How To Spend Your Weekend At The Beach

There are so many ways that you can spend a weekend at the beach. You might want to turn off your phone and de-stress from everyday life or do something that will get your adrenaline flowing. The good news is that with the right beach, you can do pretty much anything you want!

However, before you pack your towels and swimsuit, there are a couple of things to think about. Let’s take a look! 

Plan before you go

If you’re planning an entire weekend at the beach, the first thing you need to think about is accommodation. Beaches usually have places to suit all budgets – from camping and hostels to luxury spas. Be sure to book well in advance so you don’t end up with last-minute disappointment! Another important thing to check is the weather (not always possible when you’re booking hotels). There’s nothing worse than having a plan of activities for the entire weekend to find that it’s raining sideways! 

Go with a partner/in a group

Going to the beach is a lovely activity and sometimes you might feel the need for solitude and alone time. However, most people prefer to go with either a loved one or in a group – especially if they’re travelling for a few days. This is not only good for making the trip fun, but it also might save you money on accommodation and activities. 

Time to Relax

If you have a stressful daily life, the beach is a great place to leave that behind. Let’s look at the most relaxing beach activities. 

Stand up paddleboarding

This could fall into both camps of relaxing and sport – but beginner stand up paddleboarders will often feel the mental health benefits before seeing results of how it can improve your physical health. 

It’s a great way to see more of the beach, with paddles to nearby caves and islands possible as part of tours or by yourself if you are an accomplished paddler. The therapeutic effect of water should put any worries right to the back of your mind so that you can enjoy being present. Don’t forget to rent or bring a PFD with you on you SUP!

Read a book

Of course, being present and relaxing can be something as simple as reading a book. Summer reading and beach reads are almost a category within themselves! Enjoy the feeling of the soft air on your face and the sound of the waves lapping against the shore as you are hooked by your latest book.

Have a picnic

A nice way to chill out if you’re with a group of people is by enjoying a picnic. All it takes is a couple of towels or blankets and a basket of food and you’re good to go. Make sure to take food that won’t spoil easily as it can go off if left out in the sun. Even better, get a cool box so you can store it. A cool box is great for a group of friends as there should be enough space for beers and wine too!

Time to have fun

Yes, we know that relaxing activities can be fun as well. However, these are likely to get your heart racing a bit more than it would usually. Let’s see some of the most fun activities for your weekend at the beach!

Surfing

Stand up paddleboarding might be an enjoyable and popular watersport, but the standard version won’t get your pulse increasing the way that surfing does! This is not only a lot of fun, but it’s a full body workout. It’ll tone your muscles, increase your upper body strength, and it’s good cardio too. 

Scuba Diving/Snorkelling

While many people are happy with a swim at the beach, snorkelling and scuba diving combines that with seeing marine life. It’s especially fun if you’re on a beach vacation in the Mediterranean or the Caribbean. Snorkelling equipment is a great activity if you’re with kids as seeing tropical fish and turtles will blow their minds!

Scuba diving is more difficult, but the rewards are bigger. Who knows, you may be swimming with sharks and whales if you’re lucky!

Extreme water sports!

There are too many extreme water sports to list for a weekend at the beach, but here are a few to give you some ideas. Parasailing will see you soar above the coast as you’re attached to the back of a speedboat. Wakeboarding involves a speedboat again, but this time you’ll be pulled along behind it as you pull off awesome moves and catch air. Want to experience the feeling of flying and diving in the same sport? Then give flyboarding a go! The opportunities are endless – it just depends on the beach you go to. 

Things to do at the beach with kids

Relaxing activities might lead to kids getting bored, while some of the more fun ones might just be plain scary. Here are three that are suitable for the whole family.

Build a sandcastle

Building a sandcastle is the perfect way to nurture your kids’ creativity. It also helps their problem solving. You can’t just pile up loads of sand and hope for the best, you’ll have to dig down to find water to make a base. Then, with the help of a bucket and spade, make your castle as extravagant as possible. 

Go rockpooling

If snorkelling or scuba diving seems a stretch too far, then rockpooling is a wonderful way to get the kids interested in marine life. Study these miniature ecosystems for crabs, plants, and even small fish. It might be the first step in your child wanting to become a marine biologist!