Two weeks ago, I embarked on an adventure of a magnitude greater than anything I’ve taken on in some time. I voluntarily took four large, somewhat hairy, sometimes smelly, puberty-stricken teenage boys (my “man-child” included) to the beach. Plus a dog the size of a small child and a child a tad bit larger than said dog. (To be technically correct, two of the teens rode down with us and a third joined us with his mother, teenager sister and teenage friend three days later. Tired yet?)
But surprisingly, the trip was perfect! And probably the cheapest trip we’ve taken. I was worried the boys would opt for the pricier seafood restaurants for each meal. But no. Only two liked seafood, one preferred peanut butter and milk and they all liked the oh so unhealthy, completely processed “boy fare.” Pizza Bites. Tater Tots. Cheese Puffs. Chicken strips. Things I would never buy and serve at home but splurged to keep these “men-in-the-making” happy and fed. Because a well-fed teen is a happy teen. Happy teen, happy mom, and dad, and dog.
I quickly learned that our beach, which I describe as “old school beach,” was perfect for this group and well, any beach vacation with kids. I always made apologies for our spot when others discuss the more manicured beach towns they visited. At our spot, you won’t see tree-lined streets with pretty tourists in linen shorts riding bikes with baskets from their suburban-style homes to the beach, already lined with matching umbrellas and upholstered lounge chairs. Nope. Not here. Old school beach means a busy beach with more than a few sunbathers sporting the thick-skinned, bacon-colored, leather look from too many sun rays and not enough SPFs. It means a dress code where white tank tops on men easily outnumber the collared shirt. But it also means fun, within walking distance of where you stay. Two arcades. A mini amusement park. Bands playing on the pier. Karaoke during the day by people who shouldn’t sing karaoke. And so on. It was great for our teens who moved in a huddled mass everywhere they went.
My favorite part of the trip was seeing how these growing boys are still kids at heart. They solved the pattern on an arcade game quickly winning all the tickets inside even though the biggest prizes for redeeming tickets were light-up swords and rainbow-colored unicorns. They bought stink bombs and fireworks to irritate the two girls in our condo. And they played hard in the ocean- jumping, tackling, and never slowing down.
It was a great vacation and one I’d do again with this crazy crowd. Unless they become really interested in girls. Then I might change my mind. Yes…I know I’d change my mind.
Packed in the car
.jpg "traveling with kids")
.jpg "shoreline tourists")
Three boys on the beach
.jpg "best family vacation south carolina")
A dozen eggs and a package of bacon every morning to feed the crew.jpg "eggs")
Growing boys means lots of legs and little room on the couch.jpg "teens and technology")
.jpg "tech free activities board games")
.jpg "walking to beach")
.jpg "Atlantic ocean vacation")
.jpg "legs water ocean")
And then there were four.jpg "raising teenage boys")
.jpg "beach vacation east coast")
.jpg "arcade checkered floor")
.jpg "arcade balls")
.jpg "arcade old school fun with kids bw")
.jpg "feet and arcade tickets")
.jpg "arcade ticket redeem-bw")
Boys and explosives. Always fun.
.jpg "fireworks night-FB")
.jpg "night fireworks green")
.jpg "sparklers at night")
Stuck on the interstate on the way home. Finishing the trip in style..jpg "wreck interstate")
