AIBU to think hot weather beach trips sound more hassle than fun?

We only go to our local village beach and though occasionally the parking is harder (park on the lane not in the car park) it's never crowded. If the tide is in you can paddle and if it's out there are rock pools.

As a child, a whole day on the beach was an amazing thing. As an adult I can't stand it but it's a lovely thing to do with children even if you need to take so much stuff.

I said to DH this morning "Years ago we'd have been taking the DC to Frinton "
It's a lovely beach (Frinton on Sea) , ideal when they were little and not looking for funfairs or bright lights .
Fairly easy to park , clean beaches and toilets nearby but nothing else .
We had to take everything - picnic,drinks, towels .,kites , sun protection, something to sit on
And the tide comes in quite early so that was the time to go .

They loved it but they didnt have to vacuum the sand out of the car

I think you and the OP have different issues though - I get the impression she does like being at the beach, but finds the logistics of getting there too much.

YANBU. I don't know how people can stay on a beach all day. I'm ready to leave after a couple of hours.

We go late, around 3pm or so. Easy to get a park, have a good swim, fish and chips or pizza for dinner and drive home. Avoids the worst of the sun and helps us sleep!

The last time I remember being at the beach was 2012 because I hired a beach hut for a week that summer to make it easier to have all the kids stuff kept there (even though we were just a walk from home). The sea is literally at the end of my road, but like residents of London who don’t go to tourist spots it never crosses my mind to go on it. I do, though, always admire the view and realise I am pretty lucky to have it on my doorstep.

You started this thread at 6:30am, I’m going to presume that’s because you’d been up thinking about it and decided it was all too difficult. If you had been on the road within the hour, so 7:30am you’d be at the nearest beach between 9-9:30am ish unless it’s very bad traffic near you.

park in a proper carpark not stressing yourself out about where there’s on road parking, if you don’t have picnic stuff in the house, add 20 mins to swing by the nearest supermarket to buy a load of picnic-y picky bits. By 2pm you could easily be packing up if you’d had enough and home for 4pm/before traffic gets bad.

sometimes you just have to do stuff. Obviously not everyone enjoys the seaside, but if you do, the logistics really aren’t that complex.

What a weird post.

It can be lovely if you plan and carefully choose where to be. When ds was 6, we set off at 7 am for western super mare, took a picnic with loads of ice packs, frozen drinks etc and a mini uv tent/shelter. I took a bum bag type thing so I could paddle with my keys, purse etc. it was easy to park, we set up a little camp at the end of the massive beach (so it wasn’t super busy) and then walked to the other end later, had a mini swim, made sandcastles, saw the pier, did a few games in the fun fair, got sausage and chips for dinner and went home. Not too costly, no queues and such a lovely day.

Same here. Got 3 beaches within a few minutes of where we live and haven’t been on them for decades.

I Like the sound of the early morning beach trips.
Personally, now I have older children, I prefer to go late, around 5pm when everyone is starting to leave, and it’s starting to get cooler again.
Fish and chips on the beach bathed in the golden glow of sunset.
Paddling as the shadows get longer
Home by midnight.

I think you just need to pick a different beach and take lunch with you!

OP I sadly think @araiwahas a good point, you sound very negative. Do you usually focus on worst case scenarios?

im not sure we’ll go to the beach this weekend but might next week at some point, usually takes about 1.5 hours to drive for us, i tend to put carpark address in my satnav when i set off and don’t bother driving round trying to find free/cheaper on street parking. I’ve never had an issue finding parking in a proper carpark at the coast. I usually take picnics on days out, we’ll buy fish and chips before returning home because apparently it’s the law to have a chippy tea at the seaside according to my dcs.

Do you usually find days out or driving /parking in unfamiliar places stressful?

Not as hot but sounds bliss to me. 😁

Just off to the beach now. Its in the countryside, £5 to park all day at the top of the cliff, we're taking food and there's never a queue for the toilet. Been excited about this day all week! Will come home around 6pm, possibly via the pub for a cider.

Just choose a better beach.

We're planning on going Monday we will be going very early so it's not too hot or crowded.

That sounds wonderful @Heraldry

Sorry your family aren’t up for it @Moveyourbleedingarse I’ve occasionally gone early with the one DC who wanted to and / or local friends.

I agree going early is the key. Im planning to.be up and out by 9 tomorrow which will be early enough where I am..twenty min drive, parked up for the day. My kids are teens so may or may not come but they know if they do and they want to go.home, its the bus or wait til I'm ready to go. Book, sea swimming, possibly headphones for when annoying people with speakers turn up later. Perfect.

I'd love this.
My family hate beaches. They are also not early risers.
It makes me sad when I read about people having beach days. Sounds lovely. 🌞

With kids in tow yes. Without kids no.

Sounds like Mudeford.

One of the joys of living in an unfashionable part of the Highlands - miles of (very quiet) beautiful sandy beaches! No traffic jams in our nearest town ever, or on the roads - my children think a traffic jam is two cars behind a tractor 😂.

Or you could leave early, take your own lunch and be parked and paddling by eight.

Drive through the new forest while the sun is still lifting the mist.

Buy breakfast and coffee on the quay. 😊

And go home at 2 before everyone else.