Salt Water Fishermen: More of How to Fly at the Beach

Get up, get active, and take to the skies. The usual old favorite beach activities are always loads of fun which is why they’re still popular. But in my last post we talked about flying at the beach. Flying kites, even fishing kites, that is. Still flying you can use other air-borne paraphernalia to extract maximum pleasure from a beach resort trip or vacation. Here’s more on how.

Model airplane photo: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/images/hla020.jpg

Fly a Model Airplane
Another popular beach front activity is flying a paper, balsa wood or model airplane. With wide open spaces and light to still breezes, virtually any design will soar like an albatross. If you fly paper designs then losing one won’t break your heart. Balsa wood or Styrofoam planes fly well in beach breezes too, just remember it’s possible to “lose” your craft to a stray or persistent breeze going the “wrong” way. Options for planes abound in Hobby shops, Toy stores, book stores, and of course, the internet. Radio-controlled model airplanes are a possibility too. Again, just be sure to check local regulations. To learn more about making paper airplanes check out these sites.

• www.paperairplanes.co.uk/ Alex's paper airplanes Cobra Paper Airplane the Planes - This is an index listing all the paper airplanes currently on the site ranked by how easy they are to make

• http://www.wannalearn.com/Just_for_Fun/Making_Paper_Airplanes/ Just for Fun: Making Paper Airplanes

• http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/paper.htm This page lists some of the best Web sites on how to make and fly paper airplanes.

• http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/paper/airplanes.html T he most amazing thing about a paper airplane is that all you need to make one is a sheet of paper—nothing more.

• http://paperplane.org/ Ken Blackburn, web site to share what he knows about paper airplanes. He holds the Guinness record for time aloft for paper airplanes.


So don’t just go to the beach and lay there like a fish out of water. Yes you can always go salt water fishing, but you can also take to the water or better yet, take to the skies. You’ll never look at a beach resort vacation the same again.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content, articles or photos, images and graphics for your fishing / outdoor blog, newsletter, e-zine or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and information mailing list? Contact the author at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com/

How to Fly at the Beach

The beach isn’t just for kids and teenagers
Of course, as we said, the beach isn’t just for kids and teenagers. All the family can enjoy the shore provided there aren’t “elbow-to-elbow” tourists. You can also do more than just get a tan (or a sunburn). Get up, get active, and take to the skies. The usual old favorites are always fun which is why they’re still popular. For some suggestions on alternative beach front vacation activities see the article entitled “Unique Things to Do at the Beach”. Here are suggestions to consider for taking your beach time into the air.

Photo: Frazier Jones fishing kites at: http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/images/kitellimage/frazerjones.jpg

Fly a kite
Kite-flying is such a natural beach front activity that they are sold on or near many beaches. Mornings and late afternoons to evening there are usually good sea breezes along most beaches. But why wait until you get there to try your hand? You can comfortably bring one of your own and have a much different (or much better) kite than everyone else. You’ll also know how to launch and fly your own kite with a bit of practice before hand. It can also make for a good conversation generator. If you’re a kite-flying novice, check out these websites for more information and even plans for building and flying your own.

• http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html Have ever wanted to build a kite? Well, here is a simple kite you can make your self!

• http://www.aloha.net/~bigwind/20kidskites.html These are the complete time tested instructions to get 20 kids making their own kites and flying them in 20 minutes.

• http://www.planemath.com/activities/flykite/kiteplans.html

• http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/diamond/ Make a kite from BBQ skewers and White Kitchen tidy bag, with perhaps a bread bag cut into a long streamer for a tail.

• http://www.ehow.com/how_1288_make-kite.html How to make a kite. While kites are inexpensive to buy, making one adds to the fun. You'll be especially proud when your diamond-shaped creation takes to the sky.

• http://www.2020site.org/kite/ This site is about Kites - how to build kites, and includes plans for kites. Kite flying has been a popular hobby for hundreds of years and has evolved from the diamond figure and long tail the Victorian children enjoyed.

• http://scsc.essortment.com/howtobuilda_rlrf.htm Kites are fun for young and old alike. You can build your own kite, or help your kids build one by reading this article!

• http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/panflute/ The Panflute is a soft kite (no sticks) made of 7 connected windsock like tubes or cells. It has a good wind range and flies at an angle of 30-40 degrees. It flies with a side-to-side sway, or wobble, making this kite very pleasant to look at in the sky, particularly with a long ribbon tail, or other decoration. The kite is a great for families. It can be stuffed in a bag, and flown on the beach. Bury the handle in the sand and leave flying to mark your picnic spot.

So don’t just go to the beach and lay there like a fish out of water. Yes you can always go salt water fishing, but you can also take to the water or better yet, take to the skies. You’ll never look at a beach resort vacation the same again.


Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content, articles or photos, images and graphics for your fishing / outdoor blog, newsletter, e-zine or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and information mailing list? Contact the author at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com/

More Beach Time Activities
Although, as we said earlier, the old favorites are always fun which is why they’re still popular. Still, the beach isn’t just for kids and teenagers. Even if you don't go salt water fishing all the family can enjoy the shore provided, of course, “elbow-to-elbow” tourists aren't the order of the day. You can also do more than just get that great tan or terrible sunburn. Get up and get active with these additional suggestions in part 2 of this article post.Let's pick up with:

6. Relax or get a “surf massage”

Soak and soothe those aching bones with a relaxing massage. In numerous resort areas there are locals who offer this service right at the beach. Be sure to negotiate prices before services are rendered to avoid any price gouging. Another alternative is to let the sea and surf “massage” you as you lay there. It’s free and the surf never gets tired or overcharges you. Sit facing the surf with your legs outstretched. Move forward until the surf covers you up to the belly button. Change positions forward, backwards or other variations as the surf changes.

photo: walking a surf-washed beach near Bahia Solano, Choco, Colombia

7. Go walking

Already identified as a “best” exercise activity, walking is almost always pleasant. Walking on dry sand gives you more of a “workout” than walking on sand that is still damp from the receded surf. For maximum huff and puff, try walking in the surf itself. A normal rate of walking is a mile and a half in fifteen minutes, so a thirty minute walk is a good workout for the day. Fifteen minutes out, fifteen minutes back to your starting point should do you nicely.

8. Nature watch or people watch

Okay so if you’re just in a “do nothing for awhile” mood then nature or people watch depending on where you are. Pick a good vantage point and note what happens all around you. Is that couple married or dating? What do you think they do for a living? What can you tell about them from watching? What animals, birds or sea life are common where you are? Are there sharks? Dolphins? Crabs? Squid or other unusual forms of marine life? What fauna frequents the area? What about snakes?

I was more than a little surprised to learn from a local resident that feral cats are a big problem in Acapulco. As I paid more attention during my comings and goings in and around the city I noticed the feral felines were almost everywhere. They could become especially troublesome late at night.

These and other imaginative activities can help turn a “lay in the sun and burn” day at the beach into a much more relaxing, creative or stimulating time for you and the family. Try some of these as an alternative to the usual “do nothing” day.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content or articles for your blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and information mailing list? Contact the author at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com/