Tips to stay safe, have fun at the beach

WASHINGTON – It’s still vacation season and that means there’s time to hit the beach before summer slips into fall.

MiniTime, a family vacation planning website, took some advice from its readers on how to keep safe and stress-free at the beach. Here are a few of their ideas:

Missing kids: Children tend to take the path of least resistance. So, if you can’t see your child while at the beach, take a look downwind first. In other words — follow the wind.

Jellyfish: Stash away a bottle of vinegar. It eases the pain of a jellyfish sting.

Never lost: A reader named Melodie from Fairfax, Va., recommends setting up your spot near a beach landmark like a lifeguard station so kids can find their way back if they wander off. She says her family also uses a bright yellow umbrella, making them easier to find.

Safe baby: Bring an inflatable baby pool for young toddlers. They could be just as happy with that and not care about a big ocean.

Sticky: Baby powder is a great trick to remove sand from your skin.

Seashells: It’s fun to collect seashells, but double check what your kids bring back. Accidentally grabbing a live creature could pack a fine in some areas.

Save some dough: Hotel lobbies are packed full of coupon booklets. Grab some and see where you can save money.

To read more family-friendly vacation tips, visit the MiniTime website.

WTOP’s Alan Etter contributed to this report. Follow @WTOP and @WTOPliving on Twitter.

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