There's more trouble for fans of the beach, especially with the long holiday weekend just hours away. Apparently, medical waste has begun to wash up along New Jersey coast. The town of Avalon has made out the worst, with between 100 and 200 syringes found littering the beach along with gauze and other medical waste. The town was forced to close portions of the sand, but town leaders insist things will be fine for the weekend.

Just yesterday, in Ocean City, about 15 miles north of Avalon, there were two needles discovered on the beach. The county health department didn't seem too alarmed and stated that that their waste doesn't appear to be related to the stuff just up the coast. Although things look OK for now, many tourists are questioning last minute plans and even vacation rentals booked months in advance.

The attorney general's office is looking into the matter and is offering a $10,000 reward for any information that will help them get to the bottom of things.

Related Stories:
· Beach Needles? That's Bad News for NJ Shore Towns [MSN Money, via AP]
· Beaches coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: 416style]]]> kjb 2008-08-29T09:15:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/28/112439/383

One of our Killer Beaches for two years running, New Smyrna Beach, Florida just counted its 18th shark victim of the year. The 26-year-old surfer was bitten twice on the left leg while sitting on his board, but escaped with "only" a dozen or so gashes that needed stitches.

Earlier this week, a shark nibbled on a swimmer off the coast of New Smyrna, though he too escaped with minor injuries. Still, the beach town is on track to match its annual record of 22 incidents, set in 2001--or what locals call "The Year of the Shark."

Four months to go!

Related Stories:
· Edgewater Surfer Bitten by Shark [Dayton Beach News-Journal]
· Dangerous Travel: Killer Beaches 2008 [Jaunted]
· Killer Beaches 2007 Map [Jaunted]
· Sharks coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: ruminatrix]]]> pbb 2008-08-28T11:30:18-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/23/12318/4426

Sunday's New York Times has one of those nifty "36 Hours" stories on the Greek island of Mykonos, doling out sage advice on where and when to drink, eat, party, and sleep. According to the newspaper of record, the island's tourist infrastructure has crept upscale over the past few years, following a bleak period "not so long ago" of overcrowding and atrophy.

We can't debate the differences between Mykonos now and Mykonos when Jackie O discovered it, but know one thing for sure: the place is spectacular, whether or not it's currently in vogue with the A-list travel set (whoever they are). After a five-day visit to the island few years ago, we concluded that you'd really have to have something wrong with you if you couldn't have a good time in Mykonos. From the winding, pedestrian-only streets of the old town to some of the best beaches in the Aegean, it's (almost) everybody's idea of a summertime paradise. Everybody under fifty, in any case.

]]> Victor Ozols 2008-08-23T12:31:08-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/22/74349/9460

One particular stretch of sand at San Onofre State Beach, outside of San Clemente, California, has a clothing optional policy--though swimming au naturel is technically illegal. Until now, the law would only be enforced if someone were to have a problem with naked bathers.

Well, according to an editorial in today's edition of the LA Times, some people have started to complain: the park rangers. Apparently, they just don't have time to patrol the area known as Trail 6, where beach goers roam free. But nudity there, it seems, has gotten a little too frisky, and there have been some reports of public sex in the park.

Recently, a judge ruled in favor of the clothing optional individuals, though all that was decided was that they can continue to frolic through the fall. (The parks service can still change the official policy at any time.) Long story short, if you get your kicks from going to the beach in your birthday suit, time may be running out!

Related Stories:
· Saving San Onofre's Naked Beach [LAT]
· Beaches coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: satanoid]]]> kjb 2008-08-22T11:30:15-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/11449/2162

Seems we're not the only ones trying to cram in a beach break before summer travel season runs out. Celebs of all stripes are jetting all over in an attempt to catch some rays before, uh, heading back to sunny LA.]]> pbb 2008-08-19T12:00:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/19/64127/2387

You know the drill when it comes to packing for the beach: chairs, towels, sunscreen, trashy magazines and some adult beverages. Well, not so fast. Come this Labor Day weekend, Silver Strand Beach, the last public beach to allow alcohol in San Diego County, is cutting us off.

Apparently, drinking has been causing some unwanted behaviors, including a stabbing over Fourth of July weekend.

But there is a silver lining. Although alcohol is banned on the beach, the campsites at the state park will have the taps flowing, as there are no current plans to ban alcohol for the campers. And if you're really sneaky, you can always go the plastic cup route!

Related Stories:
· Silver Strand to Be Booze-Free [KGTV]
· Labor Day Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: t_crescibene]]]> kjb 2008-08-19T09:45:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/8/15/702/69551

If you're planning to have a picnic this weekend off the coast of South Africa, just watch out for the dead trees. A freight carrier off the shores of the Cape Coast lost hundreds of huge tropical hardwood logs, and they've begun to wash ashore. This is particularly noteworthy if you're planning to take a boat or jet ski out for a spin this weekend.

The local safety authority estimates that there are between 200 and 300 of the logs floating around. A salvage company has been contracted to find them and get them out of the area, but so far it's been a challenge.

Although the logs are upwards of 30 feet in length and weigh up to 20 tons, they're apparently not the easiest things to find. If one washes up next to your beach umbrella, do call the Maritime Safety Authority and let 'em know.

Related Stories:
· Red Alert as Rogue Logs Beach on Cape Coast [AllAfrica]
· Beaches coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: hansol]]]> kjb 2008-08-15T11:04:46-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/