Please explain east coast beach vacations to me

[Anonymous]

Context: I’m from Oregon. I grew up going to the coast for windsurfing and boogie boarding (in a wetsuit even in August) and then for fishing and crabbing, but never once did anyone in my family lay on the beach on a towel. It’s cold and overcast most of the time. I come from a family of pretty serious watersportsmen. Some people might accuse them of being adrenaline junkies.

A lot of my kids’ friends do the beach house rental thing. I don’t want to make assumptions but from what I absorbed from pop culture growing up, you being towels, umbrellas, toys, snacks, and just lay in the sand and splash in the surf. Doesn’t that get boring after a few hours and certainly after one day? Do east coast beach towns have a bunch more activities that I’m missing?

[Anonymous]

So people usually lay on the beach in the summer when it’s hot and sunny...then swim in the ocean to cool off. At the beach we also fly kites, fish, bike, play tennis, golf, go the the boardwalk, boat, eat at restaurants and just relax.

[Anonymous]

What's not to understand? On the east coast people do what you're supposed to do on the beach- play in the water, lay in the hot sun (great for bringing a book), swim, collect shells.

I've never understood west coast beaches where you can only stare out at the water- it's very bizarre and BORING.

Maybe try going to the actual beach and stepping in the water and your basic human instincts will kick in and you'll do what comes naturally! Enjoy.

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they have activities, though the waves typically aren't as big so it's more like paddle boarding than surfing, but as a non-adrenaline junkie I'm very content to lounge around and sip something cold and read a book and occasionally take a dip. I have always found west coast beaches a drag because they are too cold to be enjoyable (both the water and the air). You do you and I'm going to keep doing me.

[Anonymous]

"I grew up going to the coast for windsurfing and boogie boarding (in a wetsuit even in August) and then for fishing and crabbing"

Well I can see why you're confused. No one has ever, ever, once done this stuff on east coast beaches and in fact these activities are banned for the entirety of the atlantic ocean. You're only allowed to lay comatose on the beach in dead man's pose or you'll be fined or possibly thrown off a bridge mob style.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's not to understand? On the east coast people do what you're supposed to do on the beach- play in the water, lay in the hot sun (great for bringing a book), swim, collect shells.

I've never understood west coast beaches where you can only stare out at the water- it's very bizarre and BORING.

Maybe try going to the actual beach and stepping in the water and your basic human instincts will kick in and you'll do what comes naturally! Enjoy.

No that’s actually what I’m saying exactly. I have no interest in spending a day staring at the ocean or even getting in but only in the surf. When we went in my childhood it was to windsurf or kitesurf or boogie board.

[Anonymous]

My kids love the beach. I personally am over it after about three days, but they love the waves, the water, looking for shells, tide pools, sandcastles, all of it. My ILs like to get a house for a week. DH and I usually agree to 4 nights or so. We pay for all the takeout and food and drinks and bring meals, etc. I don't like having to bring so much stuff, but it's fine and the kids love it. So I wouldn't do it every simmer on out own, but it's not a bad way to see ILs for a few days.

[Anonymous]

Haha, fellow west coaster here. I am not an adrenaline junky at all and I find east coast beaches boring (and ugly). If the point is to lay in the sun and then cool off in the water, you can do that much more comfortably at a pool.

But, if you like water sports I bet you can find opportunities to sail, jet ski, etc. It's probably more pleasant in warmer water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's not to understand? On the east coast people do what you're supposed to do on the beach- play in the water, lay in the hot sun (great for bringing a book), swim, collect shells.

I've never understood west coast beaches where you can only stare out at the water- it's very bizarre and BORING.

Maybe try going to the actual beach and stepping in the water and your basic human instincts will kick in and you'll do what comes naturally! Enjoy.

No that’s actually what I’m saying exactly. I have no interest in spending a day staring at the ocean or even getting in but only in the surf. When we went in my childhood it was to windsurf or kitesurf or boogie board.

All stuff you can do on the east coast except the beaches are nicer and the water is warmer and not glacial and unpleasant??? what is this bizarre question?

[Anonymous]

Yes, most people bring gear on the beach and enjoy the sun and atmosphere for most of the day.

You can also boogie board. Some beaches are known for surfing.

East coast beaches typically have a bayside where you can paddle board, jet ski, fish, go crabbing, etc. Some beaches have kite surfing on the bay.

Some people go boating.

Some beaches have boardwalks with shops, rides and games.

Plus go karting, video games, etc.

A local beach trip typically includes eating crabs and having meals or dessert at local places that you grew up going to. Our local beach trips are heavy on nostalgia.

I’ve been to Canon Beach. I wondered what locals did there. I was there in late May, and the beach was cold, gray and dreary. Strangest beach I’ve ever seen.

[Anonymous]

Then don’t do it. My husband and kids like it do we take them every year, but I just sit on the beach and read.

[Anonymous]

You aren’t wrong. I personally can lie in the beach doing nothing for a few hours but I can’t spend the whole day doing it. Some people do. I enjoy it if the company is good. We usually go in the morning, spend a few hours splashing around, playing with skim boards or boogie boards, reading and talking. Back to the house for lunch, do some kind of afternoon activity, then often back to the beach but not in swimsuits in the late afternoon/early evening to walk, fly kites, search for shells, watch dolphins if there are any, and take photos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I grew up going to the coast for windsurfing and boogie boarding (in a wetsuit even in August) and then for fishing and crabbing"

Well I can see why you're confused. No one has ever, ever, once done this stuff on east coast beaches and in fact these activities are banned for the entirety of the atlantic ocean. You're only allowed to lay comatose on the beach in dead man's pose or you'll be fined or possibly thrown off a bridge mob style.

I’m asking because I don’t know. The people from DC I’ve met definitely don’t sea kayak. If I can do that in Delaware it sounds a lot more fun than what I currently envision.

[Anonymous]

So this explains why i never saw anyone in the ocean when I went to beaches out west. You guys are stumped by the very concept of water activities. Nowwww it makes sense

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's not to understand? On the east coast people do what you're supposed to do on the beach- play in the water, lay in the hot sun (great for bringing a book), swim, collect shells.

I've never understood west coast beaches where you can only stare out at the water- it's very bizarre and BORING.

Maybe try going to the actual beach and stepping in the water and your basic human instincts will kick in and you'll do what comes naturally! Enjoy.

No that’s actually what I’m saying exactly. I have no interest in spending a day staring at the ocean or even getting in but only in the surf. When we went in my childhood it was to windsurf or kitesurf or boogie board.

NP. OK, good for you? My kids love going to the beach and have tons of fun without windsurfing. Like, what do you want? No one needs to explain something that is clearly so popular that people pay thousands every summer to do it. A few days at the beach followed by cracking fresh crabs sounds pretty good right now.