Travel Thread

[nocera]

So when you go to the beach..do you just sit there all day? I feel like that is what my wife is going to want to do when we go to Ocean City this weekend. I guess I could just load up some podcasts and try to relax, but I feel I'm going to be bored out of my mind haha.

I love a beach vacation but my actual beach time is limited to a few hours per day. Like you, I get bored really quickly. I also hate getting burned, which for me is inevitable when spending a good amount of time in the sun. So we typically get up early, spend a few hours on the beach before the sun gets too bad, head back and eat some lunch then go do fun **** like the boardwalk or find a bar.

[DigitalGypsy66]

We started shifting our beach time - when we lived away from the beach and it was a vacation - to a few hours at night. We'd do museums/tours/minaiture golf/whatever in the morning/early afternoon, late lunch, and then out to the beach from 5-8 or so. Not as crowded, not as hot, fewer bugs, etc. I swim and play with the kids, usually throwing a baseball or football.

Now that we live near the beach, we just head out after dinner for a couple of hours. It's great to just keep beach chairs in the car again lol.

What's funny, is that I work with a bunch of people from other places that usually travel down here to go on vacation: Ohio, New Jersey, Pittsburgh etc. We're in peak vacation season, and most of my co-workers are going back home FROM the beach to visit family, instead of going TO the beach for vacation. One dude is driving to Ohio for two weeks with to stay with various family. Ew.

[skullman80]

So when you go to the beach..do you just sit there all day? I feel like that is what my wife is going to want to do when we go to Ocean City this weekend. I guess I could just load up some podcasts and try to relax, but I feel I'm going to be bored out of my mind haha.

I love a beach vacation but my actual beach time is limited to a few hours per day. Like you, I get bored really quickly. I also hate getting burned, which for me is inevitable when spending a good amount of time in the sun. So we typically get up early, spend a few hours on the beach before the sun gets too bad, head back and eat some lunch then go do fun **** like the boardwalk or find a bar.

Makes sense. I just think my wife doesn't want to do anything crazy. When we went to Hawaii she complained that we didn't get time to just relax on the beach and we were always hiking, or doing other crazy things.

I promised her I would try to be more relaxed this trip, but it's hard for me to just sit around. I've found some cool things to do and places to go (boardwalk, lots of mini golf, theme park etc)..so hopefully we can find a happy medium.

[skullman80]

I also burn like crazy. I am pasty pale white, and I put on like spf 75 and still get burned ha.

[NTP66]

Sunset time is the best beach time if you don't intend to go into the water, IMO.

[NTP66]

Source of the post When we went to Hawaii she complained that we didn't get time to just relax on the beach and we were always hiking, or doing other crazy things.

The people who flying around the globe to just sit on the beach? Crazy. I applaud you for experiencing Hawaii the way it was meant to be experienced.

[nocera]

I'd invest in a solid umbrella or canopy and pick up a few books. Happy wife n'at.

[skullman80]

In any event I hope to just be able to disconnect from things for a while. Everything work is going on silent (including slack) when I put up my out of office this afternoon.

[skullman80]

I'd invest in a solid umbrella or canopy and pick up a few books. Happy wife n'at.

She is taking her kindle and she has tons of stuff loaded on there, plus normal books too. I think she will have plenty to keep her occupied for hours at a time.

Hopefully podcasts and things like that will do the trick for me...we shall see. I do have some actual books that I have been wanting to read as well.

[skullman80]

Sunset time is the best beach time if you don't intend to go into the water, IMO.

[dodint]

So when you go to the beach..do you just sit there all day? I feel like that is what my wife is going to want to do when we go to Ocean City this weekend. I guess I could just load up some podcasts and try to relax, but I feel I'm going to be bored out of my mind haha.

We lived at the beach (literally over the dune line) for a few summers and developed our own routine. We go later in the day, after 3pm. You skip the heat of the day and the tourists start packing up. I alternate between swimming, reading a book and/or napping, and toss in the occasional walk. We pack up by 6pm and take off. Do that 2-3 times during the trip and it's much more fun than getting there mid-day and staying for 6-8 hours.

[skullman80]

Good stuff. All the advice helps.

[dodint]

For anyone going to beach and desiring shade, these are new and quite frankly are pretty awesome: https://shibumishade.com/



My buddy had one when we took the boat out to the sandbar last month. It was developed by some college kids in NC and now they're everywhere down there. It's basically a tent pole with a sail, super simple. The cool thing about them is they work with the breeze to provide shade, they don't fight the wind like an umbrella.

I thought they were a niche product when my buddy set his up. But then we drove by the swim beach at mid-day and they were everywhere.

[NTP66]

That looks awesome.

[DigitalGypsy66]

Just going to post that. With many municipalities banning tents and large umbrellas, these seem to be legal. But at $250, I would check with where you are staying before buying one.

[dodint]

Yeah, I'm not making a commission on it or anything but I thought it was brilliant and meant to post it here when I got back but forgot about it until now.

[Morkle]

I ended up getting a Cool Cabana. Lightweight canopy that uses sand instead of tie downs.

[nocera]

[DigitalGypsy66]

That was the other thing about going out to the beach later: not having to fight with the kids about sunscreen. Huge win imo.

[NTP66]

DG would know for sure, but I bet there are places that you could rent those from for the day/week.

[NTP66]

That was the other thing about going out to the beach later: not having to fight with the kids about sunscreen. Huge win imo.

My daughter is not a fan of putting on sunscreen every time you step outside in Maui.

I went through nearly an entire bottle myself in two weeks.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

I booked a flight to Clearwater in February. I plan on living the life described in cheesy country songs for four days.

[Morkle]

In regards to going to the beach and relaxing. My mentality has changed with a toddler in the picture, he'll be up and down in and out of the ocean and playing in the sand. I'll probably be right with him, but prior to that I never used to like being at the beach for long. I'd sit by the water for a bit, sit under the canopy shade, drink a few beers, and call it a day.

[NTP66]

Also, don't forget your flags.

[CBear3]

Also, don't forget your flags.

My Sister & their best friends created their own crest and everything to fly at the beach. I thought it was silly my first time out until I tried to find them after a few drinks.