Ok, so I had this idea in my head for a short story or something, and I'm trying to think about ways that beaches attract people. Not advertising or anything like that, but the elements of the beach that draws you to them. What is it? Is it a specific beach near you (if there is one) that you like, and what about it? Is it the parties/gatherings that happen there? The activities, like swimming, boating, skiing that you enjoy? Is it the people? Or the elements of the beach itself, like what you enjoy when the beach is empty (during those long walks on the beach and night under a full moon)? Let me know. It doesn't have to be on this list for you to say it.

I'm just trying to gather ideas here for the beginning, and maybe a recurring theme throughout, for the story. I'll let you know when it's done so you can see all your ideas come alive.

I don't like the beach.

Mountains, hills, woods are for me.

No beaches.

ditto to what Wes said... I loath the beach...

Then whoever likes beaches, please respond.

The sound of the waves. :)

Demos stole my answer.

I can't believe my answer hasn't been stolen yet:

beaches=hot females in bikinis=good


No, but seriously I mainly enjoy going camping at the beach to go canoeing. Sand castles are fun as well.

Canoing is one I didn't expect. Hot girls/guys I expected. :P

Which one to pick? I live in Central Florida, so there's a few hundred different beaches around me, all within one hundred miles of any direction. Sound of the waves are good, but that's if there are any waves at all. Sometimes the Gulf at least is so calm that the tallest wave is measured in inches.

Sunsets is one that hasn't been picked yet. Swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, water skiing, para-sailing, wind surfing, flying kites, burying yourself in sand, fishing, wade-fishing, spear-fishing, bridge-fishing, surf-fishing, and soaking up the sun.

Just to mention a few. :D

I grew up in San Diego and live in Florida now, So Cal Beaches > Florida beaches. As far as what attracts people to beaches, there are tons of reasons. When I was a kid I absolutely loved swimming in the ocean. Swimming in a pool is fun and all but add waves, boogie boards, surfing and it's a whole new level.

The smell of the beach is something that I will never forget, the way your feet feel in the sand. The ridiculously hot girls running around in bikinis or laying out. You can play Volleyball on the beach then hop into the ocean when you get hot and sweaty. I used to skate on the boardwalk along the beach when I was a kid, then go to Belmont Park which is a little amusement park not a hundred yards from the ocean and ride the roller coaster.

The atmosphere of the beaches in California is just different than anywhere else. There's hundreds of people riding their bikes around, relaxing, swimming with their kids, and not a single person is stressed with thoughts of work or bills or any of the problems they have in their everyday lives.

When I was really little I used to love to build sand castles out of the wet sand next to the water, and dig up sand crabs when the waves washed back into the ocean. There are a zillion reasons why people enjoy beaches, these are just a few that I initially thought of. I'm sure if I sat here for another minute I'd come up with another dozen things.