What do you do at the beach for a week?

[Belle5]

As a family, we seem to be happy at the beach for about a day (playing in the waves, making sandcastles, etc.) What do people do for a whole week at the beach? We have sons 23, 21, 19 17, 12 and 6. I have already thought about the boogie boarding thing for them--they have never done that because we have never been "beach people".

We are considering a spending a week on a Florida beach when college classes end in May. The truth is we are supposed to go to WDW (already have the airline tickets) but because of $$, we are considering using the airfare but having a much cheaper vacation somewhere in Florida.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

We're going to Carolina Beach in NC for a week at the end of June. My bf has free points to stay there so we're just paying for food and activities. I can only take so much of hanging out at a beach (as I have plenty of those around where I live) so I've planned one day of true beach fun with boogie boards (as we both love boogie boards). The other days are being spent as follows:

*golf one day/afternoon
*driving to Myrtle Beach for the day one day for shopping/touring (I love Myrtle Beach!) and lunch/dinner there
*kayaking tour another day
*sunset cruise on a yacht (this is actually pretty cheap as they put you with other people)
*On Thursday nights they have fireworks/band out on the beach so we'll do that too
*Spa day with couples massage (this is more for me )
*Carriage tour ride in local Wilmington
*Parasailing another day

This is all I have planned so far and I figure on the days where we have activities that only last 1-2 hours we'll play the rest of the day by ear (and got to love those vacation naps! ). I feel like I waste my vacation if I just lay around on the beach every day so I think this is a good mix of being able to see the local area and relax.

Florida beaches vary greatly (from desolate to very touristy) so I think the amount of activities would really depend on what beach. I LOVE Clearwater and the Tampa area for activities and beautiful beaches! You could even venture down to the Everglades and go for boat tours and bogging tours. Try looking at the city/county's website where the beach you're interested in going to is located. I found a lot of activities by googling the beach or looking at the city/county website as they want to help tourists spend their money/time there (even if they have free activities they'll list them as they want you to stay in that area)!

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Do you have any idea what area beach you might be going to? We like the Destin area. We usually are out in the water/beach most of the day. We take or buy big kites that the kids like to fly on the beach. Play in the sand and waves. Most areas have putt putt, and other family type activities for in the evening. If you get a condo you can bbq at night for dinner and play games. I find it the most laid back of all the vacations we take.

 

[mrsklamc]

Neverlandclub 23-

We stayed at Kure Beach which is just south of Carolina Beach. There was a nice aquarium there too at the civil war site- If you are interested there is a post in my (sorely neglected) blog linked below.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

We are definitely beach people! In my previous marriage, when I was a SAHM, the kids & I went to the beach for 2 weeks at a time at HHI. When my youngest was small I took our babysitter, who was much more help than a husband ever hoped to be. My current (and last, and favorite) husband's aunt has a house at Jekyll, so now we go there.

To begin with, we want comfort. So we bring 2 big beach umbrellas, beach chairs, lots of towels, & a king size quilt for sunbathing. All this fits into a thing called a Wonder Wheeler - kind of like those things at Kohl's, but bigger. Also in the wonder wheeler we have a cooler with snacks & drinks, boogie boards, noodles, rings, etc. for floating, heck, we even have a blow up raft and paddles. We bring books & sand toys & watercolors to paint on each other if the mood strikes (LOTS of fun) and OMG I almost forgot - kites. We have several kites that are a blast at the beach. We people watch, look at boats passing by, walk up & down the beach looking at shells and whatever else the tide has brought in , chat . . . it's like an all-day picnic I guess.

We also bring our bikes for exploring the island, and a badminton set to keep the kids occupied if necessary.

We love this kind of beach vacation. If it rains, we'll go to the movies, and we usually go out to eat 2-3 times. Other families go to the beach & play golf, shop, etc. but we just hang out at the beach.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Neverlandclub 23-

We stayed at Kure Beach which is just south of Carolina Beach. There was a nice aquarium there too at the civil war site- If you are interested there is a post in my (sorely neglected) blog linked below.

Thank you!! I'll check it out. My bf LOVES aquariums so I'm sure he'd love to go there.

 

[2TxAgs]

Ha Ha Belle5 - it must be a Texas thing, cuz I always wonder the same thing myself! What do people DO at the beach all day, for several days at a time? We've been to Galveston before, but only for a day. I'll be following this thread for more tips.

TxAg

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

This is exactly the reason we are going back to Disney over Memorial Day Weekend, becuase I would go nuts at the beach and we are only going somewhere for 4 days. It is only Dh and I. Disney worked out to be less expensive anyway.

Suzanne

 

[Belle5]

Ha Ha Belle5 - it must be a Texas thing, cuz I always wonder the same thing myself! What do people DO at the beach all day, for several days at a time? We've been to Galveston before, but only for a day. I'll be following this thread for more tips.

TxAg

I have 2 Texas Aggies, myself--both seniors. We have done the Padre thing and Galveston thing a couple of times. We have also driven over to Clearwater a couple of times for the day. My DH thinks everyone will be bored to tears...none of us know how to sit still (unless we're on the computer)! That is why WDW has always suited us so well--always something to do!

Neverland 23 has a great looking activity sheet...the problem is--that would be more costly for us than WDW!

Disneycrazymom, we will go to a beach near Clearwater to make the best use of our airfare to Orlando.

Mrs. Bradbury, you make the beach sound fun--more for the younger set--but still fun. I think the older kids would like the boogie boarding...

Princess Suzanne--I understand--your family is more like ours...

 

[mster425]

We use our beach trips to totally unplug and unwind. While at Disney we are "go, go, go" and burning a lot of energy and stress that way, the beach is just enjoying the lack of obligations. For us.

We love waking up when we want, grabbing whatever we're reading and heading to the beach. When we get bored with the beach (which we will after an hour or two, some days) we grab something to eat, walk on the boardwalk, play board games, watch TV, play mini-golf, get caramel popcorn, play games at the arcade, ride bikes, go to the movies. . . maybe even a surfing lesson for the older kids so they have something to practice and improve throughout the week.

Last year we did part Disney first and beach second. It was hard to enjoy the beach time because we were used to being so stimulated at Disney. So if you've never been on a beach vacay it might take some adjusting to get used to the slower pace Have fun, whatever you decide to do!!

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

Have you considered going to the *other* parks in/near Orlando? Because their ticket prices can't be beat, and there is plenty of cheap lodging in the area. We love WDW, but I wouldn't mind going over to the Dark Side. I will definitely go when the HP attraction opens!

 

[eh24fan]

We live near the beaches in Delaware, so we usually head down once a week for the day but we used to spend 2 weeks in Rehoboth each year when I was a kid. Generally speaking, we take sand toys, lots of towels, our chairs, a big sheet for sunbathing, books to read, crosswords, iPod, snacks, drinks, pack a lunch, walk the beach, play in the waves, build sandcastles, dig moats, etc.

When we stayed at the beach we would go ON the beach fairly early in the morning, leave when it got too hot after lunch, go back to the condo, change, shower, relax then either make dinner or go out for dinner. In the evenings we'd go down on the boardwalk and ride the rides, play games, play mini golf, or just walk and people watch. Some mornings instead of going on the beach we'd rent bikes and ride the boardwalk, ride around town, etc. I LOVED our beach vacations. Unfortunately, the apartment we used to rent doubled their price one year and that was the end of that. It was an affordable vacation prior to that because we didn't eat out much or do things that required much money.

 

[punkin]

I used to live a 5 minute walk from the beach and my typical summer day consisted of feeding the girls and heading to the beach before 9 am. We swam, played in the sand, made new friends until 11:30 am when we went home for lunch. After lunch I would do household things until about 3:30 when we would go back to the beach until 5 or so. I would then come home and make dinner.

Now, when we vacation at he beach my routine is pretty much the same except we sometimes go out for dinner and nap or read instead of doing housework.

We are very lazy on beach vacations.

 

[puffkin]

We are not beach people at all. A day or two, fine, but after that we are not happy campers! Have you priced out some cruises leaving from Florida? You might be able to find some great deals....and if you don't drink or do many excursions, your cost per day is really cheap. Also, the prices for the other parks is really cheap compared to Disney. There are a ton of reasonably priced houses/hotels around there.

Oh, that is another idea. Have you looked at renting a house? They are dirt cheap and they come with tons of amenities. I know Windsor Hills has an awesome pool area and community center...plus the houses have pools and game rooms and stuff. You could maybe do a beach day or two.

Just throwing out some ideas....I would be MISERABLE at the beach for more than a weekend!

 

[Belle5]

I would be MISERABLE at the beach for more than a weekend!

That's what concerns me about our family...

 

[puffkin]

Just saw you have 6 sons....seriously look into a cruise! That way all the food is included in the price! I am sure you can spend tons of money on just that!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

Neverland 23 has a great looking activity sheet...the problem is--that would be more costly for us than WDW!

I know! My bf is a little anti-Disney so he wanted to go somewhere else this year. I told him the other day that after all of these activities/meals I've planned we could've had a nice vacation to WDW! I second the cruise idea too. You can usually find pretty cheap cruises leaving from FL and there's something for everyone on a cruise (and it's all included!).

 

[XYSRUS]

Holla! Long Beach Island, New Jersey fan here. For a week at the beach we...Go to the beach...boogie board, lay out, build sand castles, chase seagulls, get ice cream, We get ice cream and fudge every night, we go to the water park, we go para sailing, we go to the children's theater, we go out to eat at some nice restaurants, we have "no beef week"-all seafood-lobster, crab, mussels, flounder and tons of shrimp, we rent a boat and go crabbing, we climb the lighthouse (done that pregnant with a baby on my back!), we go biking, we take walks on the beach at nigh(not to be missed), we people watch, we shop a little, we go to Fantasy Island for the little kids and the arcade for everyone! we go out for breakfast, we swim in the bay...I could go on forever....I love beach vacations!

 

[twinnersmama]

I LOVE beach vacations ! We rent a house right on the beach, so there's no hassle running back to the house for a drink, etc. In the early morning, we take a walk, come back have a small snack and head to the beach. Build sand castles, look for sea shells, people watch, swim,boogie board, soak up the sun ... head back to the house late afternoon for lunch ... then back to the beach until we've had enough sun for the day. Then go inside and clean up for dinner -- either in or out.
There are tons of things to see/ do at most beaches. Some have nightly entertainment (free), browse in the shops, ...

I feel like a week at the beach is not enough for me!

 

[soccerchick]

I am a beach person!

In my selfish world, I would wake up, run, come back and eat breakfast, and then head to the beach. Settle down in my chair and read, read, read. Take a few breaks to swim, short walks, etc. to break up the reading.

Head to pool for a little bit.

Head in for lunch.

Back to beach w/adult beverages in cooler.

Read, swim, read, walk, drink. etc.

Up to pool for a short swim.

Go in, shower and out for the evening.

Now with kids, I still manage to do the above, but with a lot less reading and much earlier nights. More sandcastles, boogie boarding, rafting, mini golf, etc.

I find the beach relaxing.