How often to visit seaside?

[helpmelosemybigbelly]

I feel sad cos it feels like we only go seaside for a week in the school holidays when we go away, DH never wants to go at the weekends when we are at home and as I don’t drive, train tickets are expensive and we live pay check to pay check I just settle on going every day of the one week we are away (we have 2 young kids)

is anyone else with young kids also in my situation?

I don't bother going to the seaside in the UK - I'm not letting my kids get in the water so it would just be stressful.

We’re not in that situation (lots of beaches near us) but I really feel for you.

I think we always crave what we don’t have, when mine were small we really wanted to be in London going to the museums, parks, restaurants, markets etc!

Very true.

We live somewhere with a huge nature park, water to do activities on, play parks with water play, and all sorts of things. Big campsite and everything. Never go.

Last time we went was well I actually cannot name it maybe 7 plus years ago maybe more.

When I lived in Scotland as a child, we never visited the beach really except on our annual holiday to Spain/Italy. Now I live about as far away from the sea as you can be in England and I can't say it's something I feel like I'm missing out on. If we have a UK break it is generally by the coast but I could very happily live without it! I think my children have much more fun in local rivers, climbing hills etc.

Edited to add: It's very unusual for people in my county to visit the sea except on holiday so I think there are far more people in the same boat as you than you're perhaps thinking. I don't remember any of my friends growing up doing to Scottish beaches ever!

I would love that too.

We are on the beach most days walking the dogs.

Oh wow. You have no idea what you are missing out on! Obvs don't go near Brighton or Blackpool, they're horrific, but the UK has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. As we don't get guaranteed weather, many of them are actually pretty quiet as long as you stay away from the resorts. They're certainly not all pebbley or peopley. You are so, so wrong and truly missing out!

I live 2 mins from the beach. We rarely go. 🤷🏻‍♀️. It’s not compulsory.

Well we don't even go to the seaside once a year

So yes I think it's pretty normal to not go to the seaside regularly

I don't drive so if we do go we on a day trip on a coach
Which takes a few hours.

Lolz! I agree, there was so much wrong in that post it's hard to know where to start! Of all the beaches in this country, I'm not sure Margate or Hastings would fit into the 'lovely' category. 🤣

@Pllystyrene London is near quite a few beaches, albeit by car or train. mind you if I wasn't staying at my sisters monthly, who lives dead opposite the sea, I would never bother, I love mountains, forests and countryside.

We live about as far from the sea as you can in the UK, and only going for a week's holiday once a year sounds normal to me.

I do love the sea, and everything about the seaside, and now we are older and the dc are adults, and money is less of an issue, I do occasionally go for a day trip, but even then it will only be once a year.

We both drive, as do our dc, so it is easy to arrange, and arrange fairly spontaneously (ie, when the weather looks good). But, there are also coach trips I see advertised, during the Summer months. Both commercial ones, and things arranged from groups such as play schemes / Children's Centres / etc. It might be worth asking about locally if anyone knows of anything like that from where you live ?

I think YABU in your expectation of trips more regularly if you are living hand to mouth, then treats and luxuries are what have to be the first thing you lose. Is there any way to increase your income ? Perhaps pick up a shift at a bar once a week in order to save for such treats ?

Ooops! Yes that's in Sussex! My apologies.

Also, I'm not a snob and even enjoyed Blackpool, Skegness and Brighton -shock horror-

Daytrip to essex use family railcard southend or clacton or folkestone v easy
Or a bus or coach
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I grew up in Scotland near Inverness/Nairn and we'd go to the beach for winter-ish walks, summer picnics, rock pooling, dolphin-spotting etc. We'd even swim 😮

It's important for me to see the horizon. But I also love mountains and hiking, rivers, lakes.... We can like all things.

I'd leave your DH at home and go out with the DC to the seaside. Save some pennies here and there over a couple of months for the arcade and ice creams.