Spending a day at the beach is one of my favorite summer time activities. Whether we are visiting an ocean side resort or hanging out by a lake, there is always something for everyone in the family to do! I have nothing but fond memories of the times we spent the day soaking up the sun and splashing around in the water.
Sit Back and Relax
I love spending time stretched out on a beach towel letting my pale skin soak up a little color. I enjoy watching the waves crash on the sand, the boats in the distance pass by in the distance, and the birds fly around looking for food. Not too mention, people watching through my sunglasses (you know you’re guilty, too)! The sand is usually really soft and comfortable and I like to dig my toes into the cool sand underneath the surface. It’s really easy to lose track of time (especially when reading a good book) so make sure you set a timer and wear plenty of sunscreen to avoid being sunburnt! If you’re really spending the whole day at the beach, make sure you take time to view a sunrise or sunset.
Explore and Learn New Things
When I am too restless to sit anymore, I love to explore all that the beach has to offer. This is one of my favorite summer getaways that are Claritin free. There is so much to learn and check out at the beach! It is cliché to say but it’s true for most beach goers; I love to take long walks on the beach, especially, barefoot. Collecting seashells is ok, but we like to see how many varieties of seashells and critters we can spot instead. Play beach bingo: Yes, I said it. Play beach bingo. When the kids grow tired of digging in the sand, have them search the local ecosystem for different varieties of seashells, critters, and animals. It’s an excellent learning opportunity for them to really notice the details of the world around them besides just water and sand.
Play Games and Sports
My family really enjoys playing games on the beach. It’s nice when the local beach already has a swing set or volley ball net. If not, then we bring Frisbees and balls to play catch with, or a kite to fly. Sometimes, the beach is too crowded for running around and so we try to come up with games in the sand for the kids, like, bury Dad or play Tic Tac Toe in the sand. Taking a hike out to the lighthouse can be lots of fun and quite interesting.
Get in the Water
This seems like a no brainer, but I’m always surprised by the number of people I see at the beach that never actually get into the water to swim and play. It’s really nice in there people! If you’re worried about stepping on things, which is a valid concern to have, then stop by the store and pick up some water shoes. Jump waves or play Marco Polo. Get a big tube and laugh at yourself trying to get on and off of it gracefully. Yes, there’s always someone people watching, but no one really cares about what you look like in a swimming suit. Let go and have fun!
