Summer is just around the corner, and as the weather turns warmer your thoughts are probably turning to the beach, the ultimate in summer fun. The sand and the sea promise endless enjoyment for everyone from teenage couples to families with kids. Or at least they are supposed to. The more restless among us can only spend so much time sunbathing and swimming laps. if you want to while away those long summer days at the beach, you might need to get creative. Check out these fresh, fun activities to keep yourself engaged all summer long. Get Creative You might think sandcastles are for children. If you are bringing kids with you to the beach, building a sandcastle is a great way to have fun and bond with them, but even if you aren't, don't rule out sand sculpting just yet. Some historians have speculated that the Ancient Egyptians and other cultures sculpted monuments and religious icons from sand, which would make it the oldest sculpture tradition in the world. In the modern world, people hold international sand-sculpting championships. If you've ever seen pictures of the mind-blowing creations that come out of those competitions, you'll find it hard to argue that sand sculptures are just for kids. if you want to try your hand at this ancient art, leave the buckets and molds at home. Pros build using their hands almost exclusively, using a few odd tools such as kitchen knives, soft-bristle paint brushes, and plastic drinking straws for finishing details. Sand sculpting is just one option for letting out your creative side at the beach. You can also try making beach art out of pebbles, shells, and other materials you find at the seashore. Start by drawing an outline in the sand with your hands of a picture you want to make the sun, a seahorse, your name. Then fill the outline in with colorful stones, shells, and other materials. Or make something more practical? draw a circle in the sand and stand a stick straight up in the center. Place stones or shells to mark the hours and you have yourself a primitive sundial. Go For Treasure Hunting Beach combing has probably been a favorite summer pastime since humankind first discovered beaches- All kinds of weird stuff wash up on shore. At the very least, you are certain to find interesting shells or strangely-patterned rocks, but if you're patient and lucky you might just discover something from the other side of the world. Even simple finds can set your imagination running wild. Who was drinking from that empty beer can with the Japanese writing on it? What strange creature could have lived in that bizarre, spiny shell? Stretch your creative muscles by challenging friends or family to come up with stories behind each find. Take it to the next level by buying a metal detector for beach scavenging. You'll dig up all kinds of stuff with a metal detector that you would never find with your eyes alone. Beach combing with a metal detector is fun on its own, but you can make it even more fun by designing a scavenger hunt of your own. Have one person bury small metal objects, such as coins, an inch or two beneath the sand along with notes or clues. Then let the other take the metal detector and try to find them. Just double-check beforehand that the detector can actually detect whatever metal you're using! Work on Your Beach Body Our society is highly image-conscious, and every spring there seems to be a world of pressure to get into beach-ready shape before the time comes to actually go to the beach. If you can get over that, though, the beach can actually be the best gym there is. At the very least, you'll probably find it easier to motivate yourself to go every day. Not only can you work on your tan at the same time as you work on your muscles, but the vitamin D boost you'll get will actually help spike energy levels and muscle growth. Try a simple cardio or body weight routine that you can do anywhere, using exercises such as Lunges, squats, push-ups, crunches, and the like. Just make sure the sand you work out on is free of rocks, shells, and the like, or bring a yoga mat you don't mind getting a little dirty. Speaking of a yoga mat, the beach might be the ideal yoga studio. The point of yoga is to relax as much as possible, and just being at the beach should get you halfway there. If you're lucky enough to live near a beach that faces the sunset, try doing your yoga practice while watching the sun go down over the ocean. It doesn't get more zen than that. Work on your mind as well as your body by finishing your workout or yoga routine with a little bit of meditation practice. if you have trouble keeping your mind still and empty, as most of us do, the natural rhythm and white noise of the waves will help you find that inner peace. Bring a Book There's an unofficial publishing genre referred to as the "summer beach read", and while it usually refers to throw away or even trashy novels without a lot of substance, the beach is a surprisingly great place to enjoy books of any kind. Lie down with a good paperback as you work on your tan, or throw in your earbuds and listen to an audio book while you walk along the water's edge. For the truly restless or workaholics who never feel right unless they are doing something productive, you can also bring your work with you to the beach. It sure beats an office or cubicle, and at least you can enjoy some of the summer experience while getting your work done. If you need to bring any important documents, though, it's probably a good idea to bring photocopies instead. Your boss won't appreciate your dedication as much if your paperwork is covered in sand. So, whether you decide to get creative and build a sand castle, hunt for hidden treasure, have a nice workout in the sun, or just relax and read a book, you can enjoy the calm beauty of the summer days on the beach and never run out of fun things to do!
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