What gives you that tropical beach feeling?
March 24, 2013 4:07 PM   Subscribe

Help me create my best happy place: I want recommendations for what gives you that all-around lazy, sun-kissed, salt water, beachy feeling. Music, books, movies, scents, art, images, anything you can think of that puts you there.
posted by dean winchester to Grab Bag (28 answers total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
Coconut oil and a space heater.
posted by amtho at 4:09 PM on March 24, 2013 [2 favorites]


Anything that smells like coconut, and the taste of pineapple.
posted by xingcat at 4:14 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


I have a full spectrum light for the winter months. 20 minutes in front of that while listening to ocean waves via any number of free youtube videos... and that usually does it for me.
posted by bobdow at 4:15 PM on March 24, 2013


Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion

Bob Marley

orchids

Plumeria shower gel and lotion from Bath and Body Works
posted by Fairchild at 4:16 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


As far as music is concerned, there's a band I love called Tennis. Most of their catalogue puts me in a very laid-back, summery mood. Especially "Marathon."

For smells, my money is on Bath & Body Works' Exotic Coconut. (Although I do second amtho, coconut oil itself is a really nice smell -- I think the B&BW scent is very nostalgic for me).
posted by nohaybanda at 4:18 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


Cold drinks like lemonade or mai-tais. You can even add little umbrellas.
posted by entropyiswinning at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2013


Yankee Candle "Sun and Sand" is astonishingly beach-scented.
posted by erst at 4:25 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


Apps that play the sound of waves crashing on the beach.

Burt's Bees coconut foot cream.

Mangoes.
posted by raztaj at 4:32 PM on March 24, 2013


Recording of tree frogs
posted by jgirl at 4:41 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]




Any music by IZ.
posted by eleslie at 4:51 PM on March 24, 2013 [2 favorites]


I watched Blue Crush over and over one February in Chicago.

Anything that smells like gardenia, plumeria or tuberose. (Whole Foods carries Alba Tuberose body wash-- highly recommended).
posted by BibiRose at 4:52 PM on March 24, 2013




I love Susan Orleans' article Life's Swell, which inspired the film Blue Crush.
posted by Juliet Banana at 5:30 PM on March 24, 2013 [1 favorite]


Maria Muldaur - Gringo en Mexico
posted by moonmilk at 5:32 PM on March 24, 2013




Watching the movie Something's Gotta Give always puts me in a beachy mood. The soundtrack is great too. Watch it with a good caipirinha and some seafood with lots of citrus, maybe some red pepper flakes.
posted by theuninvitedguest at 5:50 PM on March 24, 2013


ooh to expand on the seafood idea, fish tacos. I think if I slathered on sunscreen, played some beachy music (Tennis is indeed good) and made some fish tacos, I'd be about there.
posted by sweetkid at 6:27 PM on March 24, 2013


This might work for only me (and it's more like springtime), but the first movement of Barber's Violin Concerto is the aural incarnation of sunshine.
posted by batter_my_heart at 6:50 PM on March 24, 2013


10 minutes in a tanning bed.
posted by katieanne at 6:54 PM on March 24, 2013


Desmond Dekker & The Aces - It Mek, crisp white sheets, barbecued sardines (barbecued anything), proper tomatoes with just salt, volleyball.
posted by nelljie at 7:22 PM on March 24, 2013


Cocoa butter!
posted by ArgyleGargoyle at 7:46 PM on March 24, 2013


I'll second the "sun and Sand candle" it smells like suntan lotion and mix of beach not like fake ocean. I also listen to Island Radio 98.5 on iheartradio. (out of HI)
posted by ibakecake at 8:02 PM on March 24, 2013


Sorry for no links due to phone, but:

Washed Out - Life Of Leisure
Sea And Cake - Everybody

Are two very sun kissed albums I strongly associate with summer.

Orbital's The Girl With The Sun In Her Head and Hybrid's remix of Summertime are two tracks that get me in a summer mood, too.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 11:45 PM on March 24, 2013




Best answer: The Sincerely Yours label has this vibe going on. Some faves:

jj - Things Will Never Be the Same Again
Tough Alliance - A New Chance
Air France - No Excuses
ceo - Come With Me
posted by naju at 12:08 PM on March 25, 2013


I buy tropical island calendars, cut them up, and put them on the walls.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:21 PM on March 25, 2013


Best answer: The Only Place - Best Coast
posted by aintthattheway at 7:54 PM on March 25, 2013


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