Ah, the beautiful beaches of the Alabama Gulf Coast! The white sand shimmers in the sun next to the emerald blue waters of the Gulf. Your family has been visiting our beaches and staying in our awesome vacation rentals for generations. Throughout the years, we've gathered some tried-and-true tips that make beachin' with the whole family a breeze!
When you make your first step in the sand and take a deep breath of salty air, it's easy to be reminded why you have so many wonderful memories of our beaches. While it's important to have as much fun as possible on your beach vacation, here are a few tips to remember.
1. Know the Beach Flag Meanings
Most days on the Gulf are sunny with gorgeous, vividly blue waters. However, for the days with less than perfect weather, we have a beach flag safety system to let you know what to expect on the water.
Green Flag = Calm ConditionsYellow Flag = Exercise Mild CautionRed Flag = Rough Conditions, Use Extreme CautionDouble Red Flags = Very Dangerous, Stay Out of the WaterPurple Flag = Marine Life Danger
2. Make Sure the Kids Wear Floaties
Small kiddos and others who aren't strong swimmers should wear life preserver floats if they plan to swim in the Gulf. Buying kids cute floaties with fun colors or patterns will make it fun for them and cut down on the chances of them getting overwehlmed by the waves.
3. Bring that Extra Sunscreen
Our sun on the Gulf Coast beaches is a lot hotter than other parts of the country. If you plan to be at the beach over an hour, be sure to wear 30-50 spf, and remember to reapply after a swim! If you wait until you get to the beach to buy sunscreen, you can find COOLA sunscreen products at the OBA Store, located in our front lobby. Little ones chould avoid sun exposure. So, bring a shaded pop-up, umbrella or tent to protect them. To find out how you can rent beach umbrellas for the day, visit Beach Services.
4. What to Bring to the Beach?
The best thing to bring with you to the beach is organization! Stock your cooler with frozen edible goodies like fruit pops, grapes and even water bottles to save on the weight of ice. Individual lunch container items like veggies, fruit, cheese, nuts and cookies are easy to pack, and keep your sunscreen someplace where it is ready to use. Make sure your wallet, phone and keys are in a protected place where you can easily find them, perhaps in a zip lock bag for water and sand protection. Have a extra towels both at the beach and back in the car to clean off later!
5. Lastly, Plan for Fun!
Besides making sandcastles, looking for shells, swimming, walks along the beach and spotting dolphin or pelicans your kids may need more entertainment. Be sure to bring a beach pail, some shovels, sand molds and maybe even some brightly colored toys that you can bury nearby and have them do a treasure hunt. Some public beaches even have a box of toys ready for your kiddos to play with
We hope these tips help you have a safe, hassle-free time during your vacation on the Gulf Coast. Liquid Life has lots of great family friendly vacation rentals to choose from right on the beautiful beach or just steps away. Remember to take lots pictures, make better beach memories and most importantly - have fun!