Aug 2008

There is so much to keep track of on a family excursion that it can be tempting to leave behind the camera gear. With the chances of dropping something in the Gulf, losing something in the sand or leaving something behind, perhaps it is a good idea to leave your quality camera at home.
What, you ask? Take the tykes to the beach and not take a camera? Impossible.
Well, you can get the best of both world – lasting memories without the worry of ruining your camera.
On your way to the Alabama Gulf Coast, stop in to a retailer in Gulf Shores or in Orange Beach and check out the array of disposable cameras. The technology has come a long way, and there are styles designed to be waterproof. You can even find disposable video cameras.
For a souvenir the entire family can enjoy making, get a camera for each person. Collect them all at day's end and have double prints made. Each person can put his or her prints in a personal album (there are hundreds of styles to choose from at shops along the Alabama Gulf Coast), plus there will be a set for a family album.
Then, have each person choose a favorite to submit to www.thebeachiscalling.org. From the home page, scroll over the Photos & Fun button and look for “Visitor Favorite Photos” in the drop-down menu. Follow the link for a form to submit photos for consideration.

An often-overlooked beach accessory is a hat. Perhaps because everyone gets focused on swimming and playing, it's easy to forget how critical headgear can be.
It's no easy chore to get some folks (ahem, guilty) to wear a hat. If you have one of those folks in your group, leave time for a quick shopping excursion as you plan your day on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
In Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, there are as many places to buy hats as there are styles to choose from, it seems. For example, many souvenir shops offer custom airbrushing on bucket hats, visors and baseball caps. This means you can get a keepsake that will keep you safe from the sun.
Beachwear shops also offer many choices that combine style with safety. Wide-brimmed straw or cloth hats come in styles for him and her.
Top that!

As a youngster visiting the Alabama Gulf Coast, I hated wearing sunscreen. I wanted a carefree day to swim in the blue Gulf waters, build castles from the sugary sands or anticipate a seafood feast prepared from the fresh catch available at stores in Gulf Shores or Orange Beach.
But without fail, going without sunscreen meant one thing: a week of agony because of sunburn.
In those days, options were limited for sun protection. There was zinc oxide for faces (it was greasy and streaky and never got absorbed) plus a few items that smelled like fermented coconut.
On a recent beach visit, I forgot to pack the usual sun arsenal, so I sent my husband to a nearby store. His selections left me surprised – and sun-protected!
Zinc oxide has come a long way (baby). For children, it comes tinted to add an element of fun. For adults, there are formulas that are odorless and that disappear.
Sunscreens have progressed as well. There are special formulations for babies, for people engaged in sports and for those like me who are super-sensitive to fragrances as well as rays. There are lotions, creams and sprays, and they come in sizes to fit every situation, from hanging from a key ring to being large enough to protect a big family.
Just remember, sun protection is only is as good as the person using it. Reapplications are vital.

When we trek to beach, I always make sure to have a few basic first-aid supplies. Whether we're in Orange Beach or Gulf Shores, I find a little preparation makes a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast even more enjoyable.
Here's what I take:
Alcohol wipes
Bandages
Tweezers (great for removing stickers from sand spurs)
Aloe
Bottled water (for washing off sand)
Triple antibiotic ointment
Zipper-seal freezer bag (to fill with ice for a compress)
Spray-on sunburn treatment (look for 1 percent lidocaine spray, as this is a topical pain reliever)
The most important first-aid item? A hug!

Sometimes, getting ready for a full day of fun in the sun on the Alabama Gulf Coast with the whole
family reminds me of trying to plan a military invasion. But a little bit of forethought can make “storming the beach” a whole lot simpler.
Here are a few tips I've learned for making the most of the least amount of supplies:
Tip 1: Store sunscreens and lotions in zipper-seal freezer bags in the cooler with drinks. On hot days, this makes reapplications refreshing instead of seeming like a chore.
Tip 2: Keeping things cool requires lots of ice – unless you plan ahead. Freeze water bottles and juice boxes a day or so before your trip. You won't need as much ice for your coolers, and the melting liquid inside will quench thirst while cooling you off. Just remember: Don't try to freeze anything with carbonation. It's a sure way to make a mess.
Tip 3: Plastic bags, used responsibly, can be your secret weapon. Here are just a few uses to consider:
A. Store beach toys in a plastic garbage bag. You can dump them out on the beach and stash the bag, then repack them at day's end to minimize the sand that gets spread in the vehicle.
B. Buy 1- or 2-gallon freezer bags for transporting clothing. If you roll each item of clothing separately and tightly, you can pack an entire outfit in a small space. Squeeze out as much air as possible while sealing. In a 2-gallon bag, there may even be room for a bath cloth and towel. As each person takes a turn at day's end showering off, everything that's needed to emerge dry and dressed is in one bag. Wet, sandy suits go in individual bags for the return home. This also is a way to ensure that both pieces of a two-piece swimsuit make it back. Many of the public beaches in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach offer shower facilities.
C. Decide how many garbage bags you need, then take one more. Make it a goal to be a good steward of the environment by making sure you leave your little plot of beach cleaner than when you arrived.