My family and I went to the beach this past week. The temperatures were hot, and the weather was sunny, making for a classic seaside vacation. The house we rented was in the harbor of the town where we were visiting, so while we didn’t stare out at the ocean, we were able to sit on the deck and watch the yachts and motorboats move about. Initially, I was disappointed with the location, but it turns out there’s something soothing about having a cocktail at sunset while the boats come in to dock.
The first thing I did when I arrived at our rental was pull up the local golf course website so I could book a few tee times. These golf outings are usually the highlight of my week since I get to steal away from everyone to play a beautiful course by myself. Moreover, I always walk and carry my bag at home, but on vacation, I generally get a cart and live it up with a couple of cold beverages.
However, I was disheartened when I discovered that the course I wanted to play was closed for renovations. My only other option was the unreasonably high-priced resort course, which would have cost over $300 per round. I’m not cheap, but there’s a cut-off point for me when buying a round of golf, and given that I belong to a club at home, I didn’t feel compelled to spend my hard-earned cash so frivolously.
I sighed deeply at this bitter realization, then resolved myself to the idea that golf wasn’t going to be a part of my vacation. And to be honest, I wasn’t entirely disappointed. I play a lot of golf at home, so not playing for a week wasn’t going to kill me. I’d just have to find other things to do.
Obviously, heading to the beach is the main reason for a beach vacation, so my wife and I diligently lugged our gear to the sandy shores every morning. We set up our chairs, cooler, and fancy new Shibumi Shade. If you haven’t heard of Shibumis, look them up – they are far superior to umbrellas and much easier to carry. The design is unique in that it uses the wind (which is usually a negative for umbrellas) as the catalyst to create more shade. They are also very easy to set up, which is a plus for any beach visit.
For me, no beach visit is complete until I have Bob Marley playing in the background. We’ve got one of those fancy little JBL speakers that clips onto your beach bag, so with a quick connection via Bluetooth, Marley’s “Legend” LP was consuming our little corner of sand, making everything feel more lighthearted and relaxed.
Of course, some good snacking is in order if you’re at the beach. My wife and I favor boiled peanuts since they provide a salty fix, while the discarded shells are biodegradable. Toss in some frosty Coronas with lime, and there’s really nothing else to do except stare out into the ocean and consider yourself blessed to be there.
And that’s generally when I fall asleep. Cold beer and hot sun do a number on me. I can fight it for a while, but eventually my eyes are going to get heavy, and I’m going to fade out. This is fine because sleeping at the beach might be one of the most soothing activities a person can engage in.
And finally, there’s the swimming. No beach vacation is complete unless you spend some time in the water. And thankfully, the water we were in was like a soothing bath. I didn’t go in every day, but I went in a lot. And the kid in me can’t help but pull out the boogie board to ride the waves. I loved the activity when I was a little boy, and I still love it today.
All in all, it was a wonderful getaway that contained all the necessary elements to make a trip to the beach worthwhile.
Interestingly, this week’s feature, “Dangerous Animals,” is not the kind of film you want to watch before heading to the beach, which is why I smartly saved it for my return home.
Set on the Australian coast, “Dangerous Animals” imagines a serial killer boat captain with a penchant for sharks. The creepy madman lures unsuspecting tourists onto his boat, promising a thrilling cage dive into shark-infested waters. Unfortunately, the people involved end up becoming the bait.
I’m not generally a fan of this type of fare, but on occasion, I’ll give one a shot just for the thrills. And given that I was just at the beach, this seemed like a good film to get under my skin. And it actually did. “Dangerous Animals” was surprisingly decent with some exceptional cinematography, a seriously disturbing villain, and some “gotcha” moments that will leave you feeling queasy.
Check this one out if you’re in the mood for a summer thriller more in the vein of “Jaws” and less in the vein of “Sharknado.”
An unsettling “B-” for “Dangerous Animals,” now playing in theaters everywhere.
Got a question or comment for Dom? You can email him at [email protected].
