Beaches

Ruby and friends enjoying our South Beach getaway

Another South Beach moment. It's free and close...who wouldn't visit the beach?

Well, we've had several people comment that it looks like we're living on permanent vacation here. And it's true that we live in a tropical paradise setting. With the beach less than a mile from our house, and no Children's Museum, Chik-Fil-A, Connor Prairie, park or playground anywhere nearby, the beach does get at least one visit per week from our family.

We weren't really beach-goers before moving here. I guess lake beaches count, but we didn't live within walking distance of one of those, and the most recent visits to what I would consider real beaches were in Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Michigan, and in February it was a little chilly to really enjoy it. However, we are quickly learning to love the beach. The ocean and all its mystery - life, death, infinity - has always been magical to me. Being close and fun and free makes it an obvious choice for playdates, fellowship and family excursions here.

In fact, we're coming to appreciate the unique features of each beach here. Kunduchi, site of today's playdate, features a nice sandbar at low tide that allows you to walk over a quarter-mile out into the ocean. The beach is clean with fine, white sand (the clean ones are painstakingly kept nice by the hotels) and is also free on weekdays. The Kunduchi Beach Hotel is a majestic place with expansive beaches and was recently on some list of the 100 best beaches in the world. It is a gorgeous place, with great planning and a variety of ways to enjoy it - from outdoor restaurants to shaded lounges to the naked beach that is kept free of debris all day long.

And if Kunduchi is one of the best beaches in the world, South Beach, where we took a getaway weekend recently, is a few notches above it. Unbelievable. Every imaginable water feature from waterfalls to waves crashing on exposed reef at low tide to tidal pools that made our personal marine observation windows and soaking pools was present in our deserted stretch of beach. We saw maybe a dozen other humans on the beach the entire weekend, most of them locals fishing with just line. The tidal pools in the reef at low tide were akin to snorkeling without need for equipment...everything was just right there for the looking.

Of course, our dear Mbezi Beach is the closest place to see God's amazing hydrocreation. Depending on where you have beach access here, the beach varies from clean white sandy beach to kind of a brownish tan sand with seaweed and sea debris on shore. On the peninsula, there is the Yacht Club, which we only have access to through the invitations of members. But the beach is pretty swanky and clean, with good amenities and seating.

The kids absolutely love going to the beach, and it's a good thing. It's what we have. Sand castles, sand cities, looking for sea life and shells, and playing in the surf are all good ways to unwind from challenges we find here. And it's impossible for me to sit by the sea and not marvel at God's greatness and creativity.