Single mom here. I'm a teacher and a single mom who is surrounded by kids 24/7. When my DD goes to camp, I spend a few days at the beach. I'm also an introvert so sitting on the beach not talking to anyone and not having anyone talk to me is heavenly.

I think there are a lot of people who get an almost drug like pleasure from being in the sub. I don't mean that in a bad way, I should add, but notice how many people here talk about how relaxing it is? I've got a friend who sorely misses sunbathing because she said it gave her a languorous physical relaxation unlike none other.

Then there are those of us who get headaches and fall into cranky moods in direct, blazing sunlight. I've often been called a vampire by aforementioned friend for this. ? I also don't like eating outdoors for this reason. My mood IS cheerier on a sunny day, but I'll be sitting in the shaded area, swaddled in sun hat and sunglasses and UPF 50 tshirt, to enjoy.

Thank goodness my husband feels similarly -- I didn't consider it when dating, but it's actually a pretty important compatibility! And obviously, although we love Hawaii for hiking and dining and music and dance, we don't spend more than ten minutes on the beach during the whole two weeks we typically spend there.

Our Beach vacation is our absolute favorite week of the year but there are a few keys to making it awesome and last year was our best trip ever. We also only have one child who is 6 years old.
We typically stay at a resort or a resort style place on the beach in NC, SC or FL. We pay to have our chairs and an umbrella set up for the week so I do not have to take lug a ton of stuff back and forth to the beach. We must have a pool, poolside restaurant on the oceanfront. We spend our day going back and forth from the pool to the beach, sometimes have a casual lunch by the pool or take a break and go to a restaurant for lunch. If we go out for lunch, we have a relaxing dinner by the pool or on our balcony with munchies like cheese/crackers etc and then do some fun night swimming.
We typically go bike riding, go see something like a lighthouse or a fort, check out some of the local restaurants and really relax. We have the best time being together and not having an agenda. We often take a 1000 piece or more puzzle to build throughout the week, we take some movies with us and I usually hide a new lego set in case we have a rain day.

My husband and I both work extremely demanding jobs (we own a business) so the week to really turn everything else off and enjoy each other is amazing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unclench OP.

I like being by the ocean at any time of year. It has a calming effect on me whether I get to swim or not. The sand feels nice on my feet. I feel more in tune with nature.

Walking on sand is great for the feet (removes dead, rough skin) and a great workout because walking in the sand creates resistance.

The saltwater is great for detoxifying the body.

My last ocean beach trip was in France. I had the most relaxing deep sleep, it was as if I took a sleeping pill. Every muscle was relaxed.

I would never go the French beaches and get my titties burned up. The sand wrecks a pedicure, the sun ruins my skin, the salt dries out my hair, I always feel a mess when I leave the beach.

Just French beaches, or all beaches? I feel like the humidity gives my hair a lot of moisture and it starts looking like it did in my young days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unclench OP.

I like being by the ocean at any time of year. It has a calming effect on me whether I get to swim or not. The sand feels nice on my feet. I feel more in tune with nature.

Walking on sand is great for the feet (removes dead, rough skin) and a great workout because walking in the sand creates resistance.

The saltwater is great for detoxifying the body.

My last ocean beach trip was in France. I had the most relaxing deep sleep, it was as if I took a sleeping pill. Every muscle was relaxed.

I would never go the French beaches and get my titties burned up. The sand wrecks a pedicure, the sun ruins my skin, the salt dries out my hair, I always feel a mess when I leave the beach.

Anonymous wrote:Unclench OP.

I like being by the ocean at any time of year. It has a calming effect on me whether I get to swim or not. The sand feels nice on my feet. I feel more in tune with nature.

Walking on sand is great for the feet (removes dead, rough skin) and a great workout because walking in the sand creates resistance.

The saltwater is great for detoxifying the body.

My last ocean beach trip was in France. I had the most relaxing deep sleep, it was as if I took a sleeping pill. Every muscle was relaxed.

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?

I dunno OP. Why DO people like to do things I don't like to do?

Anonymous wrote:I love the beach. I could watch the tide and the waves crest all day long. No two waves lapping ashore are the same. I love the rythmic sound, the sand on my feet, the tranquility. Sorta like watching a snowfall. For me, being still under the shade of an umbrella with snacks in hand is relaxing. The kids have a built in entertainment with water and sand. For once, I can stop moving. To me, that's relaxing. Throw in super fresh local seafood and a beach house that is way nicer than our reg house (and awesome views) and I'm sold on beach trips.

+1

I love the beach. I could watch the tide and the waves crest all day long. No two waves lapping ashore are the same. I love the rythmic sound, the sand on my feet, the tranquility. Sorta like watching a snowfall. For me, being still under the shade of an umbrella with snacks in hand is relaxing. The kids have a built in entertainment with water and sand. For once, I can stop moving. To me, that's relaxing. Throw in super fresh local seafood and a beach house that is way nicer than our reg house (and awesome views) and I'm sold on beach trips.

OP - I totally agree. DH and I are not beach people either and after a day or two, I am bored. Doesn't matter if it's Bethany or Bora Bora - I need more to do than just sit on a beach.

Two points though: 1) "beach vacation" does not have to equal sitting on a beach. One of our favorite trips was to Oahu - definitely some beach time, but also a spectacular pool, Pearl Harbor, amazing hiking, and tons of other things to do. 2) Particularly with small kids or big families, I do get the appeal of doing something easy - within driving distance, renting a house, can be done inexpensively, no running around. It's hard to find ways to just unplug sometimes so I get why it works for some people.

Also, all this said, I was describing my idea of an amazing vacation to a friend - luxury "glamping" on safari in Africa - and she looked at me as if I had two heads and said they really didn't understand the appeal of a long flight, leaving the country, malaria risks, all just to "rough it." Really goes to show - different strokes for different folks.

I'm also with you OP. Especially the beaches in the northeast, where the water is freezing, the surf is rough, its often super windy (blowing over your sunshade and making it impossible to read, getting sand everywhere, etc.) Yuck.
I can do a couple days at the beach, but really prefer the ones where the water is warm/calm enough to actually swim (as opposed to just standing there and bobbing up and down until you're freezing). When we do beach vacations, we try to find ones that also have some cultural or nature things nearby, snorkeling, etc. so that we aren't just sitting on the beach or sand-combing for more than a couple days out of the week.

I'm with you OP. I do it because my kids love it but being hot and sandy is not my idea of a good time. And the sunscreen. Ugh.

Anonymous wrote:Even on the hottest days, it's nice under the umbrella.

Yup, with a breeze and ocean waves. Ugh, I'm not going to the beach until August this year. Daydreaming away. . .

Anonymous wrote:Do you go with extended family? That is what makes it fun for us. It's like our annual family reunion. And we have been doing it ever since we were small, and now introducing a new generation to it. (And, actually, the older ones have been doing it ever since THEY were small, so it is a 3-generation get-away!).

NB We do not all stay at the same house. That would be too much togetherness for us. We all rent our own beach condos. Some are attached by porches. Some are just across the street. Some a few houses down. All on the same sleepy beach block (this is North Bethany), so everyone's within an easy amble. But if your kid is getting crabby and needs a nap, or you just need to get some work done, or an in-law needs to have a breather, you can just go on back to our own condo for a few hours. This is the key for us; the balance b/w togetherness and not being on top of one another, 24-7.

Even on the hottest days, it's nice under the umbrella.