Avoiding Mosquito Bites at the Beach

<p>Have you ever run into trouble with mosquitoes at the beach? I have. They can be vicious enough to ruin an otherwise great vacation. My wife and I took a beach trip to Ocracoke Island, NC last summer and the mosquitoes bit right through our clothing. In fact, the only other place I have seen mosquitoes so ferocious was at Mt. Tallac in Lake Tahoe. So what can you do about it?</p>
<ul>
    <li>Buy bug spray that contains DEET. My wife and I tried two other types of spray that didn't have DEET. One kept the mosquitoes at bay for only a few minutes. The other did no good at all. We eventually bought some stronger bug spray at a nearby beach grocery store.</li>
    <li>Stay away from dense bushy areas and creeks. If you decide to camp, pick your site wisely. Streams and bushes make for a pleasant picnic area or campsite. They also make for an insect problem.</li>
    <li>Visit the beach in the off season. Mosquitoes are worst in the summer.</li>
    <li>Stay inside at dawn and dusk. Mosquitoes are most active at these times of the day. They probably won't bother you as much if you want to go down to the shore to watch a sunset, but be sure to bring some repellant, just in case.</li>
    <li>Wear thick clothing or a good rain jacket. It's harder for pests to bite through these. This may not be a great option for you in the heat of the summer, but it sure beats being eaten alive!</li>
    <li>Stay in a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast. The only real trouble with mosquitoes I've run into at the beach was while I camped out.</li>
    <li>Run. Walking gives the mosquitoes ample time to find you and land on you. If you have to traverse through a bug-infested area of the beach, move as quickly as possible! Running won't keep you from getting bitten, but it will reduce the number of mosquitoes that attack.</li>
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About the author

Michael Stalker has been visiting the beach since 1990. Look up some hotels in downtown Wilmington, NC next time you're in the area. If you'd prefer to stay in another town, check out some other North Carolina beach cities.

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