Lots of exciting things have been happening lately, so my preparation for our trip has been pretty minimal. I won a contest to take a workshop with a concert photographer who's done work for Rolling Stone and Time magazines, and then later photograph the Moody Blues from the media area at their concert in Bethlehem. It was an incredible experience, and even more incredible to see my pictures shared on their Facebook page. This was my 5th time seeing the Moody Blues, and by far the most fun.
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| Screenshot of the Moody Blues Facebook with my pictures :) |
But now reality has set in and I realize I still have SO much to do before we leave. This trip is a little bit different than our typical trip. Normally we get on a plane and 2 1/2 hours later we're in sunny Florida. This time however, we are driving. We recently purchased a "vintage" boat and will be taking her down with us. There are some ups and downs to driving. Obviously the biggest downside is time. 19+ hours worth of time. It will actually take a bit longer than that, figuring in gas & potty breaks, and we will be staying at a hotel overnight to break up the drive a bit. But once we're there and island hopping on our little boat, it will be worth it.
Most people assume the reason we can travel so much is because we don't have children. While this is partially true, the biggest reason is that we're budget-conscious and do a lot of research before booking any trip. I'd like to share with you some of the budgeting tricks I've learned through experience, and some of the best items to pack for your next beach vacation. I'll be breaking this up into several posts, so as I'm busy getting ready and packing, it'll be like you're coming with me!
Timing is Everything
It seems a little crazy to be going to Florida at the height of hurricane season. There is always the risk of a storm descending on the island during our stay, and one year it actually happened. Our first trip to Sanibel and Tropical Storm Isaac rolled through. There was no major damage, but it did make us reevaluate what activities we'd get to do. The "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge was closed to visitors, restaurants boarded up, island guests left, and the sun disappeared. What we did get to see was miles of empty beaches, gorgeous seashells, and the most amazing sunrise the day after the storm left. We even got interviewed for a newspaper; the reporter most likely wondering why 2 crazy tourists were on the beach in 50 mph winds.
Pros:
The bonus to choosing this time of year is that, for Sanibel, it is considered the off season. You can find hotels & condos for deeply discounted rates because traffic is low and they're trying to fill their rooms. Another bonus is the lack of people: the beaches aren't crowded, there's no traffic jams, and no long wait times at restaurants. Plus if you're part lizard like myself, you'll enjoy the warm nights and even warmer days.
Cons:
Aside from the threat of hurricanes, August is one of the hottest months of the year. If you don't like high heat & humidity, then this time of year is not for you. The summer is also prime season for no-see-ums: tiny biting insects that will make your life hell. No-see-ums are called such for a reason; they are small enough they can fit through the mesh of a screen and 9 times out of ten you don't realize you're being feasted upon until it's too late. They are most present around dusk and dawn, but still like to hang around other times of day as well.
Packing List Must-Haves:
- Bug spray. We have found that Deep Woods Off (with deet) works the best for defending against no-see-ums. If you'd rather a non-toxic alternative, there's a spray called "No No-See-Um" that is sold at various stores in South Florida as well as on Amazon. It uses natural ingredients like lemongrass, geranium and citronella oils so it's safe for skin, plus it smells quite pleasant as well.
- Ponchos. If it's raining but you just can't stay in your hotel room because your itch to shell is just too intense, you'll be glad you brought your poncho. Thunderstorms in south Florida can get pretty intense, so if it's storming just stay inside, enjoy some fresh orange juice from Sun Harvest Citrus & look at your shells you found yesterday. But if it's just raining, throw on your poncho and have near-exclusive shelling rights on an empty beach.
- Light clothing. As August is one of the hottest months, you'll want as little clothing as possible weighing you down. My typical day uniform is a bathing suit and a light sarong. My husband prefers swim trunks and a UPF shirt and gaiter. By evening, I change into a sundress for dinner, and then shorts & a tank top for sunset gazing and late evening shelling. Sunhats (for ladies) are always fashionable and a great way to protect your face from the sun's harmful rays.
- Sunblock. I'll cover this a bit more in depth in a future post, but sunblock is one of the top items you need on your vacation, right after a bathing suit. My favorite brand is Reef Safe. It provides excellent coverage and is not harmful to reefs, plus it goes on nice & evenly. To buy it online is a bit expensive, so this is one item we buy once we reach our destination. (Oddly enough they don't stock it in PA stores.. not too many reefs here) For a great list of sunblocks that are not only effective but are considered safe to use on your skin, visit the Environmental Working Group's 2014 Sunscreen Guide.
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| See you soon, Sanibel! |
That's it for part one... stay tuned for part 2- the budget! Peace, love & flamingos!
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