Beach - Love or Hate It?

I don't love the beach, the ocean beach. I grew up in Upstate NY and was always at the lake. I LOVE lakes & rivers and love swimming in them. Oceans scare me. I'm afraid of the waves now that I'm an adult. When I was a kid it was different. I like being at the beach in the early morning or evening, not swimming, not when it's hot, and just enjoying the sounds and smell of the ocean and beach. I don't enjoy the heat of the beach (here in VA). I'm fair skinned and have to do A LOT of prep and maintenance on the beach in order to remain fair skinned. It hardly seems worth it sometimes. I prefer a pool to the beach.

I am only truly alive when I am at the shore, bouncing in huge waves in the summer, or walking the frigid shore in boots in the winter. I love the smell, the salt in the air, the way the wind whips at the beach grasses, the clear sky, and especially the swimming or snorkeling. I only sat on the sand when my kids were little. Never liked baking in the sun. But we spent mornings and late afternoons making great sand castles or collecting rocks and shells. Fortunately I have been able to convince all my family members that the ocean is the best vacation in the world. Thanks for asking this question. I feel happier for thinking of my favorite place.

We all love it! A beach bag with water or juice, snacks, comfy blanket and sunscreen is key to having a good time. When we plan a day at the beach, we take the umbrella and beach chairs too.

My favorite place on Mother Earth is on a beach.

we live 10 min from the beach. i go with my 7 year olds by myself all the time. i time it though, i am usually there by 9. i always have fruit, water, and sandwiches. we play in the waves (not get into the water completely), eat, make castles. by around 1 pm the beach gets packed so we leave. then the rest of the day is awesome because we are showered, tired, and just want to read or cuddle up.
i have been doing this for years. i can't imagine a more beautiful thing than living close to the beach, granted, wish it were florida because summer in NY is so darn short.
ps for you, i would say you need at least a 2 night trip to the beach, so you're not trying to use the entire time you have. always go early, make sure plenty of fluids and food and you are good

We were at the beach last week and it was a HOT week!
The beach, to me, is always a bit better in theory than in reality.
My enjoyment of the beach has changed over time. Now I'm more a pool/resort preferring mom with beach walks/excursions either early in the a.m. or in the evening, after dinner.
My 8 year old? HATES the sand with a hot hate and always has since he was 6 mos old. He much prefers the pool scene!

I love the beach and my kids do too. But it causes alot of stress and anxiety for us to go because my guys are still little. I have to constantly watch and run after my 2 year old to make sure he doesn't get sucked in by the waves---I would much rather wait til they are older so we can all enjoy it more. I prefer to take them to the pool instead--at least while they are young like this.

M

i live about 20 mins from daytona beach. i go to another area though called ponce inlet. you can't drive where i go so i don't have to worry about the kids. just about everytime we go we see dolphins. also once last year we saw 100's of stingray. they must have been migrating or something. i'm terrified of sharks, so are my kids. so we go to where they can boogey board, and they are loving it. we would probably go everyday if we could. i just hate the sand. :)

I love, love, love the beach and so does my 2 yr old. However, we usually get their by 8am so its not steaming hot yet. We usually leave around 11 just as the weather becomes unbearable.

Until my youngest was 7 ish I hated beaches.
My now 16 yo would not go near the water, my now 13 yo would run towards it. Their older brother was always past the breakers and the baby well, he had to stay in the cabana.
That was 10 years ago.
Now they are able to understand ocean waves and sunburn so I don't have to be as freaked out every second. So now we love to go to the beach.
I still don't like sand though and honestly like to go when it is cooler and in the early mornign to get shark's teeth. I don't swim in the water

We are surrounded by beach.
My kids like pools better.
But they like the beach for playing in the tide pools and fishing.

Many young kids, get scared by the ocean and waves.
They are small, the waves look 'big' and it moves around so much and makes noise... to a little kid, this is a bit unnerving.

LOVE the beach. I was so sad when my youngest was terrified of the ocean. Finally at five he started to enjoy it!

I only love the beach when its not busy. I freaks me out when I am alone with my 3 boys and so many people. We will usually go at night and before and after beach season. I still remember the time my middle son stripped down to his underwear Nov. 1 and ran right in the ocean. This was in Maine

My kids have only been to the beach once but my daughter LOVED it too! My son was too young to remember but I hope we can get back to one soon! I think I would love to live near the beach all the time! I'm over winter and don't need snow to make me happy! ;)

I love it, I grew up 20 minutes from Isle of palms, a pretty beach in South Carolina.I have to be bare foot b/c I can't stand sand in flip flops. My toddler seems to love the idea of the beach. I can't wait to take her back east next summer so she can be on a beach that she can play in. SC's water is like a cooler bath water. It's great to play in. I agree that you should go earlier in the morning OR you drink a ton of water 2 days prior up til the day you go so you will be super hydrated. I'd get a big beach umbrella or borrow one next time if there isn't any shade or go early and then take a lunch break to get indoors for a while then go back out. Sipping Gatorade is a good idea too while your there and some warm water so your body absorbs it faster. I am not a fan of waves crashing in my face, but I just turn around so it hits the back of me if it is up to my head or will get in my face. It is different for them especially the first time going. The salt water, the burning eyes if it gets in them, their nose may have gotten a burning sensation from the salt water. According to my best friend in SC her 3 yr old is not exactly a fan, but is starting to be the more times they go. *sigh* I wanna be a beach bum for a summer :)

We are beach people. Lived in MA for 11 years and spent many weekends on Cape Cod staying with our friends at their cottage and trooping the kids back and forth to the beach. We also have a time share on Block Island (Rhode Island) the first week of August and the beaches are fabulous. We pack up all our beach gear and a cooler with snacks, sandwiches and drinks and make a day of it. My stepsons are now 16 and 17, our daughter is turning 4 and she is already a total beach bunny - she loves playing in the waves, building sand castles, digging holes, and looking for shells. I can't wait to be able to show her how to boogie board!

Well, my youngest is part fish so she LOVES it. My oldest is scared of it and wont go past her knees. I wish I could surf so i could work out in the ocean all summer...Im a little scared of going far, but in an exhilarating way. My husband likes it also, but hes more of a river man and doesnt like the sand, or rust getting near his cars.

We live 45 minutes from Galveston island, we try to get in three beach trips , and two river trips every summer

BTW...the sun can do that to you, gotta stay hydrated and keep up the blood sugar with a snack.

Could have been dehydration... it is actually better to hydrate a lot the day BEFORE you will be sweating/being in the sun/being hot etc. as opposed to drinking because you are thirsty the day of. Of course, you should always have water everyday, but a lot of people don't take this into consideration when they AREN'T outside, hot, and sweaty the day before. Try that next time. An adult should ACTUALLY have 1-2 liters of water in the morning before they consume any foods (also, more water throughout the day) to start proper hydration for the day. (.5 - 1 liter is good for a child...) That may sound crazy, BUT it only does because most people don't drink enough water. I should know. I was in the hospital for being severely dehydrated four months ago(it is actually quite painful, and your body shuts down- I couldn't breathe, and it WASN'T hot, and I wasn't being overly active or anything!). After that, I wised up on water intake!

To answer your question... The ocean beach is my heaven. I totally love it. and I'm big into water in general. I could swim underwater all day (coming up for breaths of course!) The beach literally will always be my favorite place. I enjoy taking my kids there, but having my four kids aged 2-7 there can be hectic! Still love it, though. I don't know why we don't live closer to one!

My son loves the beach. I am in AZ so he doesn't get to see one that often. The first time we took him ( he was 2 1/2) to one in NY he wouldn't walk on the sand, and forget about the ocean. The next time we went (4 1/2) we couldn't get him out of the water and he LOVED digging in the sand. We took him to CA this year and it was the same thing- digging in the sand, loved the water and didn't want to go home!

We all love it! I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old and they have a blast. My 5 year old will snorkel for HOURS -sooooooo (wonderfully) tiring ;-) The 2 year old is still easing into the whole water thing -no matter what kind of water it is, so he primarily hangs out and plays in the sand or at the edge where the waves crash and run up to you.

We love the beach!
Since we live 30 min from it, it's easy to visit when ever we want when the weather is nice.
I like getting there early as possible then leaving when it starts to get crowded.
The waves can be rough sometimes, but we like building sand castles too.
We always bring plenty of cold water to drink.
If you are not in the water all the time, be sure to wear hats or something on your heads to keep some of the heat off.
A wet bandanna can really help keep you a lot cooler.
I keep some pocket kites on hand and we send them up if the wind is right.
We like watching the birds, crabs and dolphins, too.
There's lots to do at the beach!

I am afraid of the ocean, after having my butt kicked by some big waves that slammed me into some rocks while attempting to snorkel in San Diego. I do not do well with big waves, but I hope I can get over it and let my kids enjoy it when they are a bit older. For now I will stick with our freshwater beaches in the Midwest. The waves on Lake Michigan are rarely as big as ocean waves, so it is kinda like swimming in a quiet lagoon, and it doesn't hurt to open your eyes underwater.

One thing that I do to combat the heat on the beach here in FL is make sure I have a nice size beach umbrella, a cooler with lots of cold drinks and paper towels that I can wet with the cold water, snacks and lunch. And we take lots of breaks under the umbrella for a drink and rest. When my kids and I go we typically will stay for several hours.

I invested in a super cheap waterproof watch so I can keep track of time so I can reapply sunblock and get them drinks. Works great!

They love the beach but not the waves. They are 2 and 5. They won't get in the water w/us even if we are carrying them b/c they are too frigtened. They love getting their feet/legs wet and digging in the sand though. Hopefully they will grow out of their fear when they get older.

My kids and I love the beach, hubby likes it for a few days then he is done.
Next time you go, make sure to take water with you the you can stay longer with out feeling sick. When we go to San Diego, we usually get to the beach late morning, but we bring lunch and a cooler of drinks with us, and stay till 3 or 4.

We're 20 minutes from the beach and the kids love it. They aren't always excited about getting ready or cleaning up after, lol, but they love the sand and the water.

I am okay about it... I like to walk at the water's edge, and that is hard when the kids want to be IN the water the whole time. I mean long walks looking for shark's teeth type walking... not just standing there. So I tend to take a chair and sit and watch the kids or read. I try to be minimalist when we go--- a shoulder cold bag with water bottles and a couple packs of crackers, a chair, their boogie boards, and a couple of towels in the car (plus one on the beach for wiping eyes if needed).

ooohhhh sounds like you got HYPERthermia - just because you were in the water, doesn't mean your body was able to cool off...at the beach you need plenty of water and shade too....it can be SOOO much fun...but the sun and water can truly drain you....

My boys have ONLY been a California beach...they have been on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay and have seen jelly fish (we caught it in the net)...

So I guess I can't say "love it or hate it" - I grew up in Hawaii so I was at the beach every day it seemed like....then we lived in Southern California (San Diego and then Los Angeles) so I went to the beach a lot - even though we had a pool in our back yard.....

What I don't miss any more about the beach? The sand...while I love laying in the sand....I don't miss it getting EVERYWHERE!! :)

I would like to do a East Coast beach trip with our kids...we will....then I'll tell you what I think!!

LOVES IT. We live 8 hours from the nearest beach. DS went his first time at 5 months. He has been at least 3 times a year every year since then. Otherwise his parents would suffer severe ocean withdrawal symptoms and be forced to sell their house and move closer to an ocean.

I am not necessarily a beach person but I do go because my son loves it! However, like your 4yo he is petrified of the waves. But the last time we went my husband came along and was holding him in the water as the waves were crashing against us. and he LOVED it! Kept asking to go back in the water. We all had a really nice time. I grew up in Michigan, but it was more about lakes and boats, then beaches and ocean. But now living 15-20 from the ocean, I think it is something I will grow to love. But really maybe like 5 times a summer.

My husband and I love the beach. For us, there isnt anywhere we'd rather be. Its so calming, and relaxing. We go at least once a year. We just went a few months ago and it was wonderful. It was our son's first time, we went down to the Oregon Coast and drove down and saw all the great sites. Our son just loved the beach, and the sand, and the water. He was running faster then we could catch him lol. We all had a blast.

I wish we were there now!

LOVE IT! Don't get there near as often as I'd like tho : (
We went to Virginia Beach last year and the kids loved it! DD, 3, preferred playing in the sand after a big wave knocked down M. while holding her, LOL! Could not get DS, age 7, out of the water! We had a great time! I love the beach! The feeling of my feet in the sand - Ahhhh, paradise!
Kids have been to Lake Erie a few times - we'll be heading up there next week- and they have a blast but for me it's not quite the same. When we got to go on vaction while growing up it was usually spent somewhere on the gulf coast of Florida. I can't wait to take the kids there! I just love to walk on the sand and look out over the water it's just an awesome feeling and I feel so peaceful!
So glad you posted this! Also grateful for the advice on what to pack that so many people have commented with. Will definitely use some of the tips when we head to Lake Erie next week!

Love, Love, LOVE the ocean!!! We took two trips this summer; North Myrtle Beach and Ocean City, MD. The kids just loved it too. My three year old would be down on the beach 24 hours a day if I let her!
I am extremely fair skinned and burn VERY easily. I bring a pop up canopy to the beach, and it is crazy how much cooler it is under there! We would bring a cooler down the beach with us and have it full of cold drinks and snacks for the kids (oranges and grapes to help them stay hydrated, pudding, etc) and that would give us an excuse to get the kids in the shade for a bit. I can't WAIT till next summer!

The beach is the happiest place on earth for me and my family and many friends! We go from 10am and stay til almost 8pm. Not one kid complains they are bored or asks to leave...kids range from toddlers to teens. Nothing like it...swimming, body surfing, boogie boarding, watching dolphins, digging for sand crabs, sand castles...

I live in Minnesota so our beaches are lakes, not ocean. The first time I saw an ocean, I was 35... But I love the beach. We live across the street from a lake and were there again today. My daughter loves water of any kind.

I live less than a mile from the beach, so, yes, I love it.

Lack of water, food, shade, and fun are the common culprits that ruin a beach day. So, here are my beach must-haves. The amount I bring depends on how long I plan to stay: First, bring hydration and drink it often. And hey, no need to worry about bathroom breaks - you have the ocean right there ;). Second, bring snacks and eat often - chips, PBJ sandwiches, and fruit are sufficient. Third, bring shade (like the rain fly of a tent or umbrella), cover ups, sunglasses AND sunscreen. Fourth, bring activities for water and sand - frisbee and shovel/bucket.

And know that I often see people visit the beach and their children are crying and upset because they are afraid of the waves and/or the sand. This is normal if they have never seen it before. :)

My 2 year old is going through a phase right now where she is scared of it. ;) She used to love it. We live minutes away from the beach, but only go in the late afternoon or evening because we are all very fair complected and don't want to deal with the heat and sunburns. I love the beach at night, so peaceful!!

Live at and love the beach. So does my daughter. She is a cautious sort and loves to play and run away from waves.

But growing up here, it is easy for me to pack for the beach and preparation is key to enjoyment. I bring cooler with fruits and cold water and make my daughter drink even when she doesn't necessarily feel thirsty. Also, I bring an umbrella every time. I reapply sunscreen at least every hour.

I've been dehydrated at the beach before and it is miserable!

Can't get enough of it. I was born at the beach. My grandparents surfed and were lifesavers, my mom was a beach babe and my dad was a surfer and lifeguard. We go to the beach summer and winter. All my children love it. My eldest is learning to surf this summer. The other two are making do with boogie boards.