Why do you like going to the beach?

[ironeddie]

I saw a question about what people are going to wear on the beach.

It got me thinking.

What is it with people's fascination about going to the beach? I don't get it.

Personally you couldn't pay me enough to go there.

There may be 10 things I will never do in my lifetime (by choice). And going to the beach would be in the top 2. Actually it would be #1.

So tell me people. What's the big deal?

Updates

+1 y

Oh. by the way I'm not asking this because I'm an old fart. I'm an old fart for a myriad of other reasons.

I'm serious I've never understood this beach thing. Even in my teens, 20's. whatever. I never had a desire to go.

[SteelyMcBeam]

I grew up as a child near beaches. There is a lot of nostalgia with the salty air and strong winds. Whenever winter ends and spring begins (and it feels like spring/early summer) I ALWAYS think about visiting the beach again.

The warm sun feels nice on the body, the hot sand is a good feeling between the feet (though it can burn too much after awhile).

The ocean looks cool as hell to just observe (maybe while eating a corn dog or something, too).

You can see women walk around in essentially underwear in public. Where else can the common man see such a sight?

If you have a nice body, women might actually compliment you! If you have an average body, but are in a cool pose -WOMEN MIGHT ACTUALLY COMPLIMENT YOU! =D

If you are at a white sandy beach, you can see your footprints perfectly in the wet sand. If you are near a rocky outcropped beach, you can climb and explore rocky structures and find crabs and other weird animals skittering about.

If you are at the right places, you can go fishing for saltwater fish!

I have never been surfing but I still want to try!

The beach is one of the best places to fly a kite because the winds are so damn strong. You can also go hang-gliding at some beaches and an adventurous, semi-suicidal part of me wants to try that as well!

It's hard to be too noisy at the beach unless you are blasting concert music at spring break. The sound of the wind, ocean, and seagulls tends to drown out everything else.

At some beaches you can walk around nude. I have never done this, but a YOLO part of me wants to try.

[SteelyMcBeam]

If I can land a job that requires me to move, I hope it will be at a place that is not too far from a warm, useable beach. Because, while they might be overrated and I might just be nostalgic, I keep wanting to go back to the beach.

Also, I am sick of winter. I love snowfall for about two weeks; any longer is horrible. When you say beach, I think of a warm beach that has lows of mid-high 60s Fahrenheit -so not cold beaches!

[Jonny_]

I don't get it, especially people who go on holidays to sit on a beach... I can't stand the sun (I'm so pale I burn in about five minutes of mild sunlight). Walking down the sand on a cool day with good cloud cover is ok if the beach is quiet but thats more for the walk than the whole beach thing.

[NightBlindness]

Not going to a lie, I may be 21 but I love building sandcastles at the beach or doing sand art. Personally I find it fun, relaxing and just a way to get out and away from my usual routine.

Plus you can find and see some awesome things at the beach and I've been to some pretty amazing beach parties... I don't know, I find that everyone seems to be more laid back and relaxed at the beach, it's like everything that kept them wound up and whatever has been forgotten and people laugh more, have fun and just genuinely have a good time.

The way you feel about the beach, I feel the same for hill walking or cross country cycling. But I have friends that feel more 'free' doing one of those than going to the beach.

At the end of the day it's just down to personal preference and what people feel more relaxed doing

[NightBlindness]

Thanks for BA :)

[Ericka]

I love building sandcastles too or just digging a really deep hole until you it water. I live 4 blocks away from a lake which is great but 7 years ago our sand started to diminish and now it's nonexistent so no more sandcastles. The only reason I go down there now is to jump in the water to cool off quickly or because my family made me go.

[IGuessWeHaveAMess93]

I live year round at an increasingly touristy beach spot. I love it 8 months out of the year. During the late spring and summer months, nope, hate it. One its too crowded and two its too humid and hot. But man, when its a little cooler and tourist season is over and empty out there, its humbling to feel how small you feel. But I digress from that aspect. Coming from tourists, its a change of scenery, the hype is built perfectly around going to the beach (Think Toes, by Zac Brown Band), getting off from work/school for a week, and eating some nice "fresh" (no its not, 90% still frozen) seafood. I'm sure there's some sexuality to it too, if you want to go in that direction. I guess thats what draws tourists there.

[justbanANNAz]

because I'm a mermaid:) ever since i was young iv loved the water, and iv been to the beach many times. some of the earliest things i remember were at the beach.

wow.. y dont u like the beach? u scared of being eaten by a shark? hate sand in ur buttcrack?

i just love it all. fun aside, its a beautiful part of nature. u just look out and it doesn't end. u hear the waves crash onto the shore. u hear seagulls [do y'all have those, how annoying r they?], u smell the saltwater… PLUS the sun on ur skin warming u up PLUS a gentle breeze PLUS eating ice-cream:P….. like as if life is not complete in that very moment lol

[ironeddie]

LOL! No I've got nothing against sand or sharks. Mind you I'm nowhere near the ocean. But there are lakes...with minnows in them. ;-) And I do know how to swim.

[justbanANNAz]

haha im messing around=] lakes? haha well the ocean is like 1.5hrs away from my house:) and thank goodness for that, sharks can't get u then:)

[EyeSeaYew]

Beaches are okay to me. I don't understand all the hype about them at all. Going swimming in a pool is as equally satisfying as going to the beach, to me. All I do at the beach is swim, which is the same thing I do at a pool. The added benefit of the pool is that I know the exact depth of it and there are no waves.

The beach is very beautiful to look at at night, though. The waves get so huge and crash up to shore, and the moon looks beautiful upon it. I do not view the beach as anything more than nice change of scenery.

[ninetynine]

I see the beach (specifically Ocean City, Maryland) as like, the epitome of fun and relaxation.

While lying down on the warm/soft sand, I love to people-watch, joke with friends, play cards, listen to music, and feel the sun tan my skin and my body sweat off calories. So relaxing.

And then it’s like, when we inevitably start to feel really effin' hot, we’re able to descend ourselves into the cool, refreshing water, and mess around/jump the waves. Good vibes all around.

I also love walking on the boardwalk at night -- it's always really alive and crowded. It's fun to browse through all the shops, maybe grab something to eat, go on rides, and possibly (more like hopefully) meet cute guys.

I only get to go a few times every summer, since I live kinda far. Even though I'd love to be able to go more, I'm kinda thankful for living far -- going to the beach all the time would make it much less of a special/exciting trip.

[sirspauldo]

OC MD is too trashy and crowded :/

[Daph81]

Beats me...

I mean, I like going to the beach if it's quiet and not crowded, and I can just lie down on one of those long chairs/beds, stay under the shadow of a tree, enjoy the scenery and the wind, a cold drink, and read a book, maybe even fall asleep to the sound of the waves.

But I would never be able to enjoy myself at a beach where there are 500 screaming kids and teenagers. It's like a bikini fashion show or something, a hunting ground for people to check each other out. It's like the clubs suddenly moved to the beach. I don't like that. I want to relax, I'm not there to watch people hunt for the opposite sex...

[LauraMarx]

Swimming!!! Swimming is fun! Also, sun & stuff. I enjoy all that.

I mean, I come from a country where you're never more than 30 minutes away from the beach, so its kinda a big part of life here. But, we don't have a beach culture like, say, California's bay area or Australia's coasts, cuz it's a very cold country. So you don't swim a lot, and never sunbathe lol, but people always take their dogs out & stuff.

But as for places like that, there is a beach culture!! There's a whole thing about beaches. It's a place people go & like, I don't know, it's a social site. You go and meet people and wear next to no clothes and drink beer and eat hot dogs and get eaten by sharks. Class!

[DragonWolf]

I love wather, and I also think it looks beautiful :)

check out this pic:
upload.wikimedia.org/.../...ch_-_Savai'i,_2007.jpg

Looks pretty awesome to me ;)

[DragonWolf]

oh and in movies you always see the sunset and stuff really good, so it would also be awesome for me to see it like that :)

[ironeddie]

Very nice.

[Prettygurl12]

I like the beach. I like the warm sand and I like swimming in the lake - Lake Michigan, just so you know. Plus at my beach there's a lot to do. There's an ice cream place and lots of walking space and if you go inland a bit there are stores - not that I shop ever - I don't.

Plus it's an opportunity for me to get tan and I like getting tan. And wearing my bikini.

[ironeddie]

Lake Michigan is clean enough to swim in?
I ask because I'm about 20 min. from Lake Ontario. And unless you want your skin and bones to dissolve it best not to go in. LOL

[Prettygurl12]

Lake Michigan is an awesome lake to swim in. Perfectly safe and clean. Minus that one time of year when like all the fish die after spawning or something and wash up. Then I guess it's still safe but kind of really freaking gross lol

[bubbiexo]

I loooove Lake Michigan. :D it's within a couple hours of my home and even though it's freezing a love it. Where do you love at? My favorite part on the lake is probably in Ludington.

[bubbiexo]

live at**

[Prettygurl12]

I've been to Ludington. I'm a 20 minute drive from the beach.

[bubbiexo]

That's awesome. I'm jealous!! Personally I like Lake Huron the best, but usually only in Oscoda because it's pretty much the only part on the water that's sandy.

[Dovahbear]

I will give you ten good reasons
1) Frolicking in the water is fun
2) Sound of the waves crashing towards the shore is soothing
3) Building Sandcastles
4) long walks, runs, flying kites
5) Sex on the beach
6) You're having fun because you're not at work.
7) Beach Sports like Surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, water skiing, and a lot more activities are awesome.
8) Who doesn't want to see a great body now and then?
9) Watching a beautiful sunset below the horizon or sunrise above the horizon.
10) Vitamin - d (Although i'm not a big fan of the sun and don't really understand why people would go to the beach to tan in the hot sun by sitting on those loungers instead of bobbing in the water which makes the sun bearable.

[Dovahbear]

And yes, crowded beaches aren't that nice. I prefer beaches which are less crowded and secluded because it's more peaceful and soothing.

[harakiri]

I love the sound of the waves, how they just thunder down with so much force. Ebb and flow. The sound of all of the water trickling back. I love how wet sand feels. Seaglass. Seashells. How sometimes an errant piece of seaweed will wrap around one of my ankles and freak me out. I love the smell.

What I don't love are the people. I'd rather have it all to myself.

[Azara]

its too hot and there's little shade too many people and I've never lived close so its always a hassle getting there.

if i lived on one id like it i can go early before anyone is there and late after they've left and have bon fires..

but as os its too commercially. blech.

[cavmanier]

The beauty, nature, sea life, girls, the smell, the sky, take pictures mainly. I use to surf years ago. You sound jealous though: P in a resentful, deprived way. It's just beautiful. www.kron4.com/.../marin.jpg https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images? q=tbn:ANd9GcSHUMDICpDxHwpn5nSiMEvdzItXgcJZT09wSWriHfdIJhSPOqlF

[ironeddie]

No I'm not jealous at all. It's a choice I made. If I want to or wanted to change that. I'm less than 20 minutes from a lake

[cavmanier]

It's like going to a nice park I would say. If you haven't been I would think it's worth checking out if you're open.

[Hans222]

I think it's the sound of the sea. It calms you down.
The fact that the wind is more powerful on the beach also plays, it gives a refreshing feeling.
And, generally the air near the sea is cleaner. Nice to get away from the pollution typical to cities!

[springocelot]

For me it depends on the beach. If the water is really cold, sand is rocky, and beach is really crowded I don't care.

But I love warm sandy beaches. I love hearing the ebb and flow of waves. I love the squishiness of sand under my feet, especially if soft waves roll over them. I like seeing seashells. Snorkeling is fun too.

[Hipsterusername]

I live in San Francisco so the beaches here suck. Super windy and water is freezing. I don't like beaches here in the slightest. But I've been to Hawaii 3 times and I cannot get enough of the beaches there. I love bringing my snorkel and looking at the little colorful fish and even if there isn't any fish I just love looking at the ocean floor. And the water is nice and lukewarm, perfect for floating around and soaking up the sun.

[questioner1991]

lol I went to SF thinking that I was going to get to swim and have so much fun at the beach...Boy was I wrong.

[Hipsterusername]

Haha yeah it's no fun. Only crazy people get in the water without a wetsuit

[musicbrain5]

We don't have beaches where I live, unfortunately. I mean like REAL fucking beaches, not to mention we also lack good year-round beach weather. I loved the beaches in California, and more specifically when I stepped into the Pacific and looked out at the vastness of the ocean. It was a really metaphysical experience for me. That's the best explanation I can give about why I love the beach.

[DodgersGM]

The beach is just my happy place. Anytime I need to calm down, or pick myself up, or just get out of my own head, it's the perfect place for me to go.

There's something unique about the entire sensory experience there that you just can't get somewhere else. It might sounds cheesy, but the ocean breeze, and the mist in the air from the crashing waves coupled with the soothing sound of the water breaking on the shore, plus the smell of the salty ocean air. It's just...heavenly. I love it!

[Shyguy_1988]

I don't go to the beach all that often, but when I do go I normally enjoy it. I like body surfing, riding waves in, the unquie smell and atmosphere. I am more of a tree and woods, lake man though, I love the hiking, forests and all that stuff, much more visually appealing to me.

[queen-b]

For me , i love the sea ,

I just love the waves

But i love the beach even more in the winter,
I do go to the beach in winter ,

Im a dreamer , so i go in a cold night, when the stars are shining and the wind is blowing and the sound of the waves in my ears ,

[bubbiexo]

I just like it... Sun, sand, water... Probably because I have such positive associations with the beach.
It just reminds me of summer, bonfires, and swimming. I love all of those things :P I'm fortunate enough to be from the Great Lake State so there are tons of options :)

[Anonymous]

I like the beach cause there is attractive women there , I also get a kick out of seeing all the tattoo's and piercings on them these days , it seems like every girl has a tattoo and belly button piercing these days at beach
I also like to go swimming and enjoy being in the water

[TheGoodTheBadTheHOT]

Im actually the same as you. The one exception was a beach in the Dominican republic, it was downright beautiful and I loved spending time there.

Other than that, I don't see the point of going to the beach unless you have a dog that loves it. It generally smells, and in Scotland its always wet and generally shit.