Heading to the beach for a day of fun and relaxation is what many of us dream about all year long. There is just something relaxing about the sound of the ocean, the fresh salt air and the warm sea breeze that brings joy to almost everyone. Of course, as we all know manner and good etiquette are not as common as they once were. This week we share with you some tips to ensure all our visitors get the most out of their beach vacation while helping create that family friendly and fun atmosphere that Oak Island is so well known for.
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhLocal Rules
Knowing the local rules is the first step in ensuring you have a great time on Oak Island. These rules are to help preserve our beaches and allow visitors to have a safe and fun time. Don't worry – the rules aren't restrictive or here to prevent you from having a good time. If you are new to the beach there may be a few things you didn't realize. Have no fear! Here are the main rules you need to know during your Oak Island beach vacation.
- Refrain from bringing glass containers on the beach or to the beach access points.
- At the end of each day, remove ALL gear brought onto the beach, including chairs, canopy frames and all personal items (NOTE: all items left unattended on the beach between 8:30 PM - 7:00 AM will be removed, and can be recovered after paying a $50 fine).
- Use only designated walkways to get to the beach.
- DO NOT walk, sit, or place gear / equipment on the dunes. All beach gear and personal items must be at least 15 feet away from emergency entrances and 10 feet away from turtle nests.
- Leave the beach better than you found it! Please take all trash with you, or place in the containers provided at all beach access locations.
- For the safety of others, as well as nesting sea turtles, please fill and level all holes dug prior to leaving the beach for the day
- From March 16 - October 15, ALL dogs must be on a leash at ALL times. For more information about bringing your dog to Oak Island, CLICK HERE.
Don't feed seagulls
Feeding the local seagulls may seem like fun, but in reality it creates all sorts of problems for the birds and humans alike. Birds can't digest human food properly, so by feeding them you are actually potentially harming them. Birds are also a messy lot and it is never a good idea to have close contact with them. In short let the birds have their space and enjoy them from a distance.
Keep the beaches clean, please
If one rule was considered the most important this would be the one. Keeping our beaches clean and safe takes effort. Every year thousands of visitors hit the local beaches. Disposing of waste like water bottles, wrappers and cigarette butts properly helps keep our pristine beaches, well...pristine! Don't forget littering is a crime and punishable with a steep vacation ruining fine.
Wave riding
The ocean is vast but when the waves are big the surfers, bodyboarders, SUP, and kids splashing about in the waves can cause things to get a little hectic. When in the water, be aware of surfers who may not see you swimming in the water. If surfing, take care to avoid areas with fishermen and kids to prevent any unwanted collisions.
Fill in your holes
You can help prevent losses in the local sea turtle population by filling in any holes you or your dog dig on the beach. Besides helping protect our sea turtle visitors it is just a common courtesy. Nobody wants to talk a sunset walk along the beach and fall into a massive whole you dug to build a sandcastle.
Turn it down please
We all think everyone loves our music, but the fact is we all have to be aware of our surroundings. Playing your music too loud is not only rude, but can be in certain cases a public nuisance. There are a lot of easy ways to enjoy your music and still respect your neighbors on the beach...bring earphones.
Clean up after your pets
We all love our favorite four-legged friends on Ocean Isle Beach, but proper etiquette is to make sure to clean up all pet waste. There are few things as gross as stepping in dog waste. Not only is it he law to clean up after pets it is just plain good manners. Remember it is not acceptable to bury your dog waste on the beach.
Respect your neighbors and social distance
While Oak Island is never truly crowded there are some times that are busier than other times. Make sure to be respectful of your neighbors. Try and maintain some distance. Nobody likes be showered in sand from the kids next door. There is plenty of space for everyone to stake our their own little slice of Oak Island beach heaven.
We can't wait to see you on Oak Island. We love our small community and are sure you will fall in love with Oak Island just like us. Are you ready to visit? If you are, all that's left to do is to book your vacation home. If you need help finding the perfect location we have a friendly and knowledgeable staff standing by to help. Give us a call today at 910-278-1147.
