A day at the beach should be fun, relaxing, and stress-free. However, if you do not know or understand beach etiquette, it can be a long day for you, your family, and all those around you. Today’s blog takes a look at the do’s and don’ts of your trip to the beach. These unwritten, and some written, rules can ensure that your visit truly is a day at the beach.
Do: Always Swim Near a Lifeguard
You probably do not want to hear it, but you are not an Olympic swimmer, and neither is your child. Always swim near a lifeguard no matter the body of water. Water is dangerous. Tides and currents change constantly. Do not enter the water overly confident that you can handle anything that comes your way. This beach etiquette tip might save your life or your child’s life one day.
Don’t: Feed the Seagulls
Since I am a lifelong Ocean City summer resident, I will stick with the laws at America’s Greatest Family Resort. It is illegal to feed the seagulls anywhere on this barrier island. The same goes for most places throughout Cape May County, including Cape May. You can face fines for feeding the seagulls in Ocean City. These birds have become very aggressive towards visitors due to being fed by beachgoers and those traversing the boardwalk. Just don’t do it.
Do: Watch Your Children When in the Water
You should always keep an eye on your children when at the beach, but this is especially important when they are in the water. This means you are going to have to get up from your blanket or beach chair and head towards the shoreline. It can be difficult to pick your child out of a group of people wading in the ocean when you are 50 yards up the beach listening to music or texting the day away. Don’t be lazy. Stand by the water’s edge. Even move your chair down to the water. Just always make sure you have an eye on your child. Things can go south in an instant.
Don’t: Crowd Others
We enjoyed our final beach day of the 2024 summer season on Sunday before heading home to prepare for the new school year. It was a beautiful day weather-wise, but it was frustrating with the amount of ignorant people present. One of the biggest beach etiquette tips out there is not to crowd others.
If you see a group of people already set up on the beach, do not drop your chair and towel directly on top of them to the point where they can reach out and poke you. This has always been a steadfast rule. I understand that some beach towns have very small beaches and the streets on the north end of the island in Ocean City have little room to maneuver. I get it. However, the south end beaches are vastly larger, giving you plenty of space to find a good spot to set up camp for the day. Do not crowd me.
Do: Take Your Trash With You
Just in case you have zero sense about you, every single beach street in Ocean City and many other barrier islands has trash cans at the entrances. Often, these entrances have trash and recycling cans, some with cans at the entrance on the street and once you emerge through the opening in the dunes. Take all of your trash with you and deposit it in the correct can when leaving. Too many times the boys have been digging in the sand to find wrappers, empty water ice cups, plastic spoons, empty cracker boxes and more.
Don’t: Play Loud Music
No one, and I mean no one, wants to hear your crappy music when spending the day on the beach. I don’t care if you are blaring classic rock or country, two of my favorite music genres. No one wants to hear your music.
I will go out on a limb and even say that I do not want to hear your livestream of a podcast, YouTube video, or even the broadcast of the Phillies game. I am on the beach to enjoy the sounds of summer: the waves crashing, kids playing, birds chirping and the lifeguard whistles whistling. This is an important beach etiquette tip you should always follow.
Do: Be Mindful of the Tide
One of my biggest pet peeves is when a family trapses down the beach to the shoreline with no idea of the tide, sets up all of their stuff, and then has to move back as the tide rises, ultimately setting up shop right on top of us. There are plenty of free apps out there that tell you the daily tide schedule.
You can also walk up to the lifeguard stand and ask. You will quickly make a lot of enemies on the beach by retreating from the incoming tide if you plop down on top of others who took the appropriate measures upon their arrival at the beach that day.
Don’t: Walk On Other People’s Towels
When you see beach towels laid out in the sand it is not an invitation for you to trapse all over them. Whether it is you or your child, be sure to watch where you step. Kicking sand all over someone else’s towel, or stepping on it when fresh out of the water can really upset fellow beachgoers.
Beach Etiquette is Common Sense
Even as I write that headline I know that common sense is rare these days. Please, for all of us who enjoy a day at the beach, have some common sense and follow these do’s and don’ts for a quality day in the sun.
