Bikinis were introduced to the public in 1946 by an engineer named Louis Reard.  He could not find anyone to model the provocative bathing suit so he had to hire a nude dancer to model the new swimwear design.

The name Bikini was given to the suit because Reard thought the suit would create as much excitement as the recent nuclear blasts at Bikini Atoll.

Bikini swim wear was not accepted in the U.S. until the late 1950’s to early 1960’s.  Popular movies such as The Beach Party, and the hit song Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini spawned a culture of bikini clad beach goer’s across America.

Today’s bikini has diffenentialy undergone some major changes since the 1946 design.

There are no less than a half dozen different designs of bikinis today.  Some styles cover more skin area while others are much less conservative.

The Thong Bikini can have any number of top designs, but the bottoms have a single string on the rear of the suit only covering up the center of the buttocks.

The Monokini is basically a bottoms only type of suit with no top.

The Micro Bikini is perhaps the most revealing with very little coverage on the bottoms, front or back.

The Bandini has typical bottoms with a tube style top that is held up by a large amount of spandex.

The Tankini has traditional bottoms with a tank top which can cover part of the stomach all the way down to the bottoms depending on design.

Every year the Sport’s Illustrated Swim Suit addition is a much anticipated release  from the sports article magazine.  Swim suit models who are chosen to model for Sports Illustrated are sometimes made overnight modeling sensations from the provocative photo shoots.

With all the different styles and designs today you would think it would be easy to pick out a suit.  Actually it is just the opposite.  How many swim suits to you think get purchased and then later returned after they were brought home and tried on, only to later be returned.

One things for sure, spring is coming and with the boating and beach going season right around the corner, you can bet that you will see more than one style of bikini that will catch your eye.

Spring break is right around the corner and you can rest assured that there are going to be some bikini contests on the beaches.

If your planning on entering a bikini contest this spring here are some tips to help you gain an advantage on the rest of the competition.

• A smokin hot body is a great way to start.  A toned bathing suit beauty is going to have a distinct advantage over the other competitors who have not seen the gym in some time.  If your lacking in motivation hang your bikini up in your bathroom for a little motivation to get off the couch and start working out.  A great website to get you started is The Bikini Bootcamp.
• You need to have a great looking tan.  A couple of ways to get a head start on your tan are the tanning salon, or by using sunless tanning lotions or bronzers.
• Accessories are a great gimmick when working the stage.  Nothing looks sexier than a pair of high heels.  Not only do they look great but they will help show off the muscle tone in your calves and thighs.
• Smiling is also very important.  If you look like your having fun, chances are the crowd and judges are going to notice you quicker.  Contestants that have great looking bikinis and blank facial expressions are not going to place well.
• Don’t be afraid to flirt with the crowd.  Shakkin your booty on stage will get the crowd cheering and bring you more attention.
• This is a bikini contest and the more skin the better.  Now I am not advocating stripping on stage, but choose your bikinis wisely.  A hot looking thong bikini is going to get you a lot more attention than a tankini.

Bikini contests are about showing off your great looking body and having fun.  So shed you inhibitions and get on stage.

Fast forward to the today.  Micro bikinis have overtaken the thong when it comes to maximum exposure.  These skimpy bikinis consist of a thong bottom with very little front coverage accompanied by a very small top.

Some micro bikini cloth is shear and can be seen through under certain light conditions, and when the suit is wet.  Certainly nothing you would want to see your daughter in.

The micro bikini is definitely not for everyone.  This suit is designed to be worn by only the slimmest, physically  fit people on the beach.  Nothing looks worse on the beach than someone trying to wear a bathing suit that was not meant to be worn on their body shape.  You all have seem what I  am talking about.   Micro bikini wearer are certainly a confident group of people with high self esteem and looking for attention.

The micro bikini is made for head turning and maximum sun exposure.  You will not see much beach volleyball being played by someone in this suit. 

Don’t forget the tanning lotion.  With all the extra exposure you may be getting sun where your body has never seen sunlight before.

Prices for the micro bikini start from the mid teens to well over seventy dollars, so there is a budget for everyone.

I suspect that the European countries are probably accept the scanty swim wear better than our culture does.  I have been on dive boats before with people from Germany, and they no not give a second thought to taking off their swim suits to change after coming up from a dive.  I am sure that I was more embarrassed about their nudity than they were.  It’ is funny how certain cultures are more comfortable with nudity than others.

Keep your eyes open this summer while at your favorite beach, swimming pool, or outdoor event. I am quite sure that you will be seeing  the micro bikini being adorned by some bathing suit beauty.  Just make if your with your girl friend or wife that you have your dark sun glasses on while your staring.

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Boats, bars, and bikinis were made for each other.  Some of the busiest bars in U.S. are on the waterfront.

One of my favorite destinations is Put in Bay. The island gets thousands of visitors every weekend during the summer.  People come the the island by ferries from  the mainland and by private boats.  The harbor at Put In Bay has a very large mooring capacity.  It’s not uncommon to see over a hundred boats tied up for a weekend party.  The island has many bars located just across the street from the harbor.  The Roundhouse and Boardwalk are some of the favorite watering holes on the island.  There are also several wineries within walking distance of the downtown area.

You can be assured there will be many skimpy bikinis adorning the bows of large Sport Fishermans, Baha’s, and Donzi’s.

Lake Watts Bar is another favorite of mine.  Located in Tennessee , Lake Watts Bar is famous for the Tiki Bar.  This local floating bar is located off of the main lake channel.  Patrons can pull  there boats alongside the floating docks and enjoy lunch and a cold beverage from the shade of the Tiki Bar.  Locals come here at night to enjoy the local live bands and their favorite beverages.

If your destination is a little further south you can visit the The Schooners Warf. Located on the Seaport harbor walk in Key West you can enjoy local seafood, the best musicians in Key West, and you can take a stroll down to Sunset Pier in the evening to witness one of the most famous sunsets in North America.  Tourists make this an evening event, visiting the pier and watching the street performers do the skits and performances prior to the sun setting over beautiful Key West.

Boats, bars, and bikinis make for some great summer memories.

Virgina Beach is a very popular summer destination with over three million visitors each year.  Virginia Beach is known for it’s three mile boardwalk with unique shops, restaurants, water parks, and bars.  Lodging should not be a problem at Virginia Beach, the beachfront has many hotels adorning the sea shore.  If your looking for activities you have came to the right place.  There are world class golf courses, shopping, and many water sport activities to consume your day.  For more information about Virginia Beach visit The Virginia Beach Vacation Guide.

Heading South towards the Carolina’s you will encounter the Outer Banks.  The northern most beaches are located in Currituck County.  Corolla is one of the northern most cities of Currituck County.  Corolla and the surrounding communities are home to some of the most beautiful vacation resort homes on the East coast.  Many of these multi million dollar homes are available during the summer months for rentals.  These homes can house several families at a time making this a great multi family vacation destination.  For more Information about Currituck County please visit Currituck County Tourism.

If Seclusion is what your after then you may want to consider a more remote destination on the Outer Banks. The southernmost destinations of the Outer Banks include Frisco, Avon, Buxton,and Hatteras.  You can bask in the sun all day in one of your skimpiest bikinis on these remote beaches without the worry of being overran by mobs of beach goers.  If your into sport fishing then you may have just picked the number one  fishing destination on the East Coast.  Visit Hatteras Harbor Marina for up to date fishing reports.  If you came all the way down the Outer Banks for some great bikini shopping visit The Sunny Day Guide for local shopping.

South Carolina boasts some of the most pristine beaches on the East Coast.  With over 200 miles of white sand shoreline South Carolina beaches are among America’s favorite vacation spots.  Favorite beaches include Myrtle Beach, Huntington Beach, Edisto Beach, and Hunting Island State Park. 

If your planning on showing those new bikinis off this summer you cannot go wrong visiting one of these Great East Coast coastal vacation destinations.