Oh Noez!

Who gets in the ocean and who is too scared?

I grew up spending all morning and afternoon in the ocean, everything else was secondary. Sun burnt from my shoulders up. To hell with shopping and golfing.

Don't even go anymore.

ME!! I don't stay in it. I get in and cool off for about 5-10 mins, but then I go back and sit and listen and watch the "heartbeat" of the world. Just dig those negative Ions man.








cute/dumb story: we were at the beach years ago, hubby's in the water and I'm on the beach with SIL. hubby starts doing handstands to impress me. big goof. I show the SIL and she said that she wished she could find a guy to do handstands to impress her after 15 yrs. of marriage. she thought it was sweet. then he came out and I got a salty smooch.

I never liked getting in. I did it to boogie board with the boys when they were little but that's it. Something about it creeps me out.

Yeah, me too......

At the Outer Banks this summer, I got in the ocean every day. A couple days were perfect if you got out past the breakers, you could just bob around, and the water was actually pretty warm. The last day we were there, I got in and got pounded by monster waves, so I spent a lot of time out of the water that day. Also, the minute I see a single jellyfish, I'm headin' for shore! One thing I like about the Outer Banks is the color of the water...a really gorgeous turquoise green, not that slate gray you see at the MD/DE/NJ beaches.

I just really love the salt water. I think I must have been a mermaid in a past life.

You would really love the Florida gulf then. Crystal clear turquoise blue water, very little wave action and bathtub temperatures. Anywhere between St. Pete/Clearwater and Fort Myers. Captiva and Sanibel are absolutely gorgeous.

Oh yes, I've been to Fort Myers and Naples, and the water there is indeed beautiful. Unfortunately, the days of cheap airfare are history, and I don't venture that far nowadays.

I know what you mean, same problem here.

Used to find a cheap flight from BWI to Tampa for sometimes $125, non-stop; but, not anymore. Or JetBlue was even cheaper.

The Caribbean permanently spoiled me many years ago. I haven't been to OC in years and will most likely never go back, unless it was for some obligatory family gathering or something. You can't snorkel around here! When I think of getting in the water I think of beaches in the British Virgin Islands where you might be the only people in sight, and it feels like your own private paradise.

I just booked 2 Southwest flights, BWI to Ft Myers and back non-stop (Sunday - Sunday) for $129 down and $123 back. Both flights leave around 11:00 AM.

When I lived in FL we'd go surfing in Cocoa Beach because there were so many good spots (Sebastian Inlet, Spanish House, First Light) and you could find some of the best surfers around at a spot called First Peak. I don't know anyone that has been attacked by sharks, but I know a couple of folks that got to see a Blacktip shark up close!

I'm going down to FL in August to see friends, so hopefully we'll have time to hit the beach!

Florida water is beautiful. I'll go in the ocean there because you can see your feet (or, hopefully, any approaching sharks!). Hubby doesn't like it as much cuz of no waves, at least on the Gulf side. I also love, love, love seashell hunting down there. It's like a seashell treasure trove on the beaches. I have lots of beautiful white shells, big ones too that I've found over the years. My BIL found a sand dollar on the beach last year. Fun.

At OC this summer, the water was way too rough with riptide so I just got my feet wet. Hubby tried body surfing, but said it was too hard fighting the current. He is the one that is usually in the water ALL day. But, not this year.

Everytime we've been to Outer Banks, the water is soooo rough. I didn't go in very far. But, it seems you can always spot dolphins off shore down there. So pretty. Va Beach has the dolphins and the added attraction of all kinds of battleships, jets and whatever sailing over the sea and through the air. You get your very own air show while enjoying the waves!\

On place I've never been is Cape May, NJ. Heard alot of good things about it. May try it one year. I love Victorian houses. Anybody been there?

The only east coast beach I will go to anymore is the Outer Banks. Was just down there in June and had one of the best Beach trips ever. The first day the water was awesome. Hardly any waves, no undertow and incredibly warm. The last three days were rough though. I love the Outer Banks for many reasons. I have never traveled anywhere in this country where the people are so laid back and friendly. I love being able to go out and every single person you pass greets you in some way!! Everytime I go there I get a renewed faith in people. And then........ I come home and that all goes down the crapper!!!!

We used to vacation in Lewes, DE and took the ferry over to Cape May once and just rode around and had lunch. We said we'd have to come back for a longer stay but haven't made it yet. I think you'd like it Checks.

We stay at Fort Story almost every year, butts right up against the public Virginia Beach. We like to ocean-swim and have been lucky enough to be in a dolphin pod a couple of times. I'm always worried about getting bumped, but so far, so good. When I was a kid we'd go to St. Augustine for a month each year, then in my teen years we started going to the Outer Banks, just LOVE that place, only been back once since adulthood.

Anyone ever catch the outdoor show on Manteo (I think), great time, fantastic show!

gawd. I ain't been no where. I've lived a sheltered life, even tho I've been back and forth the US 5 times

We went to Cape May for Memorial Day weekend about 15 years ago, it's a gorgeous town. The architecture is total eye-candy and they have lots of funky cool restaurants and shopping. The beach was pretty but we spent no time on it, as the weather was pretty chilly and the couple we were there with were really into the antiquing thing. It's a good town to ride bicycles around -- lots of the B&Bs provide free bikes for you to use while you stay there. We rode up to the lighthouse, really fun.

How awesome that you swam with dolphins, Jelsey! It probably felt very surreal. We had the great fortune of encountering 7 manatee as they were feeding in about 12' of water at Key Largo's John Pennekamp State Park once. We snorkeled right into them, and I remember floating along with one to my left, one to my right, and one beneath me...all close enough to reach out and touch. I was kind of freaked (they were in the 10' -12' long size range) but also kind of overwhelmed with emotion at the fact that I was so close to nature like that (I even got a little misty behind my mask ) They were absolutely indifferent to our presence, as they were intent on eating the sea grass. They don't call them sea cows for nothin'.

I'd also like to go somewhere where you can actually see through the water.

When I went to OC this year I had a few problems. I wore my contacts so I didn't want to go under the water and rub my eyes for 10 minutes when I emerged. I didn't want to not wear my contacts, I can't see two feet in front of my face. My bathing suit is pretty loose, I lost the bottoms just standing in knee deep water. Didn't want to buy a new bathing suit or a tighter one for one day of wearing, and too tight bathing suits makes my fat stick out. So I waded in about 5 feet or so and that's about it. I still enjoyed it though, even with the horrible sun burn. I REALLY don't like waves. Do these clear water places not have big waves? That would be awesome.

Ith, try Hawaii. I've never been but the same topic (clear water and big waves) came up while hubby and I were at OC.

I was wondering the same thing. Where can you get crystal blue green water and big waves. HAWAII!

Love those surfer guys!

NOO! I don't want ANY waves. Or like- amusement park type of waves, the kind that don't break on your head I'd say lake, but I've been to a lake, and it's not all that fun.

My experience on the water is that no matter where you are there will be extended periods of both calmness and high-wave activity.

The British Virgin Islands have lots of beaches with calm clear water. There are so many islands and they're so close together that the water in the middle of them seems more like an inland bay than a big sea. It's great, but the further away you get from them you start to get swells.

I don't like waves either. They splash in the snorkel and throw you around onto the spiky black urchin quills and fire coral.

Hubby took me to Aruba a few years ago. I remember no waves just warm, calm, clear water. We loved watching the fish.

We usually do the OBX or Myrtle Beach every year. Last year the waves and undertow were so rough in the OBX that we actually had a wipeout contest. I think hubby won...can't remember..too busy laughing my butt off.

We love the ocean and were there all day long. We love jumping the waves. well atleast 4 out of 5 of us.

2 words, Florida Keys. Bahia Honda, like people? Key West, Crystal Clear and always calmmmmm

You'd love my buddies in FL. I'll have to dig up some photos of us at Cocoa Beach and post some.

Myrtle beach in 2 weeks to visit my son. Sun Set beach area.
I like ST. Pete Fla. Fort Desota state park. My sister inlaw has a house there.

We actually did Cherry Grove Beach, N. Myrtle. In June Nice and quaint. managable surf.

I was in Nags Head last week/Saturday... came back to work this week... off to Ocean City right now!!!

I love that picture. It gives me the willies. I researched the background of the picture and if what I found is true, it's via National Geographic and the shark was only curious and didn't consider a kayak an actual food source. Not that I wouldn't freak out if that were me in the kayak!

It's all good though, the stats are in my favor. I still watch Shark Week! I have the 20th Anniversay edition on queue for the month I'm at the beach! Eee!

Cape May is very quaint & relaxing... Although I always feel like I should be sippin' on a Mint Julep & wearin' a big floppy hat while I'm there! Lovelovelove Outer Banks!!! It's so relaxing!!! OC is way too commercialized for me to spend a whole week there... A long weekend is good (without the kids so I can act like one! ) Ahhh... Seacrets & Dirty Bananas!!!

Check,
Mom & Dad went to Cape May a few years back & they absolutely loved it. I don't remember any details of the trip (where they stayed, etc.) but I'm sure Mom could fill you in if ya need some recommendations
I adore the ocean, I could sit and listen to the waves crashing for hours and not get bored! My best friend surprised me with an ocean front suite at the Hilton in O.C. for my 30th b-day, I was in heaven!

Hi FIB!

Nice to hear from you. I think I'll talk hubby into a long weekend at Cape Cod sometime this fall. I love the ocean in the fall and a quaint town sounds like the perfect match for fall weather.

I'll email your mom and see what she says. Thanks.