Howcast

How to Have the Best Family Beach Vacation

Howcast — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 13:58:31 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Take pictures Make memories by giving your children a disposable camera for the day. Watch their eyes light up when you get the pictures developed. Make a scrapbook or photo album to preserve your memories.
TIP: Teach them how to protect the camera from sand and water by keeping it in a plastic bag when they’re not using it.
Step 2: Look for wildlife Walk up and down the beach looking for sea life, such as snails, crabs, and starfish. Teach them how to respect the beach by not interfering with the wildlife or removing anything from its natural habitat.
Step 3: Make a rock and shell garden Bring a shoe box to the beach to make your own shell and rock garden. Put sand in the box, and add all the shells and rocks that you find. The kids can show their shell garden to their friends when they get home.
Step 4: Make shell jewelry Make one-of-a-kind shell jewelry. Explore the beach to find shells that have tiny holes in them. Have your kids string the shells onto dental floss and then tie the ends together to make a necklace or bracelet.
TIP: Paint the shells with acrylic paint before you string them.
Step 5: Make a tape Bring the relaxing, rhythmic sounds of the waves home with you by having your child stand at the water’s edge and record beach sounds with a tape recorder.
Step 6: Have a treasure hunt Keep your kids amused by having a scavenger hunt. Give them boundaries, a bucket, and a list of items to find, such as a bird feather, driftwood, and a shell. The first one to find all the items wins.
Step 7: Make shell impressions Grab your sunglasses, sunscreen, and play dough when you hit the beach. Have your kids collect shells and make imprints in the dough. Have fun making this the best beach vacation ever.
FACT: As of 2010, according to the U.S. Travel Association, people traveling with children or grandchildren comprised 30 percent of all adult leisure travelers.

You Will Need

Disposable camera
Scrapbook or photo album
Shoe box
Shells and rocks
Dental floss
Tape recorder
Bucket
List of scavenger hunt items
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Play dough
Plastic bag (optional)
Acrylic paint (optional)

How to Prepare a Beach Vacation Checklist

Howcast — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:31:00 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Use a template Start your checklist by searching online for a beach vacation checklist. Copy the template into a word processing program. This way, you don’t have to start from scratch and you can edit the list to meet your needs.
Step 2: Categorize your list Organize your checklist into categories to leave no item behind. Sample categories include: clothes, toiletries, entertainment/toys, food, sun protection, beachwear, beach lounging equipment, camera equipment and other electronics.
Step 3: Visualize your destination Envision the accommodations, location, and planned activities for your trip to get an idea of what to write under each category. You won’t need a beach umbrella or beach towels at a five-star beach resort hotel, but you might if you’re renting a private home. If you will be snorkeling, plan on bringing your fins and mask.
Step 4: Pack based on length Customize your checklist for each vacation according to the length of the trip. If you are staying a week in accommodations without a washer and dryer, pack seven to eight changes of clothes and at least three swimsuits. If you are learning how to scuba dive, don’t forget to put your wetsuit and underwater camera on the checklist.
TIP: Use 3X5 index cards for each person to make packing for the whole family a cinch. Write what each person needs to pack on their own card and check items off as they are packed.
Step 5: Don’t forget medications Be sure to include medications, aloe vera, other health items, and a first-aid kit on the checklist. This way minor scrapes and sunburns won’t send you into a tizzy.
Step 6: Highlight last minute items Do most of your packing the day before departure. Highlight any remaining items that you need to check off your list, such as toiletries or favorite toys, to refer to the next day so you don’t forget them as you rush out the door!
FACT: The U.S. has more than 12,000 miles of coastline, including Alaska and Hawaii.

You Will Need

Categories
Template (optional)
3×5 index cards (optional)

How to Pick a Great Beach Vacation Destination

Howcast — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:15:32 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Organize your group Determine whether your beach vacation will include a family, a couple, friends, or whether you’ll be traveling solo. Consider choosing a spot that caters especially to couples, families, or solo travelers.
Step 2: Pick your activities Pick the activities for your vacation. Go snorkeling at St. Andrew’s State Park or Tunnels Beach in Kauai, Hawaii. Hike on nature trails at Hunting Island State Park in Beaufort, South Carolina, or Torrey Pines State Park in San Diego, California.
TIP: Consider going deep-sea fishing for one of your activities on your beach vacation.
Step 3: Enjoy the nightlife Enjoy the nightlife by visiting the restaurants, casinos, nightclubs, and shops at South Beach in Miami, Florida or San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Step 4: Surf Choose a beach where the waves are the best if you’re into surfing. Waimea Bay Beach Park in Oahu, Hawaii, has giant winter waves.
Step 5: Swim and sunbathe Swim and sunbathe. Tunnels Beach and Pensacola Beach offer clean beaches with crystal clear water. Beaches throughout Hawaii and the Caribbean boast perfect 75-degree water temperature.
Step 6: Book Book your hotel and flight online after you have picked your perfect beach paradise. Happy travels.
FACT: Hawaii officially became the 50th state in the United States of America in 1959.

You Will Need

Knowledge of what you want
Internet access

How to Enjoy a Lake House Vacation

Howcast — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:15:51 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Bring the comforts of home Bring the comforts of home such as a grill, cookware and cooking utensils, and your favorite blanket. Don’t forget your beach towels, bathing suits, sunscreen, bug spray, and a sweatshirt for the cold nights.
TIP: Remember to bring marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers to make s’mores.
Step 2: Enjoy your family Enjoy quality time with your family by turning off the TV. Play board games together, puzzles, listen to music, or just sit back and appreciate the company and the beautiful lake view.
Step 3: Keep plenty of water Keep the refrigerator stocked with purified water, if the local water is not safe to drink.
Step 4: Keep a lid on garbage cans Keep a tight-fitting lid on your trash cans to deter skunks, raccoons, possums, and squirrels from making a mess.
TIP: Keep live traps available in case animals become a nuisance.
Step 5: Take advantage of the water Take advantage of the water — rent a boat, a jet ski, or a kayak, or relax on an inter tube and soak up the sun.
Step 6: Benefit from the dock Benefit from the use of the boat dock. Use it as quiet spot to enjoy a book, or use as a fishing perch or a diving platform. Skip a few stones or just sit back and watch the wildlife.
Step 7: Create memories Create memories by keeping a log book of all your guests and family. Take plenty of pictures to remember all the good times.
FACT: In 2009, approximately 90 million people used the internet to plan their vacations.

You Will Need

Comforts of home
Board games
Puzzles
Music
Water
Garbage cans with tight-fitting lids
Water toys
Dock
Log book
Camera
Supplies for s’mores (optional)
Live traps (optional)

How to Have the Best Beach Vacation

Howcast — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:31:35 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Make a list Make a list of priorities with your trip mates or family. Consider your budget, and the type of beach you want to visit, such as quiet and secluded, or busy and active. Also list activities like scuba diving and surfing, and amenities, like dining, and entertainment.
Step 2: Choose a top-10 beach Search online for one of the top 10 beaches in the United States, which you can find by doing a keyword search. Most of the beaches are in Florida and Hawaii, but South Carolina, Georgia, and California also make the list.
TIP: Look into water quality if you plan on spending a lot of time in the ocean. The National Resources Defense Council puts out an annual report of beach water quality at about 3,600 beaches available at nrdc.org.
Step 3: Punch in your specific needs Punch in your specific needs at travel websites that allow you to select traveler type, the activities you’re interesting in, and hotel amenities. You’ll get a customized list of destinations based on your preferences.
Step 4: Get an affordable vacation Get a more affordable vacation by looking for the top-rated, popular beaches in your state or states within driving distance.
Step 5: Select your destination Select the destination that meets the needs of all the travelers present and start packing!
FACT: In 2008, Carnival Cruise Line broke the world record for the world’s largest beach ball, which used 4,080.6 square feet of plastic.

You Will Need

List of priorities
Internet access
Water-quality reports (optional)

How to Rent a Beach House

Howcast — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:45:49 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Budget Figure out how much you have in your budget to spend for a house. This will determine the types of houses to look for.
Step 2: Start early Start looking as early as possible. Beach houses rent quickly, especially during peak vacation seasons.
TIP: Contact local visitors’ centers for help in deciding which beaches to visit.
Step 3: Choose Choose between renting from a private owner or from an agency. You might get a better deal from an owner, but a better selection from an agency.
TIP: Some owners want a deposit or the entire rent up front.
Step 4: Negotiate Negotiate a price when you find a house you like. Depending on the season and your number of guests, you may get a deal.
Step 5: Be respectful Be respectful of the owner’s rules for their house. You may lose your deposit if you aren’t.
FACT: New Smyrna Beach in Florida has been dubbed the shark bite capital of the world.

You Will Need

Destination
Budget
Negotiation skills
Visitors’ centers (optional)
Deposit (optional)