When you feel the call of the ocean, you know what that means: it’s time to start planning your next seaside getaway. But you don’t have to be at sea to enjoy a vacation near the water. You can play at the beach, visit maritime museums, walk around a commercial boatyard, hang out at the hotel pool, or jump into a flurry of water sports on or near shore.
Here are 5 ways to enjoy your next seaside escape with or without the kids and grandkids:
1) Go fly a kite. Sure you can sit and watch the waves roll in, but to kick the fun factor up a notch:
- Bring your favorite beach toys.
- Build a sandcastle.
- Finally learn how to launch and land a kite. Oh – and keep it airborne, too!
- Go beachcombing.
- Join in a beach volleyball game.
Whatever you do, make sure you go barefoot and squish the sand between your toes.
2) Visit a maritime museum.
You can wander through the exhibits or join in the interactive activities. You might even get to:
- Explore the inside of a pilot house or the engine room of a tugboat.
- Listen to mariners tell their tales of harrowing adventures at sea.
- See ship models and artifacts.
- Blow a ship’s whistle.
- Try your hand at boat building.
3) Explore a working boatyard. If you don’t normally hang out in a boatyard, you’re in for a real treat when you wander among the works-in-progress. You might:
- See search-and-rescue vessels docked nearby.
- Watch a boat crew lower their yacht into the water to test its seaworthiness.
- Ask a crew member how they came up with the name for their wooden classic.
- Observe a boat crew rebuilding their salmon troller.
- Order fish and chips at the mariner cafe.
4) Be a lounge lizard at the hotel pool.
Dip your toes in or dive deep when it’s time to cool off.
- Swim.
- Take a nap.
- Catch up on your reading.
- Have an appetizer and a frou-frou drink.
- Join a water exercise class – although that sort of defeats the purpose of being a lounge lizard.
You are wearing sunscreen, aren’t you? Don’t forget your sunglasses and straw hat, too.
5) Plunge into water sports: Choose a sport to match your desired activity level. Scuba diving, anyone? Alternatively, you could:
- Go horseback riding on the beach.
- Hug the shore in a kayak.
- Rent a beach cruiser bike or boogie board. (I didn’t say you have to use it.)
- See how long you can stay upright on a stand up paddle surfing board.
- Why not go for the gusto and try parasailing?
A seaside vacation has something for everyone. What’s your vision for the perfect seaside getaway, Wanderboomers?
I found your site through She Writes, and I’m glad I did. I just started to dive in, can’t wait to read more.
Thanks, Kim! Glad to have you here.
I love the word ‘seaside’ and anyone who uses it rocks my world! Many thanks. I’m signing up for your blog. Elizabeth.
Thanks for signing up, Elizabeth. I’ll have to see if I can use the word “seaside” more often in my blogs then!