| Of course, as we said, the beach isn’t just for | | | | build your own kite, or help your kids build one by |
| kids and teenagers. All the family can enjoy the shore | | | | reading this article! |
| provided there aren’t | | | | • The Panflute is a soft kite (no sticks) made of |
| “elbow-to-elbow” tourists. You can also do | | | | 7 connected windsock like tubes or cells. It has a good |
| more than just get a tan (or a sunburn). Get up, get | | | | wind range and flies at an angle of 30-40 degrees. It |
| active, take to the skies. The usual old favorites are | | | | flies with a side-to-side sway, or wobble, making this |
| always fun which is why they’re still popular. For | | | | kite very pleasant to look at in the sky, particularly with |
| some suggestions on alternative beach front vacation | | | | a long ribbon tail, or other decoration. The kite is a |
| activities see the article entitled “Unique Things to | | | | great for families. It can be stuffed in a bag, and flown |
| Do at the Beach”. Here are suggestions to | | | | on the beach. Bury the handle in the sand and leave |
| consider for taking your beach time into the air: | | | | flying to mark your picnic spot. |
| Fly a kite | | | | Fly an airplane |
| Kite-flying is such a natural beach front activity that | | | | Another popular beach front activity is flying a paper, |
| they are sold on or near many beaches. Mornings and | | | | balsa wood or model airplane. With wide open spaces |
| late afternoons to evening there are usually good sea | | | | and light to still breezes, virtually any design will soar like |
| breezes along most beaches. But why wait until you | | | | an albatross. If you fly paper designs then losing one |
| get there to try your hand? You can comfortably bring | | | | won’t break your heart. Balsa wood or |
| one of your own and have a much different (or much | | | | Styrofoam planes fly well in beach breezes too, just |
| better) kite than everyone else. You’ll also know | | | | remember it’s possible to “lose” your |
| how to launch and fly your own kite with a bit of | | | | craft to a stray or persistent breeze going the |
| practice before hand. It can also make for a good | | | | “wrong” way. Options for planes abound in |
| conversation generator. If you’re a kite-flying | | | | Hobby shops, Toy stores, book stores, and of course, |
| novice, check out these websites for more information | | | | the internet. Radio-controlled model airplanes are a |
| and even plans for building and flying your own. | | | | possibility too. Again, just be sure to check local |
| • Have ever wanted to build a kite? Well, here is | | | | regulations. To learn more about making paper |
| a simple kite you can make your self! | | | | airplanes check out these sites. |
| • These are the complete time tested | | | | • Alex's paper airplanes |
| instructions to get 20 kids making their own kites and | | | | Cobra Paper Airplane The Planes - This is an index |
| flying them in 20 minutes. | | | | listing all the paper airplanes currently on the site |
| • | | | | ranked by how easy they are to make |
| • Make a kite from BBQ skewers and White | | | | • Just for Fun : Making Paper Airplanes |
| Kitchen tidy bag, with perhaps a bread bag cut into a | | | | • [ This page lists some of the best Web sites |
| long streamer for a tail. | | | | on how to make and fly paper airplanes. |
| • How to make a kite. While kites are | | | | • T he most amazing thing about a paper |
| inexpensive to buy, making one adds to the fun. You'll | | | | airplane is that all you need to make one is a sheet of |
| be especially proud when your diamond-shaped | | | | paper—nothing more. |
| creation takes to the sky. | | | | • Ken Blackburn, web site to share what he |
| • This site is about Kites - how to build kites, and | | | | knows about paper airplanes. He holds the Guinness |
| includes plans for kites. Kite flying has been a popular | | | | record for time aloft for paper airplanes. |
| hobby for hundreds of years and has evolved from | | | | So don’t just go to the beach and lay there like |
| the diamond figure and long tail the Victorian children | | | | a fish out of water. Take to the water or better yet, |
| enjoyed. | | | | take to the skies. You’ll never look at a beach |
| • Kites are fun for young and old alike. You can | | | | resort vacation the same again. |