searching for shark teeth.

One beach-goer proudly displays the day's booty: black shark teeth and white coral

I first visited Caspersen Beach five years ago, in the days when it was still secluded and fairly deserted. These days, the beach has been discovered, partially because it is the site for the town’s annual Sharks Tooth Festival. Scheduled for April 17-19, 2009, the event is a weekend of food, fossil hunting, arts & crafts, music, and fun for the whole family. And although not as secluded as it was when I first encountered it, Caspersen is still one of the least populated beaches on Florida’s Gulf Coast, especially in the dead of summer when all the tourists have fled. Another unique feature? The beach is very dark at night, and very quiet, which attracts egg-laying sea turtles and other wildlife. To experience a Florida beach that still looks like it did 500 years ago, be sure to make a short detour to Caspersen.

In addition to beaches, Venice is a treasure trove of activities and local attractions, and offers a full range of accommodations.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut

Nokomis Beach on Casey Key from the top of the boardwalk that crosses the dunes

One of the pleasures of roaming around Florida’s Gulf Coast is discovering smaller, lesser-known beaches scattered throughout the region. Since the recent Florida cold snap had chilled me to the bone I was badly in need of sunshine, so this past Sunday I went in search of another such jewel. On previous excursions I had checked out the beach in the very popular winter haven of Venice, but this time I turned off of US Route 41 onto Albee Road at the tiny community of Nokomis, located just north of Venice. To my surprise, the road led me across a drawbridge and to the center of Casey Key, ending at the entrance to Nokomis Beach.

Upon pulling into the oceanfront parking lot, I was delighted to find that unlike the Tampa area, which has pricey metered parking at most beach accesses, this parking lot was free.

Colorful umbrellas poke from the khaki-colored sand

Mom and daughter swing in the playground at North Jetty Park

From the top of the boardwalk I surveyed the beach. It was wide and clean, backed by residences and the occasional mom and pop motel. Because there are no high-rise condos or hotels on Casey Key it tends to be a less crowded beach. Khaki-colored sand, aquamarine water, and riotous beach umbrellas created a colorful scene as I walked along the shore, stopping occasionally to examine shells tossed on the sand. Stopping to chat with the lifeguards, I learned that Casey Key is also home to a North Jetty Beach, located on the southern tip of the island where the Intracoastal Waterway divides the island from Venice. Never one to leave before thoroughly investigating an area, I hopped in the car for the mile or so drive to the jetty.

Skim boarders try their hand in the gently lapping waves

Immediately upon arriving, I was intrigued. Scattered around the wide grassy expanse separating the parking lot from the beach were picnic tables, barbecue grills, shelters and a large playground. On the other side of the dune, twin fingers of a long rock jetty reached into the Gulf, pointing the way to the Intracoastal entrance. Saliboats and speedboats motored between the rocky arms, alert for manatees bound for warmer inland waters. From atop the jetty fishermen cast lines, hoping to snag one of the giant Mullet that swam by, haughtily ignoring the dangling smorgasbord. On the near side of the jetty a breathtaking turquoise crescent glistened tranquilly in its protected cove. Children waded in the shallow water as parents dug through shells heaped at the base of the rocks. Where the shoreline straightened out, skim boarders tried their hand. Further back, older residents unfolded lawn chairs and plunked down ice chests under the Australian Pines, all set for a day of people and yacht watching.

Fishermen cast from atop the jetty, while families congregate in the sheltered cove, with its calm, shallow water

Woman digs through mounds of shells that have been deposited at the base of the jetty rocks

All in all, this is one of the most pleasant beaches I have ever been to. There was so much to see and do and the beach and facilites were well maintained and idyllic. My only complaint – if forced to come up with one – would be the lack of restaurants in the area. But given the choice of a noisy, crowded beach with lots of restaurants and bars, and a pristine, quieter beach with fewer facilities, I’ll always opt for the latter. And in this case, if I get hungry, there are dozens of restaurants just ten minutes away in Venice. Visitors looking for a true “Old Florida” laid back experience will prefer lodgings in Nokomis, while Venice tends toward more upscale accommodation choices.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel