re: I’m honestly inquiring. What’s the point of going to the beach?

There's things you can do at certain beaches you usually cannot do elsewhere like surfing.

There's things you can do at certain beaches with very little equipment that usually require specific things like boats. e.g.: catching live seafood.

There's plenty of things you can do elsewhere (like a park or a forest or even a cave in the side of a mountain), that happen to also be pretty fun if you enjoy sunshine + potentially fantastic scenery to go with it.

The sand is a not one of the stronger points of the experience. It's different than soil or concrete, doesn't get shite dirty and nasty the same way as mud or ambient humidity but it offers a way to make things a pain the arse. You can make sand castles and sculpt things with it, but you can do the same things with snow. A little snow in the awkward places ain't the same as sand. Advantage: mountain tops.

A trip to the beach does not have to be the main feature of a long awaited and planned for vacation (unless you're going to some tropical islands and it is). The beach might be were you go kick-back in the evenings after doing the main attractions during the day during a vacation.

It's like if you're on a snowboarding trip. You're not going up the mountain just to gain elevation, you go there for the activity. It happens to be an excellent and unusual environment for other enjoyable things, just like beaches.

We should mention sea-gulls. They are shite birds. Easiest way to understand them is flying raccoons. They'll try and eat your food and shite all over you, from above. Worst part is I understand they are a revolting excuse for poultry, don't try to eat them. If you're at the beach, go for the water food, not the air food. While they are beach's version of those furry rodent frickers, they're really not as nervy and intrusive as actual raccoons. Advantage: Beaches.

Finally, there's nothing wrong with drinking beer and watching women while sitting in the sand. The practice has been going on for thousands of years, because it's such a simple, obvious and easy pleasure in life.

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We still go almost every year to appease my wife and I usually enjoy myself. I can have fun anywhere when I'm not at work.

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I can too. The beach during the daytime just isn’t for me because I have a history of overdoing the sun as a kid and ended up getting skin cancer later in life. Night time walks on the beach are enjoyable to a degree, but like you I’ll make it fun if I’m made to go. When I was in my late teens and early 20’s I discovered chartering boats, and if I’m going, that’s where I’ll be. I absolutely love salt water fishing. My uncle and I would go all the time back in the day and there’s really nothing better than an all day trip, limiting out, and going back to the beech house to clean fish, eat, and get lit. THAT I can do.

I love this thread. Even going during spring break I didn't really enjoy it much.

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What do people do at the beach besides sit around and drink in the sand.

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I don't get the people that go to the beach just for this. I need to get in the water. Jet-ski, boogie-board, surf, snorkel, or something.

What's not to love?

Depending on the beach, you can snorkel, play frisbee/catch/volleyball, swim, suntan, people-watch, read, drink, picnic, relax/meditate, beachcomb, go tidepooling, kayak, paddleboard, birdwatch, and look for dolphins.

Having a place where you have a view of the beach/water is just great to relax, get away from things, eat seafood, etc. on the balcony and enjoy the view. Actually going to the beach is enjoyable when the sun is going down some. It's really pretty. It's enjoyable in the evening too. Many people get to a point where they just want to get away from working and they just want to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.

If you're with people who don't say much or whatever, then maybe it gets a little boring. But it's just enjoyable having the pretty change of scenery, having some drinks, going out to eat at night or grilling stuff and just relaxing and not worrying about fitting things in a schedule which can seem like work at times.

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Some of us have extremely mentally demanding jobs and a week of listening to relaxing waves and getting hammered is perfect. Also, hot moms in bikinis

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That’s a bingo.

I get some people don't like it.
But I don't think you are doing it right if you think that's all it entails. With the golf cart and a wagon you can pack down for everything needed on the beach. There is so much to do. Fish, crab, Frisbee, cornhole, ladder ball, horseshoes, skim board, kayak, hop on the party barge and tube with the kids or take a trip offshore fishing and catch some snapper. Get back to camp boil seafood while the kids swim at the pool. Then shower and hit the bars or meet up with the other 30+ people we know on the island and chit chat.

I just got back from San Diego. Surfed and boogie board Carlsbad state beach.

Maybe you should try that?