A trip to the beach should relax you, not stress you out. Here are a few simple ways to facilitate a fun-filled getaway at Sandbridge Beach, VA.
Make Ice Packs from Balloons
Filling your cooler with ice to take to the beachdoesn't last very long. The high heat of a sunny afternoon quickly melts theice, leaving you with lukewarm drinks and food. Ice packs are great, but oftentake a long time to freeze before use.
The solution? Fill regular balloons (not waterballoons) about halfway with water and freeze. You get small icepacks thatfreeze quickly and fit easily into coolers of every size. When they thaw, justrefreeze.
Put Floats on "Auto-Deflate"
Trying to deflate your beach or pool floats? Seemslike it takes forever with squishing them, lying on them, or attempting to rollthem up to get the air out. Take a large binder clip (available in the officesupply section of most Walmart or Target stores), squeeze the air tube, placethe clip around the BOTTOM of the air tube (to keep it open), and it willdeflate on its own.
Free, Disposable Beach Towel Anchors
Forget expensive towel clips. To keep your towel'scorners from flipping up with the breeze, fill quart zip-top baggies with sandand place them on all corners of your towel. Problem solved!
Little-Known Secret for Bug Bites
Bugs are part of life in the South. Sure, you canuse bug spray to ward off mosquitos and other flying critters, but it isn't100% effective. For the critters that get through the spray, treat your bugbites with ... toothpaste.
It's true! A little dab of whichever toothpaste youhave on hand will stop the itching in seconds.
Keep Your Valuables Out of Sight
Wondering where to safely store your phone, jewelry,watch, wallet, keys, cash, and other essentials while you're playing in thewater? Here are two suggestions:
- Shut your valuables inside a tackle or bento box.Then dig a hole under the edge of your beach blanket. Place the box in thehole, cover with a layer of sand, and replace the blanket's edge to conceal thehiding place.
- Wrap your valuables inside a disposable diaper. Makesure the diaper looks bulky; then secure it with its sticky tabs. Whether youstash it in a beach bag or leave it in plain sight, it will probably stay safeand sound. After all, most would-be thieves won't want to mess with a full-lookingdiaper!
Dig a Baby Pool
Are your children too little to wade in the ocean?Bring the ocean to them. Use aplastic kiddie shovel to dig a hole in the sand, just deep and wide enough tocomfortably hold your youngster. Line it with some sheet plastic you bring fromhome or buy at the local hardware store. Then use a beach bucket to fill itwith sea water. Sit nearby and watch your little one splash and play. It's asmuch fun for you as it is for your baby!
Build an Instant Beach Chair
Forgot to bring along a beach chair? Make one! Usinga plastic shovel, dig a shallow hole in the sand (for a makeshift seat). Thenheap up a mound of sand to form the chair's comfy "back." Line the"seat" with a tarp or sheet plastic you bring from home, sit inside,lie back, and relax. You can also build similar (smaller) seats for your children.
Keep Little Kids Cool in the Sun
Even if your whole family's smeared with sunscreen,the sun's heat can be uncomfortable. So, before you head to Sandbridge Beach,freeze liquid aloe vera in an ice-cube tray. Then empty the frozen cubes intoyour ice-filled cooler, so you'll have them handy at the beach. When youryoungsters complain about feeling hot, you can use the soothing cubes toinstantly cool down their skin.
Wash Beach Toys in the Dishwasher
When you go to the beach, sand gets everywhere! It'spart of vacationing at the shore. Rinsing the sand off toys gets most of thegrit off, but to ensure your toys are perfectly clean, run them through thedishwasher on a short cycle.
Protect Your Car, Truck, or Van from Sand
Want to avoid getting sand all over the back of yourvehicle? Cover the entire area with large, clean, dry beach towels. When yourfamily's ready to leave the beach, load your wet, sandy beach gear atop those bigterry towels. Once you're back, shake out the towels - outdoors - to dispose ofthe sandy mess; then wash and reuse the next day.
Above All, Just Relax
Remember, even if you leave something at home, you'll always have access to stores. So, don't worry. You're here to have fun at Sandbridge Beach, VA. Forget your everyday cares, kick up your heels, and enjoy!
