Whether you're from out-of-state and have taken a trip or two to the coast, or you're someone who's never been to the beach, these tips might just make your beach trip more enjoyable. Although apartments in Orlando are about an hour away from the beach, taking the trip might be worth your time occasionally. Take it from a Florida native when I say that if you want to have a good beach day, come prepared. There are certain things you should bring when going to the beach, and certain things that you should anticipate. Hopefully, this list of tips and tricks can provide you with some insight.
Grab the necessities.
Whenever you go to the beach, you should be sure to pack a few necessary items in your beach bag. Some things are obvious, such as a towel and sunscreen, but there are some things you might overlook, such as an umbrella or a hat. Bringing the bare minimum doesn't include necessary items to make your day enjoyable. Below is a short packing list to ensure that you'll have everything you need to have an amazing beach day.
• A large refillable water bottle
• Snacks and lunch in waste-free, reusable packaging
• Face and body sunscreen (Yes, they are different.)
• A large hat
• Sunglasses
• Beach towels
• A beach umbrella
• Beach chairs
• A cooler with ice (It gets hot. You'll want a cold drink.)
• A bathing suit, coverup, and change of clothes
• Sandals
• A book
Be respectful.
Just as you wouldn't want someone to trash your Orlando apartment, you should not trash the beach. Home to lots of wildlife, it is important to be respectful and clean up after yourself. Other beachgoers will thank you for taking any trash with you. Additionally, you may see certain triangular areas marked off. These are sea turtle nests, and they must not be disturbed. Those who do disturb these nests will face serious consequences: up to a $5000 fine or 5 years in prison. It is important that you are aware of this in advance so that you do not make the mistake of crossing the taped-off boundary.
Be aware of sea lice.
Maybe I'm alone in this, but every time I go to the beach I leave covered in bites. This might sound menacing, however, it's just a part of swimming in the ocean. Mostly itchy and annoying, these bites come from tiny jellyfish larvae which sometimes lurk in seaweed. The bites can come with certain other side effects, as well. To learn more, you can check out Healthline's information on the subject. Shower off in your luxury apartment in Orlando upon getting home to remove any remaining sea lice from your person if they are particularly bad.
Rinse everything off.
Before you enter your vehicle after a day at the beach, you're going to want to rinse everything, and I mean everything off. You're cooler, umbrella, chairs, etc. need to be cleaned to avoid getting sand in your car. Once it's there, it will be a pain to remove. Shake out towels and bags, as well. If all this sounds like too much for you, you can always relax in the pool of your Orlando apartment instead.
Implement these tips and have a wonderful beach day! Welcome to Florida!