Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from a week at the beach and here is what we did:
--rope climbing/obstacle course
--go karts
--took a boat out to go fishing
--playing at the beach (body surfing/boogie boarding, playing in the sand, flying a kite)
--lots of pool time at the beach house we rented
--jet skiing
--pier/surf fishing
--big jigsaw puzzle
--card games/board games

Your vacation sounds fun, but most of these things are things you can do at home (no need to actually be at the beach). We like to go to museums, see historical sites, experience different kinds of cuisine, see different flora and fauna, etc. on vacation. We can't afford to do both (and don't have a "family beach house"), so for us, we do "touring vacations" mostly, and then go to the beach for day trips.

PP, that's wonderful for you! Isn't it exciting how different people can do and enjoy different things?

Honestly, it is surprising to me how many DCUM threads boil down to "I, a purportedly smart person, cannot understand how anyone can do something in a way that is different than the way I do it."

Amen to this. For a populace that seems to pride itself on being so wordly, the blinders are mind boggling.

Who does all this cooking and cleaning at the beach? We pay for house cleaning and linen service. Easy meals only or eat out. I find a beach vacation much easier than skiing, for example, with the gloves and goggles and ever changing ski and boot sizes with growing kids. But they can all be fun, depending on what you like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not a family beach fan. The sunscreen the towels the suits the stuff, the schleping if you don’t have a house right Ont he beach, oh and making sure the kids don’t drown. I’m with you OP, I’d rather go somewhere and see new things.

A lot of people do both. Two different types of vacations. Doing nothing type and doing stuff type.

Beach vacations are easy and fun.

Judging by DCUM posts, I would hardly describe a typical beach vacation as “doing nothing.” I would like a beach vacation if it’s an all inclusive. Otherwise, no thank you. As another PP said - the sand, the sunscreen, the cooking, the cleaning etc etc etc. no thank you: others love it and that’s great for them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from a week at the beach and here is what we did:
--rope climbing/obstacle course
--go karts
--took a boat out to go fishing
--playing at the beach (body surfing/boogie boarding, playing in the sand, flying a kite)
--lots of pool time at the beach house we rented
--jet skiing
--pier/surf fishing
--big jigsaw puzzle
--card games/board games

Your vacation sounds fun, but most of these things are things you can do at home (no need to actually be at the beach). We like to go to museums, see historical sites, experience different kinds of cuisine, see different flora and fauna, etc. on vacation. We can't afford to do both (and don't have a "family beach house"), so for us, we do "touring vacations" mostly, and then go to the beach for day trips.

PP, that's wonderful for you! Isn't it exciting how different people can do and enjoy different things?

Honestly, it is surprising to me how many DCUM threads boil down to "I, a purportedly smart person, cannot understand how anyone can do something in a way that is different than the way I do it."

I love the beach. Being in the ocean is pure heaven to me. I am so lucky to be able to vacation the way I like.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a mountain person, but do the beach trip b/c DW is a beach person (and mountain person). We invite her parents, but it's our trip to plan and pay for, so we make all the arrangements (we invite them so they can spend time with grandchild). The beach affords them all the opportunity to spend time together and stare into the existential void for hours on end. Then I cook good meals for them while they drink too much, and recover from spending so much quality time with their grandchild. They won't be around for very long, so we've prioritized this bonding time, even though we would enjoy these vacations much more without them.

Oh wow, this is just amazing. Kudos to you for doing this. You’re setting an awesome example for your kids and creating a sh$t ton of good karma.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I think is so sad is how so many people here never get time to relax so they finally get some time to themselves and they spend it sitting looking at water.

As opposed to old buildings or trees? What did water do to hurt you?

Good response to one of the weirdest DCUM posts ever.

The ocean doesn’t do anything. Water comes in and goes out. You can walk for miles and it’s all the same. Add in all the other hassles of the beach and it is unpleasant. Sure it is relaxing for awhile but then what? Jet skis are obnoxious, don’t golf or play tennis. Boring boring boring.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I go to the beach but not around here. I fly to USVi or Sanibel Island, Fl. I can't for the life of me understand people who go to Ocean City, MD.

Well, for us, we have 3 kids under 5 so flying anywhere to go to the beach is an unnecessary hassle. A 3 hour drive we can manage and Ocean City is, actually, fine.

NP disagree. We have two under 5 and flying to an all-inclusive in the Caribbean is SO MUCH EASIER than driving 5-8 hours to a rental in Delaware or NC

.

Yes... Notice I said 3 hours.

I agree, if you're driving 8 hours, might as well fly.

There is no good beach that is 3 hours away in weekend traffic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I think is so sad is how so many people here never get time to relax so they finally get some time to themselves and they spend it sitting looking at water.

As opposed to old buildings or trees? What did water do to hurt you?

Good response to one of the weirdest DCUM posts ever.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:IMHO, you also have to know how to “do” the beach. I come from a long line of beach-going, East coast people and we have it all down to a science. When my Midwestern husband married into the family, he had to learn how to pack the beach cart, preemptively clean sand off things, etc . All those little things that logistically make the beech much more fun and not a giant headache. Probably the same as going on ski vacations or similar? We are not a skiing family so I imagine we would have a learning curve there too!

So obnoxious. I’m from the Midwest but had absolutely been to beaches before meeting my husband and his family—Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and did you know there are beaches on the Great Lakes? Did you know there is sand near freshwater lakes in Minnesota, and that most adults grasp how to deal with sand? Did you know most people know how to pack up a cart, whether they are going camping or to the beach or on a picnic? This is honestly so obnoxious and I feel bad that you and your family treated your husband like an imbecile.

+1. Apparently only east coast people know how to "go to the beach". GTFO.

Anonymous wrote:We just returned from a week at the beach and here is what we did:
--rope climbing/obstacle course
--go karts
--took a boat out to go fishing
--playing at the beach (body surfing/boogie boarding, playing in the sand, flying a kite)
--lots of pool time at the beach house we rented
--jet skiing
--pier/surf fishing
--big jigsaw puzzle
--card games/board games

Your vacation sounds fun, but most of these things are things you can do at home (no need to actually be at the beach). We like to go to museums, see historical sites, experience different kinds of cuisine, see different flora and fauna, etc. on vacation. We can't afford to do both (and don't have a "family beach house"), so for us, we do "touring vacations" mostly, and then go to the beach for day trips.

We just returned from a week at the beach and here is what we did:
--rope climbing/obstacle course
--go karts
--took a boat out to go fishing
--playing at the beach (body surfing/boogie boarding, playing in the sand, flying a kite)
--lots of pool time at the beach house we rented
--jet skiing
--pier/surf fishing
--big jigsaw puzzle
--card games/board games

I love relaxing on the beach with a book. It is pretty much heaven to me. No schedule, no itinerary, no must see list of things. We often go with family too so the kids can see their cousins. I like both tourist tour vacations and relaxing beach vacations. The only downside is all the stuff and meal planning, but we try to keep that part as straightforward as possible and not eat in every night. San Diego is actually a great mix of beach and activities. We stayed in a house in Mission Beach that had beach gear and rented a car so we could hang on the beach or sight see. Costa Rica was similar but different activities. I like a mix, but sometimes with younger kids, beach is just easy!

Anonymous wrote:What I think is so sad is how so many people here never get time to relax so they finally get some time to themselves and they spend it sitting looking at water.

As opposed to old buildings or trees? What did water do to hurt you?

Anonymous wrote:IMHO, you also have to know how to “do” the beach. I come from a long line of beach-going, East coast people and we have it all down to a science. When my Midwestern husband married into the family, he had to learn how to pack the beach cart, preemptively clean sand off things, etc . All those little things that logistically make the beech much more fun and not a giant headache. Probably the same as going on ski vacations or similar? We are not a skiing family so I imagine we would have a learning curve there too!

So obnoxious. I’m from the Midwest but had absolutely been to beaches before meeting my husband and his family—Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf, and did you know there are beaches on the Great Lakes? Did you know there is sand near freshwater lakes in Minnesota, and that most adults grasp how to deal with sand? Did you know most people know how to pack up a cart, whether they are going camping or to the beach or on a picnic? This is honestly so obnoxious and I feel bad that you and your family treated your husband like an imbecile.