Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with beach

Ideas for quiet Caribbean beach vacation?

mark7570 — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:37:09 -0800

Where is a good quiet Caribbean beach resort, with good food and service but a minimum of loud people/activities/partying? Here's what I want from the resort or hotel: walk right out directly onto the beach. Sit down in a beach chair under an umbrella. Order a beer or pina colada (or bring one from the beach bar). Then do nothing all day, enjoying peace and quiet, looking at the water. Then walk back to the resort's restaurant for a good dinner. Bedtime. Next day, same agenda.

I don't want a casino. I don't want nightlife. I don't want organized hula hoop contests on the beach. I don't want rock-climbing or kayaking adventures. I just want a beach, an umbrella, and a beer. And then a nice dinner.

Extra points if this location is a direct flight from New York City.

One place that fits the bill, by the way, is resorts on Grace Bay, within Turks & Caicos. (Providenciales is a direct flight from NYC.) But most of those places are expensive and I'd love to find something that's more affordable.

Any ideas and/or recommendations from past experience?

P.S. I have seen this question about a short Caribbean vacation... which is helpful except that I'm not looking for a lot of outside activities.

Just say "NO!" to staycations...

ecorrocio — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:43:40 -0800

Vacation Challenge: 5 days in mid Feburary. Two adults, 1 kid. Seeking warmth, ocean, beach, fun. $1800 budget. Starting in Denver. What would you do? The Corrocios of Denver are planning a 5 day getaway in February. I don't want to break the bank, but it would be nice to get somewhere warm, beachy, relaxing. The kid (aka "Squid") would love to go to Disneyland, but not sure it fits our budget.

Do you have a great spot to recommend?

Breathing holes from a giant undersea Cthulhu

shammack — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 09:09:58 -0800

What is this thing that we found on the beach? We saw several of these things in the sand during low tide in Panacea, Florida. My wife poked at one and it fell apart. What is it?

Vacation Destination!

kbanas — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:56:50 -0800

Topical Resortfilter! We're planning a vacation for sometime in 2010, and I have in my mind's eye the image of a every particular kind of resort in a tropical paradise. You've probably seen it before.... There is a long dock that protrudes far out into a calm, clear sea... and there are, well, these bungalows, I guess, would be the best word - these wonderful thatch roof looking abodes that sit out in the water on stilts or something and there's even, I think, a place where the floor is open so you can look down into the water, and it's private and beautiful and awesome.

I have seen places like this before. In advertisements. In forwards from friends that say things like, "Wouldn't you rather be here than at your crappy job?" Ha!

Well, I'm not sure I could afford it, but I think they exist, and I just don't know the Google terminology to even try to search for them. So lend a hand! Do you know of a resort like this? Does it have a website?

quiet beachy birthday romance

pearl228 — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:49 -0800

Awesome, romantic getaway in proximity to nyc? Secluded, autumn beach spot preferred... So, I'm looking to take my man on a sweet trip outside of the city for his birthday this weekend. I can rent a car, or we can take a train then rent a car. I was thinking Montauk, which remains a possibility, but would prefer something a little more unexpected if I can figure it out.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions in terms of towns, transport, lodging, and things to do when we're not taking long walks on the beach..?

Thanks in advance!!

Florida coast rental homes?

mrmarley — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:50:23 -0800

looking for an upscale vacation-home in Florida for a long weekend next march (or week if required) - gulf coast - directly on the beach, somewhat isolated/ somewhat near a "town" - with multiple bedrooms (4 to 7?) - know of anything -or good agencies? where to start? (not looking for the Panama City "party scene" -- something more "adult" less-college.)

Help me locate some pictures and their artist.

AAAAAThatsFiveAs — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:32:03 -0800

[ArtFilter]: Help me locate some pictures and their artist. A friend is looking to find some pictures she saw a while back on the interwebs. Based on our conversation:

- The art was very detailed, possibly photorealistic?

- Many pictures depict beach scenes. One in particular was a woman in an old-fashioned bathing suit holding an umbrella. A small child was running around her.

- The artist did a series on women. One was a silhouette of a woman against a window. Another was the form of a woman in darkness; she was wearing a skirt (maybe a slip?) that was slit very high up her leg.

- The artist may or may not be well-known, but is likely still alive.

We've tried looking up photorealistic artists on Google, but nothing has been productive so far...

Thanks, Hive!

Help me relax, hivemind!

sickinthehead — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:46:40 -0800

I am in Chapel Hill, NC and want to rent a house/cabin somewhere this weekend? Where should I go? I don't want more than a 3 hour drive if possible, and I haven't been to either the mountains or the beach in the year that I've lived here. While the mountains may be beautiful at this time of year, I think the beach on a warm sunny fall weekend also sounds like a nice idea.

The problems:

- I don't know what towns I should be looking in.

- I want to bring my dog.

- I don't know where to look for rentals. I poked around on craigslist, but I want to know if there is some other site that is good for this.

- I want to spend about 125/night.

So Metafilter, where should I go this weekend?

Cumberland Island for 14

Classic Diner — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:31:01 -0800

Any tips/suggestions for Cumberland Island trip this weekend. I'm going to Cumberland Island GA this weekend with 13 other people. We are all good friends, and have scheduled cooks/meals and other camping responsibilities. The "ask metafilter" seems full of people recommending CI, now what tips, suggestions, and do not miss do you have for this camping weekend.

Maldives on a budget?

abdulf — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:46:00 -0800

Maldives on a budget? Say, late June or July 2010? Assuming the starting point is Chennai or Bangalore, India. Airfare doesn't seem too bad. It's a trip for 2.

Any personal experience with these islands? Budget means like having $2000 to get to the Maldives from India.

The internet seems to suggest that spending any less than $1000/day means living in a slum. That doesn't sound right, there has to be a mid-range option right?

Again, personal experience would be great.

What to do on a rainy beach vacation?

RobotNinja — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:07:51 -0800

My wife and I are visiting Wildwood, NJ this weekend for our anniversary, but the weather forecast looks like rain the whole time. My wife loves the beach so she's pretty bummed out about it. What are some great ideas to salvage several rainy days at the beach?

I need a beach!

silverstatue — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 07:01:01 -0800

I need an accessible, non-nasty beach in nyc this weekend! Ok I know its Labor Day weekend and all beaches will be insanely crowded. However, this is my only chance all summer to go to the beach. SO, I live in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and I have no car. What beach can I reasonably reach by public transportation that is not horribly dirty and sketchy?

I love Robert Moses beach but have never tried to reach it without a car. I guess.... LIRR and then catch a taxi over? is that doable?

any other suggestions? should i venture into NJ? Is Brighton Beach.... ok to swim in? I'm really clueless here. help!

Best snorkeling in Puerto Rico?

exhilaration — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:17:13 -0800

What are the best beaches for snorkeling in Puerto Rico and Vieques? I visited this amazing beach in PR two years ago and am looking for something similar... When I visited Puerto Rico back in 2007, I stood in waist-deep water at the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve at Steps Beach in Rincón and watched tropical fish swim around my legs. I'm looking for other snorkel spots in PR that are equally accessible and family-friendly: they don't require a boat or even good swimming ability.

Bonus points for the eastern side of Puerto Rico and especially Vieques!

Lavos spawn ten years later?

jalexc — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:07:13 -0800

What is this spiky fish carcass? When I was in the Outer Banks a month ago, there were these spiky fish shells all over the beach. Here's a picture. I looked around on Google and Wikipedia for pufferfish, blowfish, porcupine fish, etc. before finding one site that had a similar picture claiming it was a porcupine fish. That site was the only one though; the other search results had rounder or otherwise different fish.

So, do you know what this thing is? Bonus question: do you know why a bunch of these would be washed up on the beach? I go to the Outer Banks fairly often and have never seen these before.

Good beach vacation for early October?

blueplasticfish — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 11:30:50 -0800

Good beach vacation for early October? My wife and I are looking for a relaxing beach vacation. Our main requirements are that we can get there easily (1 or less layovers from Salt Lake City), not break the bank, and get out of the US. With that said, we are willing to spend ~$300 a night to get a decent place. The plan is to spend a lot of time in and around our room decompressing from our busy lives. Reading, relaxing, bathing, massaging... you get the idea.

We have about 10 days or less that we can spend, so I think trips to Maldives, etc are probably out of the picture. But if you have good recommends, send them anyway!

Want to lie in a tent at night and hear nothing but the waves.

lottie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:35:43 -0800

Where are the best places in New South Wales to camp in close proximity to a beach? But wait, here's the catch... I would prefer recommendations which aren't for established camping grounds full of tents, caravans, dogs, cars, shower blocks, jet skiis and other people.

I'm looking for a National Park-type setting where a hike is rewarded with a gorgeous, private location. It would be great to be able to use fire to cook etc.

Tell me your favourite spot, and I promise to take care of it and to leave exactly how we found it.

Winter beach vacations in the USA

nanojath — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:48:03 -0800

Closer USA beach destinations for a winter getaway. Desires: nature, water, good food, kid friendly. I'm looking over the many beach vacation and traveling with children questions of the past, but I haven't seen quite this angle.

My wife and I are pining for fondly remembered beach vacations of our past (particularly to Mexico and Hawaii). But we're thinking about a shorter (and less expensive) flight from our home base in Minnesota and generally easier destination for our first major vacation with our child (will be 5 by that time).

We are looking at sometime in January/February. Things we'd like to have: in the continental USA, close to a decent beach and water, natural features (nature hiking, national park, or the like), good food (a few options for higher end restaurant cuisine would be nice), and generally a good destination for a family vacation with a young child.

I realize there is an inherent conflict between "beach destination" and "shorter flight," (Key West and San Diego aren't all that much closer than Cancun, for example) so I'm trying to figure out the best compromise. I don't know if we need to actually lie on a beach in bathing suits but being able to wear shorts and be in the water would be nice. The only coastal area I have much direct experience with is Los Angeles to San Diego. I know very little about but am intrigued by the Gulf of Mexico and the East coast (I'm leery of the overly touristy destinations in Florida however). Direct personal experiences preferred. Thank you!

Are NH lakes public beaches open to ALL?

Thrillhouse — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 18:38:20 -0800

Does anyone know if the "Public Beaches" at Lake Winnisquam and Opechee are actually public or are they only open to residents? Would like to take a day trip tomorrow to the lakes region of NH. I prefer not to take in the public beach at Weirs. I grew up on Winnisquam but haven't been in years. There are two "Public" beaches on Winnisquam but are either of them open to ALL or only to town residents? Same for Opechee?

Any other alternatives in the area to Weirs?

California beach camping?

jnnla — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:44:22 -0800

Beach camping in Southern California? Myself and the girl want to go beach camping in late August. We live in LA but are not necessarily restricted to the Southern Cali area. I have never been beach camping and am looking for insight. My preferences, in order of importance, are as follows:

-Scenic (some of the beaches in Big Sur look beautiful)
-Secluded (the less crowded, the better - we are looking for a peaceful getaway)
-On-beach camping, or as close to right-on-the-beach as possible.

Secret beaches that allow overnight camping would be best, but I understand that may not be realistic. We just want to wake to the waves in relative peace while I work the backpack stove.

So far I have looked at Doheny Beach, as well as South Carlsbad beach here in Southern Cali. The girl is entranced by Pfieffer Beach in Big Sur...but it doesn't appear to offer on-beach camping.

I want suggestions to help point me in the right direction. Can anyone recommend a mind-blowingly gorgeous beach camping experience in California?

How do I grow rosa rugosa indoors?

Salvor Hardin — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:27:18 -0800

Oh hive mind: wield your mighty collective horticulture-fu to help me bring the seashore to my apartment! Help me figure out how to grow Rosa Rugosa inside and make my sweetheart happy! The beach rose is my SO's (mefi's own Cygnet) favorite flower in the world, largely because of the smell. However, I can't find any resources for learning how to grow it inside. I know it's a little crazy, and that it isn't the sort of plant that one usually grows inside. But is it totally impossible? What will it take?

I have read that it requires well-drained sandy soil, that it doesn't tolerate fertilizer, and that it needs partial to full sun. I've found companies that will sell me either seeds or bare-root plants. I'm pretty good with plants, but I'm no expert, so I'm not very confident in my ability to improvise this.

My Cambridge, MA apartment gets some sun, but not a lot. We have windows with southeastern and southwestern exposure, including one bay window.

I would also appreciate any other general gardening tips regarding Japanese roses. Thanks!

Am I supposed to just avoid the beach in between waxes? That doesn't seem right.

metamush — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:25:57 -0800

It takes weeks for bikini line hair to grow long enough to wax, so what do you do if you frequently are going to the beach or pool during the summer? What do you do between waxes? Also, how do you manage unsightly bumps? I refuse to go to the beach with a hairy bikini line. But I am also just as self conscious if I shave and bumps and ingrown hairs appear.

I see many women on the beach who appear to not deal with this problem. How? I truly wonder.

My family has a beach house, and I love the beach, and I want to go as often as possible during the summer.

If I wax, in about 1.5 weeks, the hair is beginning to grow back. But it will take another two weeks for the hair to be long enough to successfully wax. So what, do I just not go back to the beach for that time?

If I shave, that delays the ability to wax. It is a quick fix, but often results in unsightly bumps and razor irritation. Plus, it makes the hair very course and who wants stubble? I don't want my inner thighs to double as sandpaper.

I welcome any and all knowledge on this subject.

It takes weeks for bikini line hair to grow long enough to wax, so what do you do if you frequently are going to the beach or pool during the summer? What do you do between waxes? Also, how do you manage unsightly bumps?

Fun games or pastimes for a family reunion?

futility closet — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:08:50 -0800

What game should I bring to my family reunion? My family will be reuniting for a week at a Delaware beach later this month. As a kind of general gift, I'd like to bring a game or amusement that we can all enjoy. The main requirements are that many people can participate (there will be 12 of us) and that it appeal to as wide an age range as possible (my dad is 80, my youngest niece is 7). Beyond that, anything goes, indoors or out. Ideas?

Where Can I Find These Vocal Harmonies?

goalyeehah — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:18:20 -0800

Is it possible to find sheet music for background vocals of a 40 yo cover of a classic tune? The Beach Boys did a cover of Leadbelly's "Cotton Field's Back Home" in 1969 on their "20/20" album. The single version has more emphasis on background vocal harmonies that I find amazing in both complexity and spirit. I'd actually like to get a group together to sing this and am wondering where I can find the written version of this recording with both lead and background vocals.

Is a DIY Florida beach wedding feasible?

DingoMutt — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:06:27 -0800

I'm asking this for my sister, who is engaged and would like to have a beach wedding in Florida. Here's the catch: she'd like to keep it as DIY as possible. (Assuming this is feasible) can anyone share experiences or advice in how to go about this? My sister and her SO are just starting to plan for their wedding but are having trouble getting underway - while they've been investigating resources like The Knot's beach wedding subsection and All Florida Beach Weddings, much of what they've found has to do with various "wedding packages" and hotel deals. If possible they would like to avoid that, especially as this will be my sister's second wedding and she's hoping to keep it more laid-back and non-traditional (think "drum circles and impromptu bellydancing" rather than "DJ and the hokey pokey"). As I understand it, they want to bring in as few outside vendors/coordinators as possible; they really just want to be able to reserve a space on a beach that they can do with as they wish (after getting the necessary permits and keeping within county/state regulations, of course). Does anybody have experiences with such an event, especially in Florida? Are there any beaches you could recommend that they investigate?

FWIW here are some factors that will likely influence their plans:

1. While they haven't yet set a definite date, they're currently thinking October 2010ish. At the moment they're thinking they'll have ~75-100 guests in attendance.
2. They would prefer a beach on the Gulf Coast to one on the East; somewhere around Tampa would probably be best but they're flexible.
3. If at all possible, they would love to have their three dogs involved in the wedding or at least the reception, so they're hoping to find a dog-friendly beach.
4. They would like to have both the wedding and the reception on the beach, but are also considering renting a beach house for the reception if that turns out to be more doable (assuming they can find a pet-friendly beach house, they're thinking this might also help with their wish to have their dogs involved in such a way as to still give them space to retreat if/when they need to)

There was some helpful information in this thread, and I'll be suggesting that my sister check out Indiebride if she hasn't already, but in the meantime, it would really be helpful to hear from others who are more in the know about this type of undertaking and how to go about it. If there are other details that might be important here I'd be happy to check with my sister, just let me know. Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide!

48 Hours in Malibu, CA

SoftSummerBreeze — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:01:24 -0800

I've got 48 hours in Malibu and want to make the most of it. Please share your absolute must sees and must dos. Thanks! I'm staying on Carbon Beach and want to see and do as much as possible in the short amount of time I have there. Where should I dine? Where are the best places for scenic or celebrity photo ops? Best beach front bar? Any and everything else you can think of.

I'll have my own car, so getting around is not a problem.