Humanity obsessed with "The Beach"
Aug 18, 2013 | 9:55 am
#18
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,411
I grew up near the ocean (Cape Cod), and have loved beaches my entire life. During my professional career, I've lived in a hodge podge of mega cities so the last thing I want to do when I'm on vacation is to hang out in another mega city. I can easily kill a week in Ko Samui without getting the least bit bored. Going to a beach destination does not require passing out on a towel all day.
Aug 18, 2013 | 10:45 am
#19
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Mid-Atlantic
Posts: 5,026
I'm not one for "The Beach" as sold in vacation packages, but I have a great need for the ocean. Growing up, I spent hundreds of hours at the shore, a cold, windy shore, rock climbing, studying tide pools, watching the waves and all the other things a curious kid could get away with. Mountains/hills/forests make me claustrophobic after a few days. I need to be able to look out across the water toward infinity once in a while to recharge my mind.
That being said, spending the day on the sand while scantily clad is a great way to boost your vitamin D level.
That being said, spending the day on the sand while scantily clad is a great way to boost your vitamin D level.
Aug 18, 2013 | 12:47 pm
#21
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
Another food for thought: every heard of "Spring Break" to Colorado instead of Mexico? Think not.
Aug 18, 2013 | 1:02 pm
#22
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: LHR- ish
Programs: MUCCI, BA Blue
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I'm not one for "The Beach" as sold in vacation packages, but I have a great need for the ocean. Growing up, I spent hundreds of hours at the shore, a cold, windy shore, rock climbing, studying tide pools, watching the waves and all the other things a curious kid could get away with. Mountains/hills/forests make me claustrophobic after a few days. I need to be able to look out across the water toward infinity once in a while to recharge my mind.
Aug 18, 2013 | 1:15 pm
#23
Used to be 'Scooter'
Join Date: Mar 1999
Location: SAN
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 398
Agreed - my desire for beach vacations has grown stronger as my work load has increased through the years. The thought of sitting around and doing nothing sounds really good most of the time!
Aug 18, 2013 | 2:26 pm
#24
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
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Posts: 5,083
Aug 18, 2013 | 3:25 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: A3, BA, OZ,
Posts: 1,170
I think the beach can be a great chance to relax while on holiday. When my partner and I went to Egypt for a month, we had a few nice days scuba diving in Dahab, and we had a couple of days in Sharm and Hurghada as well to relax in between the rest of our Egyptian experience, which was crazy busy. I have also done a couple of long weekends in the Canaries. I think in can be an ideal chance to relax and catch up on leisure reading, but I couldn't do it for more than a couple of days.
Aug 18, 2013 | 4:08 pm
#26
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There seems to be a genetic component to it:
http://propercourse.blogspot.com/201...ove-beach.html
1. One theory, proposed by the zoologist Desmond Morris in his book The Naked Ape (and by others), is that homo sapiens is descended from apes who lived on the shore. We spent a lot of time in the water. We dived for shellfish. As a result we started to adapt to life in the water and this explains a number of features that are unique to our species among the apes, such as our lack of body hair, our poor sense of smell, and our ability to swim underwater. Hence our visceral attraction to spending time on the beach and frolicking in the water. It's what we were made for. It's more than visceral. It's in our genes.
Aug 18, 2013 | 5:20 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Newport Beach, California, USA
Posts: 36,062
Let's just say that I am not part of the demographic that cares about where to go for Spring Break.
Aug 18, 2013 | 7:13 pm
#28
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,424
I would 100% of the time choose city over beach, but more and more I'm jiving to waterfalls and rock skimming...
Aug 18, 2013 | 7:25 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
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I detest beach vacations. But, i'm not who considers vegging out a vacation. I prefer urban or otherwise active vacations.
That said, I do live at the beach and have for most of the past two decades.
However, while I spend a lot of time walking/biking up and down the beach, I never, ever set foot in the water, nor do I ever just sit there.
That said, I do live at the beach and have for most of the past two decades.
However, while I spend a lot of time walking/biking up and down the beach, I never, ever set foot in the water, nor do I ever just sit there.
Aug 18, 2013 | 7:25 pm
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,871
i think many would be surprised how different beaches can be, and what activities there can be (ocean/lake and land)
seems many are obsessed with making generalizations
this is FT, people fly to the other side of the world
seems many are obsessed with making generalizations
this is FT, people fly to the other side of the world