stupid questions...but

I%26#39;ve never,ever been to the beach nor had any desire to go the beach. Just not a water person,but my child really wants to go.....so we%26#39;re going. Okay, so what kinds of shoes do you walk in on the beach? I don%26#39;t know if I really want sand on my feet...ewww. Do I need to bring my own chairs and umbrella? I know they can be rented but are they expensive?(we are coming in April. So I bring some kind of blanket onto the beach? What about a cooler? The kids are talking non-stop about finding seashells. We will be staying at Sandy Beach. Is this an area of the beach where seashells will be plentiful? I know, I know.....but I forewarned that the questions are dumb.

Oh, please feel free to suggest any other things that may make our trip to the beach more enjoyable.

stupid questions...but

IMO if you do not like the sand on your feet crocs may be your best bet. Here is a picture

shop.crocs.com/pc-16-4-cayman.aspx…

Yes, it is cheaper to bring your own beach chairs and umbrella. Most do. If not you can rent them for $20 to $30 a day.

Yes, you can bring a cooler, blanket, toys, radio , or boogie boards.

Sandy Beach resort looks like a nice place to stay. I hope you all have a great time.

stupid questions...but

I was not a beach person myself until I went. I bet by the end of your vacation you will be walking in the surf bare footed. It is a lot firmer and you wont get sand on your feet.

For seashells I suggest going to MB State Park for a day. Go to the far south end as the tide is just going out. Tons of shells there.

Go to Huntington State park also. Old brick mansion to tour. Great hiking trails. An outdoor center where you can pet a ray and see a live alligator. Great beach too. Alligators to see in the fresh water lagoon.

Beach chairs %26amp; umbrellas are sold very cheap everywhere in Myrtle Beach. Definitely cheaper than renting.

Crocs are a good suggestion because you can rinse the sand right off of them. I personally hate wearing any kind of shoes (crocs or others) when I%26#39;m walking on the beach because I hate the feel of sand inside my shoes. I always wear them down to the beach %26amp; then end up carrying them as soon as I hit the sand.

You%26#39;re kids should be able to find plenty of the more common seashells to keep them happy anywhere in MB. There are what I call ';professionals'; who go everyday %26amp; know exactly when to get the fancy shells by keeping track of the tides, so there isn%26#39;t much chance of getting them.

I hope you enjoy your trip more than you expect to. There is nothing more beautiful or peaceful than watching a sunrise on the beach.

There are tons of things to do in Myrtle. Put-put golf let the little one pick the one they like or go with one that has a coupon (coupon books available and free everywhere). Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, they have great places to eat %26amp; shop or just take it all in. There are some great shows to go to The little one might like Dixie stampede or Medeival Times, Family Kingdom, again depending on your likes and dislikes.

You can take your umbrella and chairs. Umbrellas have to stay behind the ones the lifeguards rent out though so keep that in mind.

Crocs may be your best bet but no shoe is great on the beach and you can always rinse your feet off coming back in to your hotel and then put your flip flops or whatever back on.

Try to have a good time I%26#39;m sure that your little one will if you try too too

Good for you for trying something new! Children have a way of doing that to us, don%26#39;t they:-)The teacher in me is compelled to remind you there are no dumb ?%26#39;s. You are wise to seek advise and I feel you have received some great ideas. Can%26#39;t wait to hear how much fun you had! ENJOY:-)

Going to the beach for the first time as an adult is an experience I can%26#39;t imagine, but sharing that ';first time'; with your child will surely be an event neither of you will ever forget. I%26#39;m willing to bet you will soon be ';regulars'; like many of us.

Don%26#39;t forget the sunscreen...the sand reflects lots of sunlight %26amp; you will get a sunburn in no time even under an umbrella.

As for seashells, best bet is to get up early (and I mean EARLY, as in ';first light';) because most of the serious shellers are always out early also.

Great thread! It is interesting to think about--what do you tell someone who%26#39;s never been to the beach?

First and most importantly, heed Daddio%26#39;s advice above--use plenty of sunscreen! No messing around with this; get at least spf 30 and reapply often, and make sure the kids do the same. Without it you will burn very quickly, and there%26#39;s nothing worse than a vacation ruined by severe sunburn.

In addition to chairs/umbrella, you%26#39;ll want to bring a large blanket or towel to lie on, and each person will need a towel to dry off. Bring a cooler with your favorite beverages and snacks, and maybe a battery-powered radio...you%26#39;re all set to enjoy a day on the beach. Optional items:

-frisbee, football, or other sport items

-floats, rafts, boogie boards, etc.

-binoculars, good for watching distant boats and for spying other ';scenery'; :)

-garden spade, plastic bucket for playing in the sand

-reading material

About the shoes, you really don%26#39;t need them at all, but the sand can get very hot so you may want them just to walk back and forth. Close to the water the sand is wetter and cooler, so it%26#39;s not a problem. But the dry sand at the top of the beach can be torture, especially for kids. Crocs as recommended above are good, as are any waterproof shoes that are easy to slip on and off (flops, sandals, water shoes, etc.)

No need to go anywhere special to find shells. Just give your kids a plastic grocery bag and point them towards the beach. They%26#39;ll find plenty of things to put in it.

Have fun!

Go ahead and walk bare footed in the sand. Once you get beach sand between your toes walking at the tide line, it will NOT be the last time you come to the beach. There is NOTHING ELSE like walking on the beach !

Thanks guys for all the wonderful advice. You%26#39;ve all got me so HYPED UP for the beach now.....and I didn%26#39;t expect that to happen. Thanks.