Beach

Bird's Eye View of the Gulf Islands

Chances are you would not have expected Canada to make it onto our beach blog but hey, we don’t discriminate here! The Gulf Islands are amazing; it is a string of 100 islands forming an archipelago on the west coast of Canada. In fact they aren’t islands, they are actually mountain peaks jutting out of the water.  By definition the islands that are a part of the archipelago start from the town of Nanaimo all the way to the mouth of the Fraser River. All of the major islands can be reached by ferries but the smaller ones can be reached by kayak or canoe. Check out David Stanley’s blog dedicated to the town of Nanaimo.

Some of the islands you should check out and some things to see and do:

Saturna Island

Saturna Is. – There are some great sandy beaches on this island. In fact if you find yourself on East Point Regional Park you will notice that the shoreline starts off very flat and eventually begins to slope and turn rocky. Another cool thing about this island is that you will find a natural swimming hole on Russell Reef off of East Point Road.

Gabriola Island's Descanso Bay

Gabriola Is. – There are petroglyphs there which date back almost 2,000 years and Descanso Bay is absolutely gorgeous.

Galiano Island

Galiano Is. – This may be where you want to set up base camp since there are a lot of B&B’s, art galleries and restaurants for you to check out.

Salt Spring Island

Salt Spring – The largest and most popular of the Gulf Islands. The town of Ganges has a great atmosphere, which can be attributed to the growing artist community.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travel

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the country’s first ever undersea park, was established to protect and preserve a portion of the only living coral reef in the continental United States. In combination with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the underwater preserves cover approximately 178 nautical miles, are 25 miles long, and extend three miles out into the Atlantic. While the inland areas of the park offer hiking through tropical vegetation and woodland hammocks, it is the submerged coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove swamps that most visitors come to see.

Cannon Beach is conveniently located next to the Visitor's Center

Concession services within the park offer snorkel and dive trips to the reef, where visitors marvel at giant brain corals, delicate star corals, sea fans, sponges, shrimp, crabs, turtles, lobsters, eels, and nearly 600 species of colorful fish. Even visitors who choose not to get in the water can enjoy an up-close view of the underwater gardens from the comfort of a glass-bottom boat. Motorboat, canoe, kayak, and snorkeling gear rentals are also available, and a five-star PADI facility offers instruction for anyone interested in becoming a certified diver.

Far Beach at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

After visiting the reef, many visitors relax on one of two lovely strips of sand at John Pennekamp, Far Beach or Cannon Beach. Both have pure white coral sand and are shaded by graceful coconut palms and sea grape, as well as offering changing rooms, rest rooms, barbeque pits, and picnic tables. The park’s Visitor Center, located adjacent to Cannon Beach, boasts a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium with many live examples of creatures found on the reef. Forty-seven camping sites are also available, although reservations are strongly recommended, as sites fill up fast, especially in season.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is located on Key Largo at mile marker 102.5, just about an hour south of Miami.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

San Blas Islands from a Cayuko or 'Carved out Canoe'

Looking for that Robinson Crusoe / get away from everything experience? Well then, the islands in the San Blas archipelago are for you. Home to ancient Kuna Indians, the San Blas islands are reminiscent of a time that many exotic destinations once had; the lack of mass tourism. There are a recorded 365 island in the archipelago but the Kuna claim that there are significantly more than that. Most of these islands are uninhabited and one of the best things to do is to find a local fisherman and offer to pay him for a quick ferry to some of the best snorkeling sites (just ask some of the local divers and they’ll tell you where to go). You can even have a romantic getaway to an isolated island with a loved one and spend the entire day together.

In addition the amazing island life, the Kuna culture is a very colorful one. They are well known for their Molas, hand made cloths, which are woven together using multiple layers of fabric. Please keep in mind that the Kuna people are very camera shy and therefore you should always ask before taking a picture. With regards to video – forget about it and leave the video camera at home.

The Kuna Indians came to the archipelago during the Spanish invasion and have been there ever since. In a sense, you can consider the island of Acuadup the capitol of the Kuna Indians given the fact that the chief lives there. Their culture is a beautiful one and you get a very strong sense of it by the way the women dress, their jewelry and of course their tattoos. Being in the San Blas islands is very reminiscent of the golden age of discovery when finding a place so different and far removed from your own is like venturing into an untouched world.

San Blas Islands

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

Joao Fernandinho Beach, Búzios, Brazil

Búzios, which means Shells in Portuguese, is known throughout Latin American as the St. Tropez of South America. The actual name of this small fishing town is Armação dos Búzios, and has been attracting Rio’s beach vacationers for a long time but it was Brigitte Bardot who put Búzios on the map in the eyes of the rest of the world in the 1960s. With 24 beaches to choose from on this peninsula, it is no wonder the first and most important item on any visitor’s mind is “Which one to visit today?”

Brigitte Bardot Statue in Búzios on Rua das Pedras

Some of the more popular beaches in Búzios are Azeda Beach, Ferradura Beach, Geriba beach (great for surfing), Joao Fernandinho Beach (great bars and seafood) and Manguinhos beach for windsurfers. In general, for those adrenaline junkies out there looking for killer waves check out some of the beaches on the east coast of the peninsula. The eastern coast faces the open sea and is perfect for any water sports aficionados. On the flip side, if you are looking to just chill out on calm clear waters then the west side is the place for you.

As I mentioned earlier Búzios is the St. Tropez of South America, so besides just beaches the shopping and nightlife here is amazing not to mention the culinary experience. There are all kinds of live music bars, jazz bars, open-air bars and essentially an opportunity to be dancing all night long. The shopping and great restaurants can be found on Rua das Pedras, a cobblestone street closed off for pedestrians only.

All in all you can find yourself luxuriously lounging on this Brazilian paradise enjoying all that elite beach life has to offer.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travels

I’d often driven by Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key in the Florida Keys, but had never stopped. During a recent trip to Key West, determined to rectify that oversight, I carved out a couple of days on the end of my trip, specifically for beach time.

Caloosa Beach at Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key, Florida

Bahia Honda contains three separate beaches, each of which is completely different from the others. Caloosa Beach is tucked into a gentle cove at the foot of the old Overseas Railway trestle at the southern end of the park. A portion of the old bridge has been maintained as an elevated walkway that offers spectacular views of the beach and inlet. Caloosa is popular with families because restrooms, a snack bar, and ample parking are all located adjacent to the crescent.

At low tide, the amazingly clear waters of Loggerhead Beach recede to reveal half a mile or more of sandbar flats

At Loggerhead Beach, located in the center of the park, a submerged sandbar emerges at low tide. Sunbathers deposit coolers and perch folding chairs on these exposed sand hills and  wade far out into the shallow aqua water to search for shells and sea glass.

A young mother contemplates the loveliness of Sandspur Beach

I was impressed by both Caloosa and Loggerhead beaches, but when I drove up to Sandspur Beach on the northern end of the park, I was stunned. Sandspur is achingly beautiful, with pure white sand that ran through my fingers like powdered sugar and crystal clear turquoise waters stretching to the horizon. Sea oats and razor-sharp grasses atop low dunes swayed in the gentle breezes and puffy white clouds scudded across the sky. I cannot imagine a more exquisite beach. Sandspur is, hands down, the most beautiful beach in the world. Who knew I would find it right in my own backyard!

Stunning, achingly beautiful Sandspur Beach at Bahia Honda State Park, Big Pine Key, Florida

Bahia Honda State Park is located on the southern tip of Big Pine Key. A limited number of camping sites are available in the park, although reservations must be made months in advance. Most visitors choose to stay in one of the numerous hotels or motels in nearby Marathon.

Photos courtesy of Barbara Weibel

Matangi Island, Fiji (Can You Guess Which One It Is? HINT: 'Horseshoe')

Horseshoe Bay Beach is part of an island that was once a volcano that has long disappeared into the depths of the warm South Pacific waters. The name comes from the horseshoe shape of the 240-acre island that surrounds the former crater of the old volcano. Today Horseshoe Bay Beach is one of Fiji’s best beaches complete with tall green palms and deep blue waters. The volcanic rock that serves as the foundation of the island created the lush surroundings both on the island and underwater evidenced by the amazing collection of coral.

Diving and snorkeling here is a must and you will find that the best months for that are from the months of May through December. If you are just looking to get away and relax, try to be there from September to November.

Horseshoe Bay Beach - named for the horseshoe shape left by an ancient volcanoe

Matangi Island Resort is the only place you will be able to find accommodation coupled with a very romantic atmosphere. The resort was built by the owners of the island with couples in mind. Families fear not though, unlike many South Pacific resorts Matangi Island Resort welcomes children. The resort offers enough space for only 28 people in fourteen Polynesian style bures. If you are looking for the perfect honeymoon suite, look no further as this resort offers three honeymoon tree houses with great views of Horseshoe Bay Beach. Imagine the sunsets!

Matangi Island Resort - Homeymoon Treehouse

By Sebastien Tobler
Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole In The Donut Travel

Say the words ‘full moon beach party’ and most people will automatically think of the world’s most famous full moon party in Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand. Each month, when the moon reaches its full phase, more than 10,000 people gather at Hat Rin Beach on the southernmost tip of this island paradise to celebrate with abandon. Over the years the event has become world class, attracting international DJ’s who pump up the crowd into a near frenzied state with techno, trance, Goa, D&B, dub, reggae, and house tunes. Booze is sold by the bucket, tattoo artists apply neon ‘flash’ throughout the night, and sunrise reveals a beach littered with partiers who were too drunk or tired to make it back to their hotels.

Upward of 10,000 revelers attend each month's full moon beach party on Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand. Photo courtesy of AkumAPRIME @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/akumaprime/222113593.

Thailand has long been considered the best place to party under the full moon. However, other full moon beach parties have emerged as alternatives to Koh Pha Ngan, which is now seen by some as a bit too crazy. Some of these new events mimic the pure revelry of Thailand’s famous event while others are more sedate, but each is unique in its own right:

The largest land reclamation project in the world, Atlantis, The Palm is now host to the world's newest full moon beach party. Photo courtesy of the resort.

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is the newest entry into the full moon party scene. On April 9th an inaugural event, hosted by Atlantis, The Palm, was held on Nasimi Beach. With private tables and tents, bars, shisha and the fire-dancers, and requisite DJ’s and performers provided by Atlantis, the premier event was a smashing success. The resort anticipates making this an ongoing event, with the next party planned for June 5, 2009, however since the dress code is described as “beach glamor” it hardly has the potential for drawing the backpacker crowd away from Thailand.

Hordes of visitors stream along the Riva - the waterfront in Zadar, Croatia, during the annual Night of the Full Moon

The city of Zadar, Croatia, hosts Night of the Full Moon each year in early August. The festival is held along Zadar’s sea promenade (Riva), which is lit by torch and candlelight. Since the festival celebrates the country’s culinary traditions, visitors can buy tuna and sardines from the famous fishermen of Kali, Pasman clams, and Novigrad mussels from boats that have been turned into floating markets. Up and down the beach, temporary taverns serve local spirits, figs, cheese, and rakia; restaurants cook gigantic fish for the feast; and revelers dance to traditional Croatian music until dawn. The 2009 festival will take place on August 6th.

An enormous moon hangs over the beach at Goa, India, during a full moon party. Photo courtesy of http://www.new-age.co.uk.

Full moon parties in Goa, India are a common occurrence. Beginning in the 1960’s, Goa was a favorite destination for hippies, many of whom visited and never left. Today the area is a magnet for anyone looking for fun. Anjuna Beach is a focal point; people gather at reasonably priced bars and nightclubs to enjoy unique Goan music and the pulsating rhythms of trance music. As in Thailand, this scene is popular with the young, backpacker crowd and the parties are often all-nighters.

Benirras Beach on Ibiza is site of weekly sunset parties and monthly full moon parties. Photo by www.guardian.co.uk.

Full moon rises as guests at Magnetic Island, Australia prepare to party. Photo courtesy of Base Magnetic Island hostel.

For years, Benirras Beach on the tiny Spanish island of Ibiza was the scene of all-night drumming ceremonies, impromptu jazz, and general debauchery during full moons. Though the drumming festivals have now been banned and parties are tamer than those held during the legendary hippie era, musicians, dancers, fire-eaters, sand-sculptors still celebrate during full moons, as well as every Sunday afternoon, with jam sessions on the beach. One of the main attractions are the drummers and guitarists who give an ‘unplugged’ concert, building up their volume into a crescendo as the sun sets.

With a strong history of tourism between Australia and Thailand, it comes as little surprise that the land down under has its own famous full moon party. Since 2004, Base Magnetic Isand hostel has been sponsoring monthly parties on the beach at Magnetic Island, located in the northeast corner of the continent. Each event attracts up to 2000 people, who groove to tunes on the beautiful island beach until dawn. In addition to featuring international and local DJ’s, Magnetic Island has attracted some huge music acts.

Those who consider the above to be too far away from home or too exotic will find a ready alternative in Miami, Florida. The Ritz Carlton is holding full moon parties each month through the end of 2009 at its DeLido Club, the only restaurant on the beach in South Beach. Sip specially priced cocktails, dine on a mouthwatering Mediterranean cuisine, lie back on elegant couches and enjoy live entertainment and lovely ocean breezes, or peer at the moon through an observatory telescope. Best of all the Ritz – which is normally associated with glitz and glamor – is encouraging guests to dress in their favorite comfy jeans.

Gazing at the full moon through a telescope at the South Beach, Miami, Ritz-Carlton. Photo courtesy of Tomas Loewy.

Regardless of whether you’re bound for an international destination or sticking to the States, these days there are plenty of opportunities for getting wild and howling at the moon.

Neon-glow banners provide a psychedelic background for the full moon party at Pha Ngna, Thailand. Photo courtesy of bYoTuT @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/yotut/303102259.

Buck Island, St. Croix

Imagine 100 ft. visibility and an average depth of 13 ft. while snorkeling one of only three underwater trails in the US – that is what Buck Island is all about. Buck Island has been a protected area since 1948 due to the fact that it is home to an amazing underwater ecosystem. It is a small island surrounded by an Elkhorn coral barrier reef and attracts over 250 species of fish, rays, sharks and sea turtles. The entire reef itself is 4,554 acres long and should be enough to keep any snorkeler busy for the majority of the day. In fact the underwater trail on the eastern part of the island, is marked with plaques describing the amazing coral structures and underwater life that is dependent on the coral. In 1961 President John F. Kennedy created the US National Monument on Buck Island that was later expanded in 2001 by President Bill Clinton. Today the majority of the National Monument lies underwater.

In addition to having a fantastic underwater setting, on the western end of the island is Turtle Beach. National Geographic considers Turtle Beach one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Don’t be surprised if you see turtles on the beach from spring through summer. Leatherback turtles nest on the soft white sand in the spring followed by green and hawksbill turtles in the summer.

By Sebastien Tobler

Colliding Continents

by Barbara Ann Weibel at Hole InThe Donut Travels

Almost 70 miles west of Key West, seven small islands poke their sandy crowns through Gulf’s turquoise waters to form the Dry Tortugas National Park. These islands, which are home to exquisite coral reefs, fascinating shipwrecks, and an historic fort, may also be the most remote beaches in the United States.

Beach at garden Key, the largest of the seven islands in the Dry Tortugas

The Dry Tortugas have been an important landmark for passing ships since they were discovered
by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León in 1513. He named the islands Las Tortugas (the turtles) for the abundant sea turtles found in the area. The word Dry was later added to indicate that no source of fresh water was available. The islands were largely forgotten and uninhabited until pirates arrived in the 1800’s, which forced the government to take steps to protect the shipping lanes. Five giant forts were planned – four on tiny Key West and a fifth, Fort Jefferson, was to be constructed on Garden Key, the largest island in the Tortugas chain.

Visitors to Garden Key can also tour of historic Fort Jefferson

Within two years, piracy had been eliminated, but the Dry Tortugas once again became an important military site during the Civil War, as it allowed the Union government to blockade shipping and cut off supply lines to Confederate Troops. Since then, the Dry Tortugas have led a gentler existence. No longer used for military purposes, the islands were designated a National Monument in 1935 and received full National Park status in 1992.

Aerial view of Garden Key and Fort Jefferson

In addition to fascinating history, the islands offer pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear shallow waters ideal for snorkeling, nature trails, and some of the finest birdwatching in the country. Other than private boats, the only access is via two fast ferries that leave daily from Key West, allowing visitors a 4.5 hour stay on Garden Key. Six primitive campsites are available, although campers are limited to one night’s stay and advance reservations are required. There are no public phones, restrooms, or snack bars here. Even cell phones are useless. All waste must be hauled out and the only available water is from cisterns that catch rainwater. Though difficult to reach, Dry Tortugas National Park rewards visitors with an unforgettable experience that makes the trip well worth the effort.

Photos courtesy of National Park Service