What's so great about the beach?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do either of you have kids? For a family, the beach is instant entertainment with the sand and surf.

Yep have kids and my kids do like the beach. But they also loved our trip to Disney this year. If we went to Disney every single year so many people would most likely look at us like we were crazy and ask why we go to Disney so much but wouldn't get that same question by going to the beach every year.

I find the mountains to be relaxing as well and my kids enjoy it too. So why aren't the mountains the *preferred* vacation spot among a large number of people instead of the beach?

The mountains have bugs. I'm not a hiker.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My doing-nothing-at-the-beach enjoyment factor lasts about 2 days, tops. If we're somewhere where we can snorkel or sea kayak or do something else fun, I can take it for a few more days. But if it's really hot, like it can be at the Outer Banks in July, forget it. I don't want to be there. And all the sunscreen I need to avoid turning lobster-red only makes me hotter. And my daughter inherited my skin.

I need one week a year to do nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't go to the beach for entertainment, I go so that my kids can play and swim and run around in the sand. We adults get to do that too, but if we feel like doing nothing, or just keeping an eye on the kids, we get a fabulous view of the ocean which is a nice change from our back yard.

I'm all for cultural sites and city centers, too, but the beach provides for a different sort of pace, without as much of an agenda. That's what makes it relaxing for us.

this

[Anonymous]

I love everyting about going to the beach but I grew up going all the time to visit my grandparents who were semi-retired there. So, for me, its a mixture of just a fun place to go but also very happy memories of people who I loved very much. It reminds me of some of the best times of my life. I also lived at the beach post-college and it was equally great---in a totally different way

I personally love the sand, the waves, the sun, the funnel cakes, the mini golf, the boardwalk. But that's just me and I have plenty of friends who would rather do anything else than go to the beach. My best friend hates the beach and doesn't bring his family down, despite the fact that we have a free place to stay. But he LOVES Disney, which sounds like an awful vacation to me. I'm sure I will go there with DS eventually but it will not be by choice.

I also love visiting cities too but going to the beach for the weekend is just easy for us because we have a place to stay with all of the conveniences of home already there (not much packing to do). I'm not a mountain person so I would wonder what's so great about a mountain vacation but that's just me---to each their own, OP!

[Anonymous]

I love everything about going to the beach. And we just moved from the D.C. area to Ponte Vedra Florida! I can be on the beach in minutes. And we live on the water. I am in heaven! Our beaches are rarely crowded. There have been many times when there was almost no one on the beach. Weekends and Holidays are a little busier, but not horrible so. There aren't any touristy type stuff near our favorite beach, so that keeps a lot of people away.

I grew up in Hawaii, so the ocean has always been big part of my life. Our whole family loves to surf! At least once a week during the workweek, I'll throw a quick supper in the cooler and we'll head to the beach when my DH gets home from work. It's still light enough to see and swim, but the air has cooled off and watching the sunset is just beautiful! We are at the beach almost every Saturday.

So..."What's so great about the beach?". The warm ocean water, the sea breeze, the smell, the sounds, putting your chair on the edge of the water and pushing your feet way down into the sand, surfing, boating, swimming, collecting shells and sharks teeth, playing ball on the beach, picnicking, building sand castles, ...... And shave ice on the way home!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do either of you have kids? For a family, the beach is instant entertainment with the sand and surf.

Yep have kids and my kids do like the beach. But they also loved our trip to Disney this year. If we went to Disney every single year so many people would most likely look at us like we were crazy and ask why we go to Disney so much but wouldn't get that same question by going to the beach every year.

I find the mountains to be relaxing as well and my kids enjoy it too. So why aren't the mountains the *preferred* vacation spot among a large number of people instead of the beach?

Because there is something about being right next to the ocean that is more relaxing than anything else in the world.

For me this is the case, anyway. I grew up near the ocean and find it unsettling not to have it close by.

I agree. For me, it's the rhythm of the waves and tides that I find so relaxing. Plus, it's a full sensory experience that completely connects me to the environment. I really dislike living so far away from the ocean and am looking forward to moving in a few years.

And what insane person doesn't enjoy sipping a frozen cocktail, while resting with her toes in the sand?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I wish I could enjoy being at a beach! I'm one of those lucky ones who burns easily. I would have to slather on the sunscreen, and would end up just feeling too hot.

This is me - I am super pale and feel like I'm being scorched by an iron. People that love to lie in the sun amaze me - and so while I totally get the appeal of the beach, unless it is early October, it's just not for me. Now that I have a toddler though (who luckily didn't get my skin) I want to try again maybe in late spring or early fall.

I am ghostly pale myself, but we've started doing the beach thing with the kids. What I've found that works: Get a good-quality, broad-spectrum, water-proof cream sunscreen and apply thoroughly at the beginning of the day UNDER my clothes/swimsuit (DH is happy to help ). That is the foundation. I also get broad-spectrum, waterproof aerosol sunscreen that I re-apply hourly. I've been out all day without even a light pink tinge! I was totally amazed! Don't forget hats and sunglasses, ladies, since you can't apply sunscreen to eyes and scalps (unless you're going with the Sinead O'Connor look).

Another pale one here (plus I have melanoma), but I love the beach. I only take my kids there before 10am and after 5pm. It's the perfect time to swim, play, run around, etc. without the worry of suncare. In my opinion it's the most beautiful hours for the beach as well. That gives us time during the day for other activities as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn't have room service and maid service, we don't go there. Period.

That's why I go to all-inclusive beach resorts.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a big beach person either, but my parents rent a big house from a friend of theirs every year and we go with them. For me it's as much as getting grandparents to help out for a week, getting out of the DC area, enjoying a nice beach house, and relaxing as anything else. Typically we do go to the beach in the morning, and then come back for lunch and naps. Kids get exhausted and it's something different than the park. We get a big tent to sit under and avoid the mid-day hours. After nap etc., we may go back later around 4 or so or we've done other activities - like going to a couple of shops, a movie, the aquariam.

We eat great seafood and cook fun meals, dress casually, nap, read, etc. It's a fun vacation that is more about relaxing than the beach. We could have a similar trip in the mountains I suppose. There is something fun about a beach town - it's very laid back and so different than DC.

[Anonymous]

OP, hopefully you've gotten more than a few answers here to your question! I agree that the Delmarva beaches aren't the prettiest, so for me, I'd much rather plan vacations in places with beautiful sand and ideally slightly less crowded.

Like others, I love the sound of the waves, the feel of morning or evening salty breezes, walks on the sand, yummy seafood. We're taking toddler DD to the beach for the first time this fall for a family wedding and I can't wait.

I could answer similarly about trips to foreign countries. I love the sounds of a different language, the look of a European city compared to American cities, different food, a different rhythm to life.

Disney won't be my idea of a dream vacation to do every year, but we'll do it when DD is older.

Crowded cities, museums and shopping aren't my ideas of a vacation. We'll certainly do weekend trips to places like New York for her to experience them, but I could never do a whole week and call it a relaxing vacation. That's a long weekend for me, not a way to unwind.

Mountains. I'm not a big camper, but do love running and hiking.

[Anonymous]

I don't get the controversy (?). Why does it have to be all or nothing.

Our not-rich family -- let me say that again, we're not rich -- goes to a Delaware beach every year (which bores the crap out of me, personally)

AND we do a mountain-y vacation in the US somewhere. This includes stuff like the Black Hills/Oregon

AND we do lots of "cultural" 3-day weekend type things during the school year. We see the sites Philadelphia, Boston, New Orleans and this year, Chicago and New York. Next year I want to see Nashville.

Occasionally, Europe replaces the mountain-y / nature/ trees vacation.

Again. Not rich. Who are the families PPing above who think it must be all or nothing?

[Anonymous]

I LOVE the beach when its January or February in DC and my body is craving sunshine, warmth and vitamin D.

In the summertime, I could take it or leave it. Its nice enough to be in the water, but its a lot of schlepping of stuff, especially with kids, and hot and sticky.

[Anonymous]

We LOVE the beach but are "beach snobs".

Absolutely hate Rehoboth etc...too crowded and the water is too cold. Once the water is warm enough the jelly fish arrive. There is nothing relaxing to me about sitting an arms length from another family.

OBX- dont get the appeal. Have to carry a bunch of crap down there, walk my stuff out to the beach and make our beds in the AM. Not a vacation IMO.

We love the Caribbean...step out the door and i am on the beach. Someone cleans my room and sets up my beach spot. I jsut have to watch my kid....BLISS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do either of you have kids? For a family, the beach is instant entertainment with the sand and surf.

Yep have kids and my kids do like the beach. But they also loved our trip to Disney this year. If we went to Disney every single year so many people would most likely look at us like we were crazy and ask why we go to Disney so much but wouldn't get that same question by going to the beach every year.

I find the mountains to be relaxing as well and my kids enjoy it too. So why aren't the mountains the *preferred* vacation spot among a large number of people instead of the beach?

There aren't any around here. Going to the beach is cheap and easy if you're just going to OBX or places around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do either of you have kids? For a family, the beach is instant entertainment with the sand and surf.

Yep have kids and my kids do like the beach. But they also loved our trip to Disney this year. If we went to Disney every single year so many people would most likely look at us like we were crazy and ask why we go to Disney so much but wouldn't get that same question by going to the beach every year.

I find the mountains to be relaxing as well and my kids enjoy it too. So why aren't the mountains the *preferred* vacation spot among a large number of people instead of the beach?

There aren't any around here. Going to the beach is cheap and easy if you're just going to OBX or places around here.

Huh? You must not get out much. You can get to the Maryland and West Virginia mountains quicker than you can get to the beach.