Beaching It

When my kids were young, our extended family would spend two weeks every summer on Cape Cod. Going to the beach was a part of almost every day. That's when we learned to make "beaching it" an active sport.

It didn't take long to discover that bikes and beaches go together perfectly. On the Cape, as in most beach locations, the hardest part of any beach day is finding a parking place. Bikes eliminate all parking hassles and let you arrive glowing from some great exercise.

But what about all the "stuff" that you need for a day on the beach? We developed a system: throw a bike on the car, drive up to the drop-off for the beach, unload the kids with a cooler, backpacks with a blanket, towels and sunscreens and books, and the all-important boogie boards. Then I'd drive back to a free parking lot about two miles from the beach and bike back while the boys found a spot to set up. Going home, we'd just reverse the procedure. It worked for us.

Today, I might load everything into a bike trailer and pull it to the beach with the boys biking along too. This would be a great solution unless you're bringing a "real" surfboard, a windsurfer, or a kayak to play with.

That, of course, is the other secret for making the most of your beach time. Plan on doing something, not just sitting there.

On saltwater beaches with big waves, boogie and skim boarding, board surfing and kayak surfing are all great ways to give yourself an active day. Boogie boards and skim boards are cheap, light, easy to transport and don't require a learning curve, which makes them available for everyone.

If you know how to maneuver and roll a whitewater kayak, kayak surfing looks like a terrific way to enjoy the waves, and a great upper-body workout. I can't wait until my skills are up to the challenge.

Finally, there's board surfing. Even if you never succeed in standing up on your board, paddling into waves, and the push-up-and-jump-up maneuver you need attempt vertical provide one of the best total-body workouts you can imagine.

On protected saltwater beaches and freshwater ponds and lakes, try windsurfing or paddling a canoe or kayak. If nothing else, set yourself a goal you can manage safely and swim as far and as fast as you can.

I can absolutely guarantee that you'll look better in a bathing suit, feel more alive and enjoy yourself more if you fill up part of your beach day with an active outdoor sport -- or two. Use the cool and quiet times of a summer morning or evening to get to the beach, use your muscles, and tire yourself out a little. Play hard when you're in the water. Then, reclining on the beach and relaxing not only feels good, it's entirely justified.

Water safety

Holiday weekends seem to find every local news broadcast reporting a drowning. In 2006, a middle-aged man tried to swim across a lake with a friend and didn't make it. I've heard reports of kayakers and canoeists either drowning or needing to be rescued. Last summer, strong rip currents took a horrible toll among swimmers at several surf-pounded beaches here in the northeast.

Getting active around water shouldn't lead to dying. Therefore, here are a couple of reminders:

1) If you're swimming, stay within your limits. Remember, cold water can sap energy quickly. So can dehydration from being in the sun before swimming. If you really must try to swim across the pond, either have someone accompany you with a boat, or use common sense and turn back if you feel yourself starting to tire.

2) When canoeing or kayaking, wear a personal flotation device (PFD) all the time. Yes, even if you can swim well. Yes, that means you.

3) In the flowing water of a river or stream, never try to stand up in a swift current. Your foot can easily get caught between rocks, trapping you. Float with the current and keep your feet on the surface downstream of your body. This is easier when you are wearing a PFD.

4) If you're playing in the surf, learn how to recognize and avoid rip currents. If you find yourself caught in a rip that's pushing you away from shore, don't try to fight your way back in. The rip current will win. Instead, swim or paddle parallel to the shore until you are out of the rip. Only then should you try to swim for the beach.

Sun smarts

Like snow, water and light sand reflect the sun's rays. Even if you're sheltered under an umbrella, you're still probably getting more UV exposure than is good for you. Of course you're wearing sunscreen and reapplying it frequently. And, of course you're smart enough to wear a hat and protective clothing when the sun is high and exposure risk greatest.

Better yet, plan your activities early or late in the day and find some deep shade midday. Beaches are empty and the water less crowded early in the morning or after the sun starts to drop and the sun-worshippers head home toasted.