Life's a beach... but I don't want to die!
April 25, 2010 7:24 PM Subscribe
Help me plan my Outer Banks beach camping trip!
Three friends and I are headed to the Outer Banks (Cape Hatteras) for five days in mid-May. We've all done some camping before, but never on the beach, and certainly never on this beach. We are going in a fairly small vehicle so space is at a premium. What are some absolute musts, and what are some things that make for extra-special beach camping?
Bonus question: anything on the way from Nashville, TN to Cape Hatteras, or in the Outer Banks area, that we can't miss?
Thanks for helping make this much-needed vacation even better!
Three friends and I are headed to the Outer Banks (Cape Hatteras) for five days in mid-May. We've all done some camping before, but never on the beach, and certainly never on this beach. We are going in a fairly small vehicle so space is at a premium. What are some absolute musts, and what are some things that make for extra-special beach camping?
Bonus question: anything on the way from Nashville, TN to Cape Hatteras, or in the Outer Banks area, that we can't miss?
Thanks for helping make this much-needed vacation even better!
Small broom or battery powered hand vacuum. Sand WILL GET EVERYWHERE and sleeping in sand sucks, so brush off your legs before you go to sleep and shake out what ever you are sleeping in/on.
posted by token-ring at 6:55 AM on April 26, 2010
posted by token-ring at 6:55 AM on April 26, 2010
Awesome! I'll be in OBX two weeks after you, though not beach camping.
A few ideas:
1. Roof-top luggage carrier for your vehicle. Not sure if you have roof racks, but even without you can strap it through the doors. I just picked up one of these Highland soft-sided weatherproof carriers for our trip. It will free up a lot of room in your vehicle for passengers and/or extra gear.
2. A portable radio. Beaches are made for great music. I got a Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod dock (for $67 from Logitech's Refurb site). It runs on AC or internal Lithium Ion batteries (10 hours playback), perfect for the beach. If you don't have an iPod it also has an aux-in jack for your player of choice.
3. Decent flashlight(s) for nighttime galavanting.
4. Beer, and a cooler. If you can't or won't take glass bottles, buy/rent a mini-keg and bring plastic cups.
5. If anyone in your crew is musically inclined, a guitar is a fantastic thing to have on the beach. They make mini "backpacker" guitars if space is at a premium.
6. Sunscreen and sunglasses.
7. Warm clothing. I spent a week in the OBX a few years back and it was frigid; the air temperature was decent (close to 70) but the wind coming in was in the Arctic Blast range; sitting on the beach without a sweater/windbreaker was miserable.
8. Sandals. Sandy socks are the worst.
9. Rain protection.
10. Frisbees/balls & gloves/volleyball net/etc.
11. A Labrador Retriever, just cuz.
12. Lawn chairs/beach umbrellas?
13. Some really good books.
14. Jerky. The more exotic the better.
15. A power inverter for your car's cigarette lighter, so you can charge your various devices. This might not be critical, depending on how long your stay is.
16. First aid kit. Seriously, jellyfish are teh suck, and it's easy to tear your feet open on some rock/enraged crab. Also: Sharks.
17. Plenty of water - if it's sunny, dehydration can be a major buzzkill.
18. Boogieboard(s).
19. Dollar store sandcastle kit. Seriously, you'll thank me.
20. Cheap wind-up film camera. Don't risk your digital in the sand & surf. Besides, beach photos look 10x better on a cheap film camera for some reason.
Have fun!!
posted by sprocket87 at 1:55 PM on April 27, 2010
A few ideas:
1. Roof-top luggage carrier for your vehicle. Not sure if you have roof racks, but even without you can strap it through the doors. I just picked up one of these Highland soft-sided weatherproof carriers for our trip. It will free up a lot of room in your vehicle for passengers and/or extra gear.
2. A portable radio. Beaches are made for great music. I got a Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere iPod dock (for $67 from Logitech's Refurb site). It runs on AC or internal Lithium Ion batteries (10 hours playback), perfect for the beach. If you don't have an iPod it also has an aux-in jack for your player of choice.
3. Decent flashlight(s) for nighttime galavanting.
4. Beer, and a cooler. If you can't or won't take glass bottles, buy/rent a mini-keg and bring plastic cups.
5. If anyone in your crew is musically inclined, a guitar is a fantastic thing to have on the beach. They make mini "backpacker" guitars if space is at a premium.
6. Sunscreen and sunglasses.
7. Warm clothing. I spent a week in the OBX a few years back and it was frigid; the air temperature was decent (close to 70) but the wind coming in was in the Arctic Blast range; sitting on the beach without a sweater/windbreaker was miserable.
8. Sandals. Sandy socks are the worst.
9. Rain protection.
10. Frisbees/balls & gloves/volleyball net/etc.
11. A Labrador Retriever, just cuz.
12. Lawn chairs/beach umbrellas?
13. Some really good books.
14. Jerky. The more exotic the better.
15. A power inverter for your car's cigarette lighter, so you can charge your various devices. This might not be critical, depending on how long your stay is.
16. First aid kit. Seriously, jellyfish are teh suck, and it's easy to tear your feet open on some rock/enraged crab. Also: Sharks.
17. Plenty of water - if it's sunny, dehydration can be a major buzzkill.
18. Boogieboard(s).
19. Dollar store sandcastle kit. Seriously, you'll thank me.
20. Cheap wind-up film camera. Don't risk your digital in the sand & surf. Besides, beach photos look 10x better on a cheap film camera for some reason.
Have fun!!
posted by sprocket87 at 1:55 PM on April 27, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by COD at 5:54 AM on April 26, 2010