Planning a summer vacation is always a lot of fun as long as you have the resources and time to do so. When I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina several summers in a row, there was always so much to see and to do. If you are planning on going on a trip to somewhere like the Outer Banks or some other sandy destination, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
For starters, when you are getting ready for a road trip especially one that is going to require that you spend at least three or more days away from home, then you should make sure that you pack enough of the right clothing. Contrary to popular belief, even though you may be staying at a beach destination for your vacation or summer home; even though the weather during the summer is usually extremely hot by the beach during the day, it can tend to get really cold at night. You see, during the day, most beaches along the east coast of the United States lack any sort of cover or protection from the sun. It is for this very reason that you should always make sure that you pack a beach umbrella that is large enough for more than one person. This will guarantee that you will have enough shade to protect you.
In other cases, I have actually (and have been one) seen other people purchase objects called “sun shades” which sort of look like half moon tents. They are made out of a waterproof material that also offers varying degrees of SPF protection from the sun. Additionally, they stake into the sand and really provide you with plenty of room to retreat by yourself or with friends and family out of the sun but still with a nice view of the ocean. Many of these sun shades also have a zipper option in which you can fully enclose yourself within the sun shade if you so choose.
In other situations, as it was the case with the Outer Banks, there are some beaches that will actually allow you to drive your vehicle right on it. In Duck, North Carolina, for instance, you can take your vehicle on the beaches and drive all the way down. But before you do this, however, there is a small trick to driving on the beach: you need to lower your tire pressure. I found this out the hard way the first time around. Letting a little of the air out of your tires actually provides you with the right kind of traction that you need in order to navigate through the sand. If you plan on driving on the beach, you may also want to pack a towing rope in the unfortunate event that you get stuck and have to be pulled out of the sand.
Last but not least, make sure that you pack plenty of sunscreen in addition to your boogie boards, surf boards and sunglasses!
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