Why to people like going to 'the beach'? It's so boring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's baffling when I see hoards of people at the beach... alll just sitting on the sand... bumper to bumper. That really does not make sense to me. At that point, can you even look at/enjoy the ocean?

I would find it boring on a good day but that takes it to the 8th circle of hell.

That does sound like hell. Try a less crowded beach next time.

Ah. You've never been to SoCal, I take it

Is the water around SoCal even warm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Coming to you from the beach, where for one week a year I embrace the fact that I have little to do besides read, walk, and look at the ocean. Always a breeze to keep the heat down, water to cool off in when I do get hot, and peace. My kids are happy to dig, ride waves, throw frisbee, walk with me up and down the beach, and are exhausted every night. Boring? Not in the least. Relaxing, restoring, wonderful!

This this this.
Before baby I'd sit and do a crossword puzzle all day and read and nap and swim. All. To the sound of the ocean with my husband next to me. No cell phones. Let your brain shit off and recharge. Boring to some, reinvigorating to others. I don't think people know how to be bored anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's baffling when I see hoards of people at the beach... alll just sitting on the sand... bumper to bumper. That really does not make sense to me. At that point, can you even look at/enjoy the ocean?

I would find it boring on a good day but that takes it to the 8th circle of hell.

That does sound like hell. Try a less crowded beach next time.

Ah. You've never been to SoCal, I take it

Is the water around SoCal even warm?

No, it's not. And yet... still they come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wonder the same thing. But mainly on the west coast. You can't even go into the damn water because it's too cold. So what do you do? You literally sit- and watch the ocean. WTF?!

At least in the east coast beaches you can go swimming, go body surfing, play in it. What's even the point if it's just to look at? So strange!

Calming, mesmerizing, relaxing, tranquil, seductive.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

[Anonymous]

I agree. I hate it. I dislike most carribean island vacations too. I prefer historical vacations to museums, old houses, ruins, etc. I just can't lay on a beach and burn for a week.

[Anonymous]

The sound of waves, the nature, a time to turn your brain off and reflect about life, get away from this concrete jungle and work, read, do all kinds of water sports, fish, nap, play. . .

[Anonymous]

We're mountain people. I don't like the beach unless it's got white sand and crystal clear aqua colored surf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you can do this at the local playground.

I don't think I would let my kids do that anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think you can do this at the local playground.

You can do this at local quarries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder the same thing. But mainly on the west coast. You can't even go into the damn water because it's too cold. So what do you do? You literally sit- and watch the ocean. WTF?!

At least in the east coast beaches you can go swimming, go body surfing, play in it. What's even the point if it's just to look at? So strange!

Calming, mesmerizing, relaxing, tranquil, seductive.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

+1

We've spent time on a few beaches were you can't swim. The beach on the coast of Olympic NP was amazing. The water was freezing cold even in summer, but we still loved every minute there. It was beautiful; amazing stacks in the, gorgeous sunset. Just being there by the water was so relaxing. My kids loved running along the beach, playing and climbing on the driftwood, checking out tide pools and finding cool rocks. My entire family finds the beach relaxing, especially my older son for whom the beach, and water in general, is most definitely his happy place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder the same thing. But mainly on the west coast. You can't even go into the damn water because it's too cold. So what do you do? You literally sit- and watch the ocean. WTF?!

At least in the east coast beaches you can go swimming, go body surfing, play in it. What's even the point if it's just to look at? So strange!

Calming, mesmerizing, relaxing, tranquil, seductive.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

+1

We've spent time on a few beaches were you can't swim. The beach on the coast of Olympic NP was amazing. The water was freezing cold even in summer, but we still loved every minute there. It was beautiful; amazing stacks in the, gorgeous sunset. Just being there by the water was so relaxing. My kids loved running along the beach, playing and climbing on the driftwood, checking out tide pools and finding cool rocks. My entire family finds the beach relaxing, especially my older son for whom the beach, and water in general, is most definitely his happy place.

The beaches on Olympic NP (I don't even know if all the beaches in that area are in the park- I know for a fact a lot of it is actually on tribal land) are extremely unlike what you find on the vast majority of the west coast. It's a rare exception that's kind of like comparing a private beach in Anguilla to a beach in Tampa.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am with you on this one.

The only place I liked the beach was in Hawaii (Oahu). Perfect combination of activities, watching sea-life and loads of stuff to do on the water and on the island. The idea of driving to Ocean Beach, MD and bake on the beach also makes me want to throw up.

On the other hand, I am perfectly content to go to a waterpark- water slides and rides, endless bobbing on the lazy river...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder the same thing. But mainly on the west coast. You can't even go into the damn water because it's too cold. So what do you do? You literally sit- and watch the ocean. WTF?!

At least in the east coast beaches you can go swimming, go body surfing, play in it. What's even the point if it's just to look at? So strange!

Calming, mesmerizing, relaxing, tranquil, seductive.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

+1

We've spent time on a few beaches were you can't swim. The beach on the coast of Olympic NP was amazing. The water was freezing cold even in summer, but we still loved every minute there. It was beautiful; amazing stacks in the, gorgeous sunset. Just being there by the water was so relaxing. My kids loved running along the beach, playing and climbing on the driftwood, checking out tide pools and finding cool rocks. My entire family finds the beach relaxing, especially my older son for whom the beach, and water in general, is most definitely his happy place.

The beaches on Olympic NP (I don't even know if all the beaches in that area are in the park- I know for a fact a lot of it is actually on tribal land) are extremely unlike what you find on the vast majority of the west coast. It's a rare exception that's kind of like comparing a private beach in Anguilla to a beach in Tampa.

True, but OP was pretty much saying that spending time on any beach is boring and sucks. Pretty sure the same case would have been made for a beach in Bora Bora. Others were saying that beaches where you can't swim aren't fun. I was making the point that we love these beaches too. We also love beaches like OBX (oh, the horror). We're beach people.

Correct, some of the beach are not technically in the NP. One we went to was on tribal land. Should have said Olympic Peninsula not NP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the only one who finds going to the beach for vacation boring? Other people seem to love it. It's ok for a couple of days, but it is boring to sit and or lay around all day, it's hot, biting flies, drinking too much booze, then there is sun damage, hair damage, tourist trap prices. I just don't get the appeal. Why do people like it SOOO much?

Being near the water is very relaxing for me. I have to young kids so there is no sitting or laying around - we are building sand castles, digging holes, looking for shells, running in the water, swimming, etc.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be nice to have a house on the water. Listen to the waves, watch sunset and sunrise, etc. All from your porch.

But drive to the beach, just to sit there? Nah. No thanks.