A Trip to the Beach
It was a gorgeous summer day – the sun was shining brightly in the clear blue sky without a single cloud in sight. The warm weather had me craving an outdoor adventure, so I decided a trip to the beach was in order. I quickly threw my beach bag, towel, bathing suit and a book into the car and headed off on the short drive to the coast.
As I turned onto Ocean Avenue, I rolled down the windows to let the sea breeze flow through the car. I could already smell the salty ocean air which only heightened my anticipation. When I arrived at the parking lot, I grabbed my things and made the short walk down to the sandy shore. The golden sand stretched as far as the eye could see in both directions with crashing waves lapping at the shoreline. Dozens of families and friends were scattered about enjoying the sunny day.
I laid out my large colorful beach towel close to the water’s edge and set up my bag and book nearby. Slipping off my flip flops, I wiggled my toes into the soft, powdery sand which was still warm from baking in the sun all morning. I took a moment to soak it all in – the rhythmic sound of the waves, seagulls crying overhead, other beachgoers chatting and laughing nearby. It was so calming and refreshing after a long week.
Deciding it was time to cool off in the ocean, I removed my cover up to reveal my navy blue swimsuit. I walked down to where the gentle waves broke along the shore. The water was cool but refreshing against my sun-warmed skin. I ventured out a little further where it came up to my chest level. The sand shifted beneath my feet with each incoming swell, making it fun to try to keep my balance. Small schools of tiny silver fish zoomed by as minnows darted around my legs. Further out towards the horizon, I could see families boogie boarding on bigger waves.
After splashing around for a while, I decided to do some relaxing in the sunshine. I toweled off and laid out on my cozy towel, closing my eyes to bask in the glorious heat beating down on my face and body. Seagulls squawked noisily above as they searched for snacks. The soothing sounds and smells soon lulled me into a light nap. When I woke, the sun had shifted a bit lower in the sky indicating a few hours had passed in peaceful slumber.
My stomach then rumbled loudly, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since breakfast. I opened up my beach bag to retrieve the sandwich, chips and fruit I had packed for lunch. After enjoying the delicious and refreshing meal, I pulled out my book to dive into the latest chapter. It was difficult to concentrate with so many fascinating things to watch happening all around me. Young kids were building elaborate sandcastles with their parents’ help while a group of teens flew kites high in the sky. Further down the beach, a handful of surfers expertly rode waves on their longboards.
As the afternoon wore on, I noticed the tide gradually coming in closer. The number of beachgoers had also dwindled as people began packing up for the day and heading home. With one last sweep of the gorgeous scenery, I too started gathering my belongings. I rolled up my towel and picked up any trash to do my part in keeping the beach clean. Slipping my flip flops back on, I took one final walk along the ocean’s edge, letting the waterwash over my feet. Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, I smiled contentedly as I headed back to my car, feeling completely relaxed and rejuvenated from my blissful beach day escape.
The short drive home, I reminisced on all the wonderful sights, sounds and sensations of being at the seaside. I was grateful to have such a picturesque spot so close by to escape to whenever I needed to decompress. Nothing beats spending a lazy summer afternoon basking in the sun, swimming in the refreshing surf and soaking up the calming atmosphere of the beach. I looked forward to many return visits in the future to that special sandy shore that always left me feeling recharged and happy.