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Five Fun Things to Do At The Beach

November 10, 2021 by Erica Hughes Leave a Comment

Is there really anything better than going to the beach? Well, we’ve got one thing: going to the beach on a winter holiday. There are plenty of people out there who hate the cold, seek the sun and are desperate to head out on a break to find that sunshine – and rightly so. There’s nothing quite like being on the beach when the weather is beautiful, and there are some places in the world that you can find all year around. 

The thing is, when the season is an off season, you need to think about whether you can get all of the activities that you want to do during your break. There might be a surf school open, but you might not be able to snorkel or go scuba diving. Either way, it’s not a reason to avoid going to the beach in the winter. What else can you do at the beach? Let’s take a look at five fun things that you can do while you’re there.

Five Fun Things to Do At The Beach

Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

  1. Play games. The beach isn’t just for water sports, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have fun. Cornhole is one of the beach favorites that people play and when you pair that with an epic game of frisbee, you get the chance to run around like a wild thing! The beach is a great place to enjoy sports with friends and family, and it is the place where you can make exciting memories.
  2. Water play. Whether you want to relax on the water by paddleboarding, or you want to attend that local surf school and you rent a board and wetsuit, you should consider how you can have fun on the water during the off season. You could even learn to body surf, which is a fun way to spend time in the water.
  3. Collect sea glass. Not every beach day has to involve sitting or swimming. You could walk up and down the beach collecting seashells and sea glass, and these can be collected to make the coolest necklaces and crafty bracelets. There are so many options out there, and if you find the right amount of sea glass, you’ll have an entire ornament in no time at all.
  4. Have a picnic. You might want to stick to the sand dunes for this one, especially if you go to the beach on a windy day. There’s sandwiches and then there are sand-filled rolls, and we want to avoid the latter. You could bring along a lot of things like chips and dips as well as fresh fruits to enjoy while you’re at the beach. You’ll save money on beachside restaurants and cafes when you do this, and you can find a ton of recipes online that will cater to your beachside picnic.
  5. Go and see a bonfire. Is there anything better than a bonfire party at the beach? Toasting marshmallows and making s’mores is just  a fun part of ending the beach day out.

Filed Under: travel

Getting To Know Birmingham #Ad

August 16, 2021 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

Over the last year I’ve spent a much greater proportion of my time either at home or fairly close to home.  During the lockdowns I’ve been out on walks to explore the area.  I’ve discovered and explored some places close to me that I didn’t know that much about.  Given that holidays abroad are hard to come by and even holidaying closer to home is proving difficult due to high demand, it makes sense to make the most of what’s on your doorstep. So getting to know Birmingham better seems to be a good idea.

Things to Do & Places to See in Birmingham & the West MidlandsBirmingham Museums has just launched an exciting new book –Things to Do & Places to See in Birmingham & the West Midlands. It follows the success of their best-selling book, Walk Birmingham, and is now on sale via the museum’s online shop.  It’s a handy guide to discovering – or even re-discovering – the region. It features some 400 odd hidden gems from Birmingham and beyond including historic houses, nature reserves, parks and more.

Now I was born in Birmingham and I’ve lived in the area all my life.  So I think I’m quite knowledgeable about places to see and visit.  I had visited a lot of places in the Birmingham part of the guide, but there were plenty more that I hadn’t and some that I hadn’t even been aware of their existence.  It’s not just Birmingham that’s covered in the guide: there’s Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Coventry and Solihull.  I’d been to quite a few places in Sandwell and Dudley in particular, but again there were quite a few places I wasn’t aware of.  In the other areas there were even more places I had yet to explore.

Format wise, the book is divided geographically by the various council areas and then within that there’s an alphabetical listing.  Within each council area there are listings for museums, historical properties and art galleries: visitor attractions; entertainment and performing arts venues; parks, gardens and nature reserves; and libraries. Each entry gives an overview, provides contact details and there symbols to indicate the facilities available.  There are lots of lovely pictures of the various places featured.  The book is A5 sized, so it’s convenient to take out with you if you want.

Walk Birmingham is a handy book that will easily fit in your pocket when you are out on a walk.  It details 20 walks in Birmingham, often picking out historical details or areas of interest.  The only walks that I’ve completely walked the routes of were the Medieval Birmingham and Harborne walks.  I’m familiar with bits of other walks too.  Exploring Birmingham is a lot easier when you are on foot and have time to have a good look around.

Each walk features a map, photos and a written description.  There’s also a information panel giving key details like post code, length, duration, bus routes, parking and facilities.  I’m already plotting my next walk to explore a new area or see bits of the city I’ve not seen before.

Disclosure:  I was sent these books for the purposes of this review.

Filed Under: General, travel

How to Plan a Luxury Staycation at Home

October 7, 2020 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

Did you go on a vacation in 2020? You probably avoided travel due to COVID-19 like countless others. That’s only one reason as to why Americans don’t spend money on trips anymore. The average vacation costs up to $2,300 when you combine gas, food, hotels and more. For some, it’s better to stay at home and have a staycation.

Take a look at how to plan a memorable luxury staycation for you and your family.

1. Create an Adequate Budget

The term “luxury” has a different definition for everyone. For some, it’s Michelin star dinners and fancy spa treatments. But you prefer to light an expensive candle and take a bubble bath. In any case, you need to set aside money for your staycation. This experience won’t cost as much as last year’s trip to Disney World. That said, it’s supposed to be a vacation — and you should have a little cash on hand.

It’s a smart idea to determine your standard trip expenses. How much would you normally set aside for a trip to the beach? Then, you can decide what budget sounds suitable for your staycation.

2. Schedule a Few Experiences

A vacation usually includes various experiences. You might explore local shops, museums and other sights. Try to replicate that for your staycation. You can eat at a new restaurant that you haven’t had time to visit. A trip to a local boutique could be fun, too. Additionally, it’s possible to schedule activities to come to your house. An expert masseuse or top-rated chef would be worth your money.

You should think about different ways to spend your staycation. These unique ideas will make your time at home more like a vacation.

3. Decorate for a Resort-Like Atmosphere

Your house probably doesn’t feel like a hotel on a normal day. But you can make adjustments to your space to create a resort-like atmosphere. This way, you’ll be able to feel like you’re actually somewhere else. Here’s how to turn your home into a retreat:

  • Outfit your bed with silk sheets and pillowcases.
  • Buy a pair of expensive pajamas and slippers.
  • Place candles and flowers throughout your house.
  • Add luxury skin care and toiletry products to your bathroom.
  • Stock your fridge with yummy breakfast items.
  • Hire a housekeeper to clean your home.

These small additions make a difference, as you’ll wake up in a soothing, relaxing environment. As a result, you should feel rejuvenated when your staycation ends.

4. Try to Channel “Vacation Mode”

This tip means that you should forget your regular responsibilities. You don’t do housework when you’re on vacation, right? The same idea applies to work obligations and other tasks that take up your time. You’re on vacation to rest. Therefore, you should try to set those specific duties aside until you return to normal. You may even want to forgo social media so that you can be more present.

Use These Ideas to Plan a Relaxing Staycation

A luxury staycation may be exactly what you need. Luckily, they’re easy to plan with a few tricks. Use these suggestions to make your time at home fun and restful.

Filed Under: travel

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About Me

ericaI’m Erica Hughes: interested in beauty products as well as being a keen foodie and amateur cook. I write here about my passions in life including good food, fine wine, beauty plus all the little luxuries that make life worthwhile.

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