I don't live it SoWal (yet), but as a visitor, I HATE seeing the poles up when I go on early morning walks. Besides being potentially harmful to the sea turtles, it just looks trashy. We do use a portable canopy on the beach, but we fold it up & drag it back when we go in for the day (& it is not easy or fun trying to bring back the canopy along with beach bags, towels, sand castle building tools, skim boards, etc.) However, it is a small thing to do, when we have the privilege of enjoying these beautiful beaches!!!