Had a hotel call 2 days before we were to check in at Ft. Meyers Beach cancel reservations due to Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Was the first (but not last) time I purchased travel insurance. Rescheduled for St. Pete Beach following spring, dislocated a toe the first day, hospital couldn't fix and nurse advised not to bother trying for an ortho appt. I know when I'm not wanted, haven't been back since.
If you do go in October, though, befriend a local REAL fast, otherwise you'll be eating at the same three restaurants the whole time because the tourist trap restaurants are closing for the season. You need someone to tell you where there is still good food.
@@kayjacoby290 I was kicked back in PBG with 10 cases of beer, I was fully stocked for Wilma. I didn't know 10 cases would only last the evening though :( Woulda bought water but Publix is a joke.
@@Rin-bi1st The dunes erode and walking all over them erodes them faster. The tall grass (Sea Oats) helps mitigate this and it's a protected species. It’s the same way for a lot of the beaches in Michigan too, though we also have dunes where climbing and driving all over them is promoted.
As an Alabama gulf coast native, you nailed it with “clover valley Jimmy Buffet.” Also, you are now on a hit list for spilling the October secret. Us locals get one month Matt, one month and now you have ruined it too. As punishment you will be on beach clean up duty post mullet toss at the Florabama.
Southern beaches, Mid-Atlantic beaches, the Jersey shore ... It's all about listening. Hearing the waves, the seagulls, the cheerful voices of kids in the waves are better than any song.
Exactly. Save the boom box for your back yard or at the very least your hotel room. Note: this same rule apply to camping. Leave the noise mskers at home!
If the whole beach is free, don’t come get right up next to me in my chair reading on my one day without my kids and then let your kids FEED THE FREAKING SEAGULLS!!!!!! Signed - a stressed out mom in the golden isles
As a resident of PCB, I support this message. I could add a couple more, like "if you go to WalMart, leave your freaking family at the condo. Some of us just need to get home after work and trying to get around you and your 47 family members just to grab some milk or Milo's is almost a bridge too far."
Opt for pickup! There are far better things to be doing when you're visiting our beautiful beaches and you've worked very hard for that vacation time. So, don't waste a single minute of it!
For those who have to work outdoors in the heat, put your (well sealed) sunblock in your cooler. That way it’s a really nice cold treat when it’s time to reapply.
We are Coloradans and see “the mountains are calling and I must go” type of stuff on vehicles from Texas when they drive up the canyons. I think my favorite thing about out of staters visiting Colorado is the white knuckle driving near the cliff side on our various roads without guardrails over the 500+ foot drop with the locals behind them stacked four cars deep honking and headlights flashing with their arms out their windows indicating they want them to use the slow car pullover. The out of stater FINALLY pulls over and the line of locals speed past them barreling up or down the canyon with their windows down. Fueled on excessive amounts of caffeine and elk jerky or burritos. There is something dangerously wrong with Colorado Natives. And I’m here for jt.
Matt, we need an East Coast Beach rules set! How to identify a shark vs a dolphin. The lifeguards whistle ain't just for pretty music. Sand fleas. Etc etc, lol.
Yeah, those seagulls don't need any encouragement. My poor sister once was trying to eat a potato chip, and a seagull swooped in and stole it from her hand right in front of her face. It was terrifying. And for the music, that's why I bring headphones. It blocks out all noise EXCEPT the ocean waves, and it's absolutely wonderful.
Seagulls are incredibly aggressive given a little incentive; I have had multiple occasions where their beaks have cut open my hands and face while they were attempting to steal food from me. At this point, I don't eat anything near seagulls unless I'm under a very low overhang. Even then, it's iffy when you have a particularly persistent one.
@@carriecollins6697 When at Sea World or Discovery cove, the gulls recognize the cups containing fish people buy to feed the dolphins and sea lions and will absolutely MOB you. That was the first time I was attacked and I would have appreciated a heads-up by the vendors that the gulls were a hazard.
This goes double for Maine and the Gulf of Maine - we have very few sand beaches. Most of the beaches are rocks - not just rocky, really - just piles of rocks. It's even more important to preserve the few dunes we have.
If you live in the 919 zip code, you don't need to be having any Salt Life stickers either. You're not fishing up any marlins in the ponds around Raleigh.
What I miss is the days of Panama Jack....he was cool.....this seems like a knockoff because PJ had a store full of shirts, sunglasses, beach stuff and stickers 😂😂😂
I got stung by one when I was in 4th grade. I rarely cried as a child, but that jellyfish had me bawling for near an hour. Such pain I don't wish on anyone.
yes for those from a land locked state if it looks like a plastic bag or blue balloon, leave them be. DO NOT TOUCH. you'll thank me later, even in death those menace can still hurt you.
I completely agree, Matt. I especially liked, and can confirm, your Louisiana license plate instruction. Also, people should understand, because it is a delta Louisiana -- other than Grand Isle -- has no beach. Those this side of the Mississippi River come on over to Texas' 367 miles of Gulf coastline. The rest of y'all go see Matt.
I remember when COVID had just started that I went to a Wal Mart in Tallahassee for my once per month restocking and there were seagulls EVERYWHERE. They rarely go that far inland. That's when i realized that they were starving because they didn't have tourists to steal from or scavenge after. They had to go where the people were!
I think Matt should change the name to reference 'Gulf Coast Beaches' but only so we could convince him to make a "12 Sacred Rules for Southern Ocean Beaches." Rule #8 : Wild horses are not there for entertainment, just take a picture from more than 50' away and leave them be
The problem is that people visiting the beach likely have not spent as much time outside as they will while at the beach. So they may not have needed the aloe, but they will after a day out.
Good. Y'all wanna go slow as hell so we can show your "Show Me State" selves? Get out the thing that goes upwards of 80 mph and get on those two things under your butt that go 3 mph.
@1:55 All true, with one caveat: you won't have to wait in line at a lot of restaurants because almost none of them are open. You will wait in line at the ones that are. Going to the Gulf Coast in October is like walking past the front yard of a frat house on Sunday morning. The party is *over* and you missed it.
@Rystefn or small town. We're gearing up for the Snowbirds . (I live just outside crystal river October is a break month as November starts manatee season)
I thought every Southerner - regardless of how close they are to the beach, Because I'm actually close to the Appalachian Mountains - knew to keep their aloe vera gel and their sunburn spray in the fridge. Because sunburn is a real risk here, and that extra bit of cool will save you.
The gel just cools. I stick with aloe lotion that moisturizes. I also stopped using ric flair's tanning oil (boy that's an entire story in and of itself)
#3--Papa Rocco's in Gulf Shores for those that don't really like seafood. They do serve oysters there but it's the fettuccini alfredo w/chicken that I LOVE!
I always have to go there. Their pasta is amazing and we always take a pizza back with us to munch one the next day. The fresh shucked oysters are a plus too.
Wonderful, Matt. Easiest way to identify a non-resident is to hear them call the Gulf of Mexico "the OCEAN". If you REALLY want to sound like you are "from around here", don't call them SEAgulls. They are gulls, that's all.
Agreed, Matt! Believe it or not, we have sand dunes in Idaho along the Snake River. All the rules about sand duning that are in place in the Gulf apply there as well. A Walmart trip should never be scheduled after 7AM unless there's a "Great Value" candy bar emergency.
i have literally walked into a Rainforest Cafe with an ex girlfriend and her 4 kids, got seated, looked at the menu and prices and got right up and said "I don't think so" and walked us all out with the waitress actually not looking that surprised
As an OBA resident, I support this message 👌 I would only add, that cute Lil floating jelly ball with the stringy legs, does not want to be your friend 🚫 and contrary to popular belief, if you just can't resist the urge and do pick it up, you do NOT need to pee on it for relief 🤪
You don’t need to bring music to the beach. The waves make their own music, unless there are no waves, then go ahead and bring your phone and Bluetooth speaker or headphones. Enjoy your time at the beach! 🏖️🏝️🏄♀️🏄♂️🌊🎶🎵
There's nothing that makes me go into a rage faster than a freaking speaker at the beach. Doesn't matter what kind of music it's playing, I am there for the water.
Ugh. People do that on mountain bike trails, too. I mean, thanks for heads-up that you’re on the same trail, but it _is_ a thing to edit in grunge music for your lame Go-Pro vids.
A few years ago I was introduced to something called _Reageeton_ at the beach. A group was nearby with a bluetooth speaker and after about a half hour I commented that the other group was listening to the same song over and over on repeat play. I learned that it wasn't on repeat but that the music has no melody, and that the genre of music uses the exact same beat in every song thus making all songs virtually indistinguishable.
I love the Gulf. My family would often spend Christmas in one of the more out of the way small beach towns in Texas or Louisiana. And yes, looking for restaurants with lots of local or Louisiana license plates is always a good call.
“Come in October!” We did that 2 years ago and apparently that’s also Gulf jellyfish season. I didn’t know it was possible to be stung so much in 2 days. We spent the last 3 days just looking at the water because we were done being attacked.
Thank you for the PSA about the crazy idea that not everyone on the beach wants to listen to someone else’s personal play list!!! But might actually want to listen to the one thing you can only hear live at the beach - the waves!
I was at the beach last Wednesday, I'm on the Atlantic. And a couple had an umbrella, 2 chairs and a large blanket right in the middle of the sand dunes. Beach patrol fined them $250.00. Sweet
The worst part of snowbird season is the attitudes. People come to town and are so rude. We used to be a lovely, laid back quiet town that was relatively unknown. Once word got out, the souvenir shops and fast food moved in, kids climbing the dunes, bags of dirty diapers and a days worth of trash left on the beach and cigarette butts left in the sand. The visitors didn’t take kindly to being asked to take care of things either. Publix became a sightseeing trip to these people too; try to get in and out after work! One tip I’d add, would be to please remember that you’re welcome to visit, we enjoy showing our beautiful towns off, but you are visiting; we live here and have jobs to get to, do business with banks, doctors, etc we don’t live to serve tourists. Hopefully you had good home training, now’s the time to make your Momma and Daddy proud.
I used to work at copy & print shop, and we had a family print their sand dune backdropped family portrait session holiday card …. The printer had them as the *exact* same color as the sand, and we had to spend an hour adjusting the printer settings so it didn’t just look like a bunch of weirdly empty shorts & tshirts floating on the dune. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Im so mad at my mom for moving us to Indiana before i was old enough to remember Huntsville. My older brother talks about drivin down the the gulf and having heartburn for the first time from scarfin his pb&j out of fear the seagulls would attack him
As soon as he said to come in October, I screamed "Noooo!!!" 😱 Some sacred rules are only meant for us to know down here! Lord help Matt Mitchell if I hear the first Minnesota accent on the beach this fall...
#13 get a good pair of sunglasses. Im not kidding. I lived in Pensacola for 9 years and never got used to the eyeball frying sunshine. The sand is white. The water is shiny. It doesn't matter where you look, your looking directly at the sun.
That’s what I was thinking! I think if more people knew about the rattlesnakes in the dunes, they (ok, some of them) would be more likely to steer clear of them.
I live 30 min away from Santa Cruz for most of my life and a fair amount of these could pertain to west coast beaches. Doubly so for refrigerated aloe, that stuff will damn near stop your heart for a few seconds but it feels so very good.
Cali coast here, question... does living the Salt Life mean: Marine grade cloth will disintegrate a little slower, but still. Rust, rust and aluminum corrosion everywhere? Worried about what Deep Horizon really did to the Biome? (At least ya don't have Fukushima radiation coming your way like us!) Putting on that suit that made you look slim and athletic only to find the elastic has completely given top the ghost? And finally, does it mean the Terns, Herons and those cuter than cute little wrens that sprint across the sand are chased out by flying rats (my Navy sister's term, personally I find them part of the scenery)? yeah
As someone on the gulf coast i 100% agree. I would also add that If you want the best "Beach" experience the gulf has to offer Do Not go to clear water go south or extremely north. Oh and know that we allow you the beaches in the summer but the springs are for locals 😆
My goodness all this is so true! As an 8th generation Floridian on the gulf coast, please do not feed the birds! Please do not bring any type of music! I don't want to hear Mexican, rap, hard rock (although I do like hard rock in normal circumstances), country or anything else. I am there To relax... I want to hear the seagulls, the waves and kids playing... If you do not know where you're going, please do not stop traffic to figure it out. Pull over to the side of the road and let us go where we know we need to be. And if you're in Clearwater, Frenchy's is always the popular place... We won't tell you the rest of them no matter what! We have to have some special places only we know about.
Matt: "Come in October"
Hurricanes: "Sounds great!"
EARLY October, preferably late September according to NOAA, but I get the drift. We need tourist cash, not tourist rash.
Had a hotel call 2 days before we were to check in at Ft. Meyers Beach cancel reservations due to Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Was the first (but not last) time I purchased travel insurance. Rescheduled for St. Pete Beach following spring, dislocated a toe the first day, hospital couldn't fix and nurse advised not to bother trying for an ortho appt. I know when I'm not wanted, haven't been back since.
If you do go in October, though, befriend a local REAL fast, otherwise you'll be eating at the same three restaurants the whole time because the tourist trap restaurants are closing for the season. You need someone to tell you where there is still good food.
October is the absolute best month to visit the emerald coast!
@@kayjacoby290 I was kicked back in PBG with 10 cases of beer, I was fully stocked for Wilma. I didn't know 10 cases would only last the evening though :( Woulda bought water but Publix is a joke.
The last rule for us was always pick up the trash! Didn't matter if it ours or someone else's. Pick it up! And put it in a trash can!
Especially those dagnabbit chicken bones
I heard this excuse for leaving trash on the beach someone will pick it up.
That's not really southern specific
I wish I could like this multiple times!!
Dont smoke on the beach
As a previous resident of the gulf coast, this is the most factual thing on the internet. And yes the turtles wear the hats. It's a thing with them.
What was it like living by the ocean?
Stay off the dunes!
Thank you Matt for dispensing this much needed rule. STAY OFF THE DUNES
And don't touch the sea oats!!
good rule of thumb for all beaches
@@allisongoodman4806what are Sea oats and why should you stay out of the dunes? I'm from a landlocked state so I don't know much beach etiquette.
@@Rin-bi1st The dunes erode and walking all over them erodes them faster. The tall grass (Sea Oats) helps mitigate this and it's a protected species. It’s the same way for a lot of the beaches in Michigan too, though we also have dunes where climbing and driving all over them is promoted.
Plus you might find a snake if you go walking on the dunes in Texas. They aren't pleased with you. Trust me
"If you schedule a family beach picture with your matching white or teal outfits. First of all, very original idea" 🤣 So true, and men hate it so much
"You are the entertainment now."
@RockSmithStudio I gave your comment it 100th like. 😉
So much
We did it in white shirts and khakis with a professional photographer in the residential area. We are locals, and our mom loved it.
Go Braves!!!
"your hat now belongs to the turtles". Words of wisdom Matt.
"Clover Valley Jimmy Buffett aka Kenny Chesney" 🤣🤣🤣
Yeah. They do play him a lot on Radio Margaritaville. Along with somebody named Jimmy Buffet.
That made me laugh out loud too 🤣
As an Alabama gulf coast native, you nailed it with “clover valley Jimmy Buffet.” Also, you are now on a hit list for spilling the October secret. Us locals get one month Matt, one month and now you have ruined it too. As punishment you will be on beach clean up duty post mullet toss at the Florabama.
Or as punishment he has to attend all 3 days of hangout music fest
Sand dunes eat frisbees for the trace elements and other micronutrients. Great job Matt!
Southern beaches, Mid-Atlantic beaches, the Jersey shore ... It's all about listening. Hearing the waves, the seagulls, the cheerful voices of kids in the waves are better than any song.
I would add in the Great Lakes beaches, too. Stay off of their dunes also.
Exactly. Save the boom box for your back yard or at the very least your hotel room. Note: this same rule apply to camping. Leave the noise mskers at home!
Or they could at least wear headphones.
I agreed with you until "cheerful voices of kids"
Finally Louisiana is at the top of a list: knowing where the good food is!
Thickness of air?
Wait a minute now, it was always #1 when it came to “ Smelly Ass States “
@@JTGKirby Why are you trying to smell asses?
@@JTGKirby No, that’s Arkansas.
Beaches in Louisiana SUCK!!! Unless you’re into fishing, then they’re amazing!!!
If the whole beach is free, don’t come get right up next to me in my chair reading on my one day without my kids and then let your kids FEED THE FREAKING SEAGULLS!!!!!! Signed - a stressed out mom in the golden isles
Oooh yes. I hate this. And when people see a whole beach open but put their umbrella right in. Front of your view. So damn annoying.
And the empty movie theater and restaurant... I'm just an introvert. People don't like to be alone. Lol
If you're hard-headed and insist on feeding the seagulls, better hope you're wearin' a hat. You will find out why soon enough.
@@nashfordtxparking lots too
As somebody who spent almost 30 years as PCB resident, this is pretty accurate.
ALSO PICK UP YOUR DANG TRASH ON THE BEACH.
Big tip: avoid going to any beach around Spring Break
I think Matt skipped that one because anyone who lives near the Gulf knows that by the time they're old enough to walk. 😂😂😂
Rule applies to Cancún as well.
Unless you like dodging broken glass and vomit.
Unless you like seeing unruly drunken 17-24 year olds wetting themselves and then getting in a fistfight.
Houghton Lake Beach might be fine for spring break. It might also have someone on a snowmobile on it.
As a resident of PCB, I support this message. I could add a couple more, like "if you go to WalMart, leave your freaking family at the condo. Some of us just need to get home after work and trying to get around you and your 47 family members just to grab some milk or Milo's is almost a bridge too far."
I support families doing things together.
Don't be so selfish and anti-human. Leave that weirdo attituide for the North.
@@noelsteele Matt's big Yankee fan here, and , um, dems fightin' words.... did I get that right?
Yes! Please dedicate two ppl to grocery shop. Your family can make the LIST together!
Opt for pickup! There are far better things to be doing when you're visiting our beautiful beaches and you've worked very hard for that vacation time. So, don't waste a single minute of it!
“A bridge too far” is definitely a PCB inside joke! 😆
For those who have to work outdoors in the heat, put your (well sealed) sunblock in your cooler. That way it’s a really nice cold treat when it’s time to reapply.
#13. If you leave your garbage on the beach, a local will remind you that our sharks need to eat...those who leave garbage on the beach.
Im in Oklahoma and have been all over... we saw "Salt Life" stickers in Colorado.... and i laugh every time
Maybe they meant road salt
We are Coloradans and see “the mountains are calling and I must go” type of stuff on vehicles from Texas when they drive up the canyons.
I think my favorite thing about out of staters visiting Colorado is the white knuckle driving near the cliff side on our various roads without guardrails over the 500+ foot drop with the locals behind them stacked four cars deep honking and headlights flashing with their arms out their windows indicating they want them to use the slow car pullover.
The out of stater FINALLY pulls over and the line of locals speed past them barreling up or down the canyon with their windows down. Fueled on excessive amounts of caffeine and elk jerky or burritos.
There is something dangerously wrong with Colorado Natives. And I’m here for jt.
@@laurablack2262westbound Monarch pass 👍😊, eastbound Monarch pass 👎😲
Matt, we need an East Coast Beach rules set! How to identify a shark vs a dolphin. The lifeguards whistle ain't just for pretty music. Sand fleas. Etc etc, lol.
Sand fleas?
Mostly the same except instead of Missouri tags, it's Ohio tags and instead of Surf Style, it's Wings.
& explain how to drive on the beach. 🙄 getting stuck in sand is not the same as getting stuck snow. But it is fun spectator sport 😂
I have a vague memory of my brother getting surrounded by dolphins, and the lifeguard had to go get him. I think this was at Virginia Beach.
What a rip tide looks like. Don't dig deep holes in the sand. Ocean County NJ.
Yeah, those seagulls don't need any encouragement. My poor sister once was trying to eat a potato chip, and a seagull swooped in and stole it from her hand right in front of her face. It was terrifying. And for the music, that's why I bring headphones. It blocks out all noise EXCEPT the ocean waves, and it's absolutely wonderful.
Seagulls are incredibly aggressive given a little incentive; I have had multiple occasions where their beaks have cut open my hands and face while they were attempting to steal food from me. At this point, I don't eat anything near seagulls unless I'm under a very low overhang. Even then, it's iffy when you have a particularly persistent one.
@@asdisskagen6487 Ouch!!
@@asdisskagen6487 There should be a seagull hunting season. Or would a starter pistol possibly scare them away?
@@CarlaQuattlebaum Loud noises work ... maybe once or twice. Then the gulls get wise and don't care anymore.
@@carriecollins6697 When at Sea World or Discovery cove, the gulls recognize the cups containing fish people buy to feed the dolphins and sea lions and will absolutely MOB you. That was the first time I was attacked and I would have appreciated a heads-up by the vendors that the gulls were a hazard.
Ignore those little red flags they fly on the beach. That just means the beach is only open to you ❤️🚩
And two red ones means the water is twice as nice
who's gonna tell em
Red flag means the waves are just getting good!
@@evalv2284 shhhhhh
You forgot to say red flags don’t apply to northerners 🤣
All of this applies to the ocean beaches, too. All the way up to Hatteras at least. Frankly, this could be a whole series.
Thanks for the PSA about staying off the sand dunes! 😮😊
This goes double for Maine and the Gulf of Maine - we have very few sand beaches. Most of the beaches are rocks - not just rocky, really - just piles of rocks. It's even more important to preserve the few dunes we have.
If you live in the 919 zip code, you don't need to be having any Salt Life stickers either. You're not fishing up any marlins in the ponds around Raleigh.
So many of those stickers in the 828 area code, like are people catching sharks along the French Broad River?? 🙄
Apparently it's some kind of store? I assumed it was a support group for people with high blood pressure.
We see them here in Wisconsin, it's 18 hours to the coast! Closest thing to Salt Life up here is Road Salt Life.
@@bookkat07Thank you! I also live in this general vicinity and have seen so many of those damn stickers. I don't even know what it means.
What I miss is the days of Panama Jack....he was cool.....this seems like a knockoff because PJ had a store full of shirts, sunglasses, beach stuff and stickers 😂😂😂
As a Michigan resident with the largest freshwater coastline in the world - I'm in complete agreement with the Salt Life stickers.
You are permitted a Lake Life sticker if you so choose.
i see a lot of them in ohio… like the only salt around here is on the roads
As a fan from Missouri I always feel attacked by these videos lol. Keep up the great work, Matt.
As a fellow Missourian, I would be offended if he weren’t absolutely correct!!!!
You don’t belong in the SEC. I think that’s what he’s trying to say. Course I’m from Nashville, and Vandy don’t either…
I’m not a Mizzou fan for what it’s worth.
Born in Florida and raised in Missouri and Florida. I can laugh at myself. 😂
Sorry you’re always in Misery.
I like the tip about restaurant parking lots with lots of cars with Louisiana tags. Makes so much sense. Those folks know good food!
13. Watch out for jellyfish. I was stung by 4 in Gulf Shores and had to have them pulled off my thighs so they would stop stinging me.
Ugh. Man-O-Wars are the *WORST*
Yes indeed. I still have a scar from when I was stung at age 14. Evil things.
I got stung by one when I was in 4th grade. I rarely cried as a child, but that jellyfish had me bawling for near an hour. Such pain I don't wish on anyone.
yes for those from a land locked state if it looks like a plastic bag or blue balloon, leave them be. DO NOT TOUCH. you'll thank me later, even in death those menace can still hurt you.
We always bring vinegar to the beach along with the sunscreen and cold aloe Vera. It's takes away the sting after you've been touched by a jellyfish.
I completely agree, Matt. I especially liked, and can confirm, your Louisiana license plate instruction. Also, people should understand, because it is a delta Louisiana -- other than Grand Isle -- has no beach. Those this side of the Mississippi River come on over to Texas' 367 miles of Gulf coastline. The rest of y'all go see Matt.
"It's always a SurfStyle." Yes! I have that jingle as my ringtone.
Thank you for just putting that in my brain 🙉🙉🙉
Unless you’re on the east coast. Then you can call it “The Atlantic”.
HAHAHAHA! SO TRUE! 😂👍
As a coastal South Carolina resident, I was looking for this comment! 🌞🐬🐬
I grew up on Costal Ga and I agree.
As a resident of Florida, I agree with this.
Or the West Coast we call it the Pacific. Lol
And yes people, stay off the dunes except where permitted; AND CLEAN UP YOUR TRASH!
I remember when COVID had just started that I went to a Wal Mart in Tallahassee for my once per month restocking and there were seagulls EVERYWHERE. They rarely go that far inland. That's when i realized that they were starving because they didn't have tourists to steal from or scavenge after. They had to go where the people were!
Coastal Chickens?
Dump ducks!
Dammit, Matt! Yes, you DID just ruin the secret!
Bless you for that PSA. I hope others take notice.
Coming from St Petersburg, Florida this gal BBoomer says, Truer words have never been spoken 😅‼️🏊🏖Kj in Tampa Bay 🥰
I think Matt should change the name to reference 'Gulf Coast Beaches' but only so we could convince him to make a "12 Sacred Rules for Southern Ocean Beaches." Rule #8 : Wild horses are not there for entertainment, just take a picture from more than 50' away and leave them be
NOT AN OCEAN! pay attention son
I live on the east coast, and these rules work there, as well.
@@timsmith2525 Assateague?
Rule #9 : Dont go to Eagles. Go to the flea market.
@@wolfe6220 Gesundheit!
Thank you for the sand dunes bit.
Love from Louisiana!! And my kid was born during hurricane Katrina 😂
WOW, named him Storm?
Aloe in the Fridge is a life hack that I am surprised you even need to mention. People don't keep it next to the ketchup and whatsithere sauce?
The problem is that people visiting the beach likely have not spent as much time outside as they will while at the beach. So they may not have needed the aloe, but they will after a day out.
As someone severely lacking in melanin, I have looooong kept my aloe vera in the fridge, right next to the Hellmann's!
Whataburger spicy ketchup?
Around here (the Coney Island Peninsula, to which many of these rules apply), some (including me) keep our aloe in peeled chunks in the freezer.
Been putting mine in the fridge since they bottled it. 😂
I took that Missouri tag joke personally haha
well you are the SHOW ME state so there's that
Good. Y'all wanna go slow as hell so we can show your "Show Me State" selves? Get out the thing that goes upwards of 80 mph and get on those two things under your butt that go 3 mph.
Love when Matt gives us a new upload and a list video are always a plus😊
@1:55
All true, with one caveat: you won't have to wait in line at a lot of restaurants because almost none of them are open. You will wait in line at the ones that are.
Going to the Gulf Coast in October is like walking past the front yard of a frat house on Sunday morning. The party is *over* and you missed it.
😂😂
Only in a tourist trap. Any city where people actually live, they'll be open all year.
@Rystefn or small town. We're gearing up for the Snowbirds . (I live just outside crystal river October is a break month as November starts manatee season)
Yes, more of this, don’t go in October.
I thought every Southerner - regardless of how close they are to the beach, Because I'm actually close to the Appalachian Mountains - knew to keep their aloe vera gel and their sunburn spray in the fridge. Because sunburn is a real risk here, and that extra bit of cool will save you.
It's like a miracle drug. Trust us on this one!
The gel just cools. I stick with aloe lotion that moisturizes. I also stopped using ric flair's tanning oil (boy that's an entire story in and of itself)
@@zchris87v80 so is Ric Flair. LOL
#3--Papa Rocco's in Gulf Shores for those that don't really like seafood. They do serve oysters there but it's the fettuccini alfredo w/chicken that I LOVE!
I always have to go there. Their pasta is amazing and we always take a pizza back with us to munch one the next day. The fresh shucked oysters are a plus too.
Wonderful, Matt. Easiest way to identify a non-resident is to hear them call the Gulf of Mexico "the OCEAN". If you REALLY want to sound like you are "from around here", don't call them SEAgulls. They are gulls, that's all.
Agreed, Matt! Believe it or not, we have sand dunes in Idaho along the Snake River. All the rules about sand duning that are in place in the Gulf apply there as well. A Walmart trip should never be scheduled after 7AM unless there's a "Great Value" candy bar emergency.
The same with Costco...ANY time on a Saturday. Even Satan knows Costco is Hell on a Saturday.
Just go ahead and call out rainforest caf and bubba gump shrimp there lol
i have literally walked into a Rainforest Cafe with an ex girlfriend and her 4 kids, got seated, looked at the menu and prices and got right up and said "I don't think so" and walked us all out with the waitress actually not looking that surprised
As an OBA resident, I support this message 👌 I would only add, that cute Lil floating jelly ball with the stringy legs, does not want to be your friend 🚫 and contrary to popular belief, if you just can't resist the urge and do pick it up, you do NOT need to pee on it for relief 🤪
As a person from Mississippi on the Gulf Coast, I support all of these, these are all true
There is also the rule of turn off all outside lights and close blinds for the wildlife.
As a Floridian... I can add to this in so many ways....
Please do! Like how mentioning a hurricane in the Tampa Bay area will get you stories about parties, because the storm seems to miss us.
@@primmoore6232 60 years in Tampa here
@Batmandabomb 60 years? You've seen MAJOR changes, my friend.
You don’t need to bring music to the beach. The waves make their own music, unless there are no waves, then go ahead and bring your phone and Bluetooth speaker or headphones. Enjoy your time at the beach! 🏖️🏝️🏄♀️🏄♂️🌊🎶🎵
👆👆👆THIS! SO. MUCH. THIS! 👆👆👆
“Stay off the dunes!” Thank you for bringing up the turtles. ❤
Yes sir, numbers 1 and 12 are the most important ones. Thank you for your public service announcement. The loud music part was a good touch.
From a native North Floridian, you nailed it!!
There's nothing that makes me go into a rage faster than a freaking speaker at the beach. Doesn't matter what kind of music it's playing, I am there for the water.
Ugh. People do that on mountain bike trails, too.
I mean, thanks for heads-up that you’re on the same trail, but it _is_ a thing to edit in grunge music for your lame Go-Pro vids.
October has always been our favorite time to go because of the reasons you mentioned.
I keep hearing Matt’s voice when I read the comments.
Like he’s reading in my head.
A few years ago I was introduced to something called _Reageeton_ at the beach. A group was nearby with a bluetooth speaker and after about a half hour I commented that the other group was listening to the same song over and over on repeat play. I learned that it wasn't on repeat but that the music has no melody, and that the genre of music uses the exact same beat in every song thus making all songs virtually indistinguishable.
Got my thumbs up about the sea gulls... then I wanted to smash it more for the Bluetooth speakers and the sand dunes warnings!
Spot on. Also...when I was a kid...we knew the Northerners on Spring Break by their level of tanlessness.
I love the Gulf. My family would often spend Christmas in one of the more out of the way small beach towns in Texas or Louisiana. And yes, looking for restaurants with lots of local or Louisiana license plates is always a good call.
Thank you. My friend and I have been discussing a trip down there (from NE MS) and now I have some helpful planning advice.
The refrigerated Aloe Vera Shock! 🤣
Thank you! I expected just some comedy, but these are things that I would shout from the lifeguard stand if I could
Thanks for calling me a hurricane! I’ve been waiting for this moment.
#10 is my favorite rule, thanks Matt for caring about the animals. 😊
I've never seen a seagull eating from the gulf. Usually they are stealing people's food or rummaging through garbage cans.
Yeah, they are the trash pandas of the ocean. 😂
It's been so long since I've been down to the gulf that the gulls weren't an issue when I was last there.
Low hanging fruit
I utterly lost it at "Clover Valley Jimmy Buffet. WELL DONE SIR, WELL DONE! 🤣🤣🤣
Truer words have never been spoken. Thank you ❤
I am now imagining all of my favorite hats of various styles perfectly fitting on the shells of some very stylish turtles. 🐢❤
TAR WIPES. ALWAYS HAVE TAR WIPES WITH YOU. i swear even the air in galveston puts tar on you.
Thank you so much for saying stay off the dunes!!! When I lived there at aggravated me no end how tourist would play on the dunes and ruin them!!!!
love the louisiana shout out lol. we do know where the good food is
“Come in October!” We did that 2 years ago and apparently that’s also Gulf jellyfish season. I didn’t know it was possible to be stung so much in 2 days. We spent the last 3 days just looking at the water because we were done being attacked.
Clover Valley Jimmy Buffett!!!! Once again you're spot on, Matt.
Zac Brown is the only one close and even he'll admit he's not in Buffett's realm
Thank you for the PSA about the crazy idea that not everyone on the beach wants to listen to someone else’s personal play list!!! But might actually want to listen to the one thing you can only hear live at the beach - the waves!
Turtles need hats? Dont they have a she.... ohhhhh, I get it. Hahahhaha.
Always a great laugh. Thanks Matt!
Spot on! Thanks for the public service announcement.
I’m mad that you spilled our secret. AHEM, DO NOT VISIT IN OCTOBER! Seriously, I’d rather deal with hurricane season than tourist season.
Boo hoo. Cry more.
Loved this, haha. I live in a coastal state and alot of these tips are definitely still valid further north 😂
I did not think an old boy from Birmingham would be this well-informed. Good job, son
I live in Gulf Shores and work at a T-shirt restaurant. All valid.
@@oliveroutdoors3099 Ah, Gulf Shores... say hello to my misspent youth. I think I left it there
Why not?
I was at the beach last Wednesday, I'm on the Atlantic. And a couple had an umbrella, 2 chairs and a large blanket right in the middle of the sand dunes. Beach patrol fined them $250.00. Sweet
WTH?!! Why?!! Just why? That’s where the sand spurs are.
From Missouri here and can vouch for stopping at surf style with my kids. Hahaha
Lifelong Galvestonian here. Nailed it. I think every beach town needs to make this mandatory viewing. Except the October part. Shhhh.
Well, your hat now belongs to the turtles!😅
Right on... I'm off to the gulf in a month, thanks for the advice Matt.
The worst part of snowbird season is the attitudes. People come to town and are so rude. We used to be a lovely, laid back quiet town that was relatively unknown. Once word got out, the souvenir shops and fast food moved in, kids climbing the dunes, bags of dirty diapers and a days worth of trash left on the beach and cigarette butts left in the sand. The visitors didn’t take kindly to being asked to take care of things either. Publix became a sightseeing trip to these people too; try to get in and out after work! One tip I’d add, would be to please remember that you’re welcome to visit, we enjoy showing our beautiful towns off, but you are visiting; we live here and have jobs to get to, do business with banks, doctors, etc we don’t live to serve tourists. Hopefully you had good home training, now’s the time to make your Momma and Daddy proud.
Goes for every tourist town/city! Coastal Maine.
I used to work at copy & print shop, and we had a family print their sand dune backdropped family portrait session holiday card …. The printer had them as the *exact* same color as the sand, and we had to spend an hour adjusting the printer settings so it didn’t just look like a bunch of weirdly empty shorts & tshirts floating on the dune. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Im so mad at my mom for moving us to Indiana before i was old enough to remember Huntsville. My older brother talks about drivin down the the gulf and having heartburn for the first time from scarfin his pb&j out of fear the seagulls would attack him
One of your better bits, in my opinion, Matt!
As soon as he said to come in October, I screamed "Noooo!!!" 😱 Some sacred rules are only meant for us to know down here! Lord help Matt Mitchell if I hear the first Minnesota accent on the beach this fall...
He NAILED the snowbird calendar.
#13 get a good pair of sunglasses. Im not kidding. I lived in Pensacola for 9 years and never got used to the eyeball frying sunshine. The sand is white. The water is shiny. It doesn't matter where you look, your looking directly at the sun.
No, your hat belongs to the rattlesnakes in the dunes 😂
That’s what I was thinking! I think if more people knew about the rattlesnakes in the dunes, they (ok, some of them) would be more likely to steer clear of them.
Serious question though: Do rattlesnakes live in the dunes of all gulf beaches? I know it applies to Texas.
Yeah they’re thick on west Galveston
NC coastal resident here. Those rules are spot on, especially the license plates
Perfect advice but you really needed to skip the October part.....
I live 30 min away from Santa Cruz for most of my life and a fair amount of these could pertain to west coast beaches. Doubly so for refrigerated aloe, that stuff will damn near stop your heart for a few seconds but it feels so very good.
THANK YOU! 🙏 Nothing against my fellow buckeyes or any other mid-westerners, but you guys do not live the Salt Life!! Lose the stickers!!! Great video
Cali coast here, question... does living the Salt Life mean: Marine grade cloth will disintegrate a little slower, but still. Rust, rust and aluminum corrosion everywhere? Worried about what Deep Horizon really did to the Biome? (At least ya don't have Fukushima radiation coming your way like us!) Putting on that suit that made you look slim and athletic only to find the elastic has completely given top the ghost? And finally, does it mean the Terns, Herons and those cuter than cute little wrens that sprint across the sand are chased out by flying rats (my Navy sister's term, personally I find them part of the scenery)? yeah
We got Road Salt Life stickers here in Wisconsin.
@@justinnelson1483 that's where my car spent a good 10 years. Let's just say I'm glad I have a MIG welder now.
As someone on the gulf coast i 100% agree. I would also add that If you want the best "Beach" experience the gulf has to offer Do Not go to clear water go south or extremely north. Oh and know that we allow you the beaches in the summer but the springs are for locals 😆
My goodness all this is so true!
As an 8th generation Floridian on the gulf coast, please do not feed the birds!
Please do not bring any type of music! I don't want to hear Mexican, rap, hard rock (although I do like hard rock in normal circumstances), country or anything else. I am there To relax... I want to hear the seagulls, the waves and kids playing...
If you do not know where you're going, please do not stop traffic to figure it out. Pull over to the side of the road and let us go where we know we need to be.
And if you're in Clearwater, Frenchy's is always the popular place... We won't tell you the rest of them no matter what! We have to have some special places only we know about.
The loud, obnoxious music is a problem here in MN at popular lakes as well!!🙄