There are so many traits about your hometown that you may appreciate and love, but you may not be aware of them until they are gone. For anyone who has grown up in a beach town, whether it is Laguna Beach on the West Coast or Cape Cod on the East, there are quirky characteristics that everyone can relate to! These are the 20 signs you grew up in a beach town!
This one may seem obvious, but no one realizes how nice it is to live near the beach until they have themselves. Whether you actually enjoy going to the beach or not (and yes, there are people that do not), having the option of being able to hang out on the sand or go surfing is the best.
Not every beach town has a pier, but it is likely that if one does, it will be a popular hang out spot. Who wouldn’t want to go get candy or ice cream and also have the spectacular view of the ocean? Some piers even have restaurants or carnival rides and when the sun sets, it makes for great photo opportunities.
Everyone’s mom either goes to spin, yoga, pilates, or zumba. Trendy workout boutiques are widespread and there is always a new one popping up offering an even better workout than the next. It is impossible to walk down the street and not see at least three girls in Lululemon workout pants or shorts.
Maybe your mom doesn’t go to SoulCycle or PureBarre, but she has definitely walked on the beach trail with friends or your dog. The actual trail is not even five miles one way, but somehow she comes back three hours later. Did she get lost? No. Did she find seven other moms or the PTA president and talk about you and your siblings? Yes, yes she did.
Fruit bowls are so huge. I can not even say anything bad about these because I love a good banzai bowl. It is impossible to go wrong with a smoothie bowl topped with granola, fruit, and chocolate chips. They are so refreshing and I could probably eat one for every meal and not get sick of it. They are fairly expensive for a snack and the lines are long, yet people love them and eat them rain or shine.
Basically, any cafe or shop that sells coffee and is not Starbucks instantly becomes trendy. If it has a somewhat cool name and an insta-worthy interior, you can count on everyone from the middle schooler who had her mom drop her off to the super edgy college kid who is on break from Berkeley to be there.
There is some unwritten rule that every beach town has to have one of these grocery stores. If they have more than one, all the better. It goes along with the athletic mindset of a beach town because if a grocery store sells superfoods and overpriced vegetables, then it makes sense that every other product they carry has to be healthy too. Right??
Okay, this only applies to all of the beach towns on the West Coast, specifically California, but the Mexican food is to die for. You can count on there being an abundance of Mexican restaurants and whether you are paying $24 for two tacos or $3, you can count on it to taste authentic and delicious.
Beaches attract lots of people, so there are often music events or festivals held in beach towns. Whether this festival is held to celebrate a certain marine animal, support local artists, or showcase a type of food, they are often very fun and interesting. It is nice to have something to look forward to each summer and for a lot of families, going together becomes a laid back tradition.
I have heard that the gelato in Europe, specifically in Italy, is amazing, but there is something about eating a sweet, frozen treat by the ocean. Even if it is ice cream, not gelato, it somehow tastes even more amazing than ice cream from the grocery store. Every beach town has an ice cream shop or gelato shop that makes their own cones and when you walk by it smells sweet and cinnonmon-y. Even being lactose intolerant, I have to indulge and take the stomach ache every once in a while.
Yes, there are beaches where you can bring your dog and where there will be a ton of other dogs running around. You can see dogs going swimming, digging in the sand, and just generally being super cute dogs per usual, but in a beach environment.
Ahhh, yes. This one is for all of you out there who love a toned, tan, and salty haired boy. I cannot say that all boys in beach towns are nice, but there is definitely an abundance of tanner boys that would prefer to spend all of their time at the beach or sometimes the skate park.
The same goes for someone looking to find themselves a girl that isn’t afraid to go out in the water with them and catch some waves. Whether you want a girl that will be out there in the water with you or cheering you on from the shore, the chances are that you can find the perfect girl for you.
It seems that there is an abundance of stores that dedicate themselves to only selling juice in beach towns. Whether you want a green juice to boost your morning or a custom pack of 24 juices so that you can cleanse yourself for days, there is a juice for you. Even if you do not like any of the juices that the store has to offer, it is likely that you can create your own.
Anyone who lives in a beach town can probably think of a little flower shop and hut where you can pick up some fresh flowers for a loved one, or just for yourself! It is a bonus if they are wrapped in pretty paper or newspaper for a retro vibe. Pictures with your flowers are also a must!
Though there are tons of normal jobs in beach towns, there are also fun ones like being a beach lifeguard, teaching kids how to swim, or leading a group volleyball session. If you love the beach and want to spend all of your time at the beach, there is definitely a job for you.
It is so relaxing to go to the beach with a couple of friends or your family and spend time looking for sea-glass. I have always thought sea-glass is super interesting because it has come so far to get to the condition that it is in when you find it. Once you collect a lot of it, you can get artsy and glue it to a lamp or put it in a bowl for decoration.
Though not at every beach, there are tide pools hidden in rocks or caves that are super fun to look around in. Sometimes there are little fish swimming around or even big animals, such as an octopus that will be lingering in the larger pools. It is a much better experience to see marine life naturally in their habitat rather than seeing them cooped up in a zoo.
No one truly knows how a bad sunburn feels until you fall asleep in the sun and wake up barely able to move. I have gone through very bad sunburns, but none as bad as when I drenched myself in coconut oil and laid out at the beach for hours. I did not even get a tan from it, but just peeled. It was gross and I recommend to everyone to always wear sunscreen.
There is nothing like ending a day at the beach with a loved one while you watch the sunset. Even if everything seems to be going wrong in your life, a sunset can still fill you with wonder with its incredible beauty. It is truly amazing how the sky blends into a pink, orange, and yellow glow before the sun finally sets. Though I love everything about living by the beach, I am most thankful for the natural beauty that it brings into my life.
Featured Image: weheartit
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