Beach shades: where do you draw a line in the sand?
From South Carolina to Dorset, Australia to the Costa del Sol, beachgoers are complaining that oversized canopies, parasols and gazebos are spoiling their day out. And they’re not going to take it lying down
TL;DR
- The UK experienced its hottest May on record, increasing the need for shade.
- A conflict is occurring in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, over large Shibumi wind-powered canopies versus traditional parasols.
- Shibumi shades are expensive ($295) and provide significant shade but are criticized for their size.
- Myrtle Beach mandates that only traditional parasols are allowed.
- Complaints about large shades taking up too much space are also rising in Australia.
- Greece has banned commercial umbrellas from 251 beaches to combat overtourism.
- Torrox, Spain, cracked down on tents and gazebos on its beaches.
- Weymouth, UK, saw complaints about beach tents taking up excessive space.
- The debate centers on whether beaches are public spaces to be shared or areas to be colonized by personal shade structures.
- There appears to be no middle ground in the discussion about beach shade preferences.