26 Fun Things To Do at the Beach for Adults (Make the Most of Your Coastal Adventures)

Billions of people around the world enjoy visiting the beach to smell the seaside air and perhaps to have a cheeky dip in the water if they’re feeling adventurous.

The fun doesn’t stop there though, and that’s why we’ve come up with a selection of our favorite fun things to do at the beach, specifically for adults. Why let kids have all the fun, right?

1. Have a Coffee

Can you imagine anything better than having a freshly blended coffee whilst sitting at your favorite café down the beach? No, we can’t think of many things better than that either.

There are tons of coffee shops and local cafés situated down the seaside and they’re the perfect way to escape the noise of children whilst allowing you to indulge in a fine beverage. Most local coffee shops also serve food meaning you can grab a toastie or another tasty treat to take with you on your seaside adventure.

2. Indulge in Gelato

Gelato and ice cream are almost synonymous with a visit to the beach. It’s the perfect occasion to have a sweet treat to cool you down from the hot, sandy beach air.

In fact, lots of coastal areas have locally brought in ice creams and gelato from nearby farms meaning you shouldn’t be stuck for choice, only too much choice! Coffee, rum and raisin, pistachio, or plain vanilla, whatever gelato you fancy is just a beach drive away.

3. Eat some locally caught fish

There’s nothing quite like eating freshly caught fish, and that’s because it’s often served within only an hour or two of being caught meaning you’re getting the best possible experience.

Lots of beachside restaurants have deals with local fishermen (and women) meaning you shouldn’t be too hard-pressed to find somewhere serving up the most recent catch of the day.

We highly recommend fried calamari if you can get some, the smell is unreal and it melts in your mouth.

4. Skinny Dipping

If you’re daring enough, going naked into the ocean is a rather liberating experience that can help you feel relaxed and more in touch with your body.

We usually recommend warmer oceans to do this in, though, some people do enjoy cold-water swimming as it’s purported to display some benefits.

Skinny dipping is more enjoyable when done with others which is why we recommend trying to convince your friends to get their kit off too!

5. Hit the Bars

Grabbing a cocktail or two is fun, but it’s much better when done down at the beach.

There’s something almost romantic about sipping a cold cocktail whilst down at the seaside that really helps add to the experience.

Most coastal areas should have a bar or two now, especially since it’s an easy way to provide some much-needed respite for the adults to chill out and unwind.

Always drink responsibly and make sure to avoid drinking too much on hot days!

6. Sunbathing

Going to the beach and sunbathing is an almost symbiotic relationship.

It goes hand in hand and that’s because the beach is the perfect place to lie down to chill out while getting bronzed by the sun.

You can enhance your enjoyment with things like deck chairs and a beach parasol for when you need some shade.

We also recommend grabbing some SPF cream (even if you’re of a darker complexion) to keep you protected from getting burnt.

Other than that, have at it and make the most of those rays.

7. Picnic

What’s better than going to the beach?

Well, going to the beach for a picnic, of course.

Don’t forget to make the most of your seaside day out with some tasty treats and maybe a bottle of wine if you’re feeling luxurious.

It’s a great and simple way to enhance the pleasure of going to the beach for a day out and allows you to energize yourself when you want to stretch your legs for a stroll.

8. Make a Bonfire

Making a fire down the beach is probably one of the safest places to do so, and in fact, it’s a relatively popular pastime depending on where you are in the world.

There’s something primal about making a huge fire and just staring into it as it flickers and moves around.

Combine that with the calming sound of the ocean as it laps against the shore and you’ve got a perfect evening in store.

As a suggestion, why not make a night out of it with some friends?

You can even take things like drinks and marshmallows to indulge in as you roast them over the fire.

9. Rock Walking

Walking on the rocks should be treated with caution, though, it’s one of the most adventurous ways to spend your time at the beach.

Not only do you get to hop between different rocks and practice your footing, but you’ll also be able to observe all the different wildlife that make these rocks their home.

It’s quite likely you’ll spot crabs, fish, and lots of other creatures such as mollusks.

Other than that, you can make a rock a great place to sit to just chill out whilst listening to the waves, however, take note of the tides as it’s easy to become stranded.

10. Collect Rocks

Most beaches are packed with rocks, and there’s no end to how varied they can get.

It’s the perfect place to start a rock tumbling hobby as you’ll be able to get lots of material for free.

Though, for most people, simply collecting the rock as a decoration or for something to look at is enough.

It’s cheap, fun, and a good way to start a collection of something; give it a try!

11. Sand Art

Sand is a great medium to project your artistic visions on, especially since you can make them almost as big as you want.

When you’re at the beach, simply grab a stick and get drawing whatever you want in the sand.

You can inscribe messages, faces, drawings, and basically anything else that comes to mind.

Some people have even proposed through their sand art, so don’t be afraid of trying something grand.

12. Jet Skiing

Jet skiing doesn’t have to be just for the rich and famous.

Lots of coastal locations have various activity and entertainment businesses that’ll be happy to rent you a jet ski out for a small fee.

You don’t need a license for jet skiing either, though, we do recommend doing some practice runs first to make sure you’re confident.

There’s very little more thrilling than taking a jet ski for a spin, especially since they can reach some crazy high speeds.

13. Windsurfing

Windsurfing is a high-octane sporting hobby that involves, you guessed it, a surfboard, however, the main difference is that you have a sail attached to it meaning you’ll be able to generate propulsion regardless of the waves.

For adults, this is a great activity if you’re into more active pursuits and can be a great way to destress after a long week at work.

The only drawback with windsurfing is that the equipment is highly specialized making it rather expensive.

We only recommend trying this if you have a bit of spare money to splash out on a windsurfing board.

14. Coastal Cycling

There are thousands of miles of coastline all around the world to be explored, and what better way to do that than on a bicycle where you can experience the coastal breeze hitting your face?

In fact, there are even designated coastal routes in many countries around the world meaning you can explore all the various beaches with relative ease.

Road bikes are faster, however, they are specialized for smooth terrain, and since you can’t always guarantee it, we would recommend grabbing a hybrid road bike instead for the ruggedness.

15. Collect Wood

Wood collecting is another novel pastime that is often done as a way of collecting material for whittling (wood carving).

However, some people just like to collect novel items, and most beaches have tons of wood that wash up in all kinds of shapes and sizes.

There’s no particular way you need to go about this so have at it and see what you can find.

16. Message in a Bottle

Messages in a bottle are a very unique, and often heartwarming way of communicating with others from around the world, or on the very same beach you threw your bottle into the water from.

There’s no set way to do this, but we recommend getting a watertight bottle (preferably glass) and rolling up your note so you can fit it inside with ease.

You can write anything you want, about your life, about the decades you’re living through, and perhaps, maybe what you envision for the future.

Some people have even found messages from decades ago and have often felt profoundly impacted by the messages contained inside.

Don’t underestimate this one.

17. Boat Party

What better way to let loose in luxurious fashion than to throw a wild party on a boat or a yacht?

It’s unlikely you’ll have friends rich enough to own their own yacht, however, you can rent boats out for exactly this purpose.

The best thing about boat parties is that they can get pretty crazy without you having to worry about disturbing others around you.

Though, we do recommend a little bit of caution with any kind of water-based activities, especially if you’re having a drink.

18. Hire a Beach Hut

Beach huts are the perfect escape for people wanting to swap their typical hustle and bustle lifestyle for a bit of the seaside life.

In fact, beach huts have exploded in popularity since early 2020 due to most people wanting something to do whilst in lockdown.

Beach huts give you a tiny slice of beach heaven for you to relax in, read a book, or sip on a nice wine.

This is a great activity for any adult as it gives you an opportunity to escape the norm and get together with friends to chill out.

19. Community Exercise

The beach typically attracts a certain type of outgoing, adventurous person, and better yet, that means there are plenty of opportunities to get together with other like-minded people for a community exercise session.

If you’re wanting to challenge your body in a scenic environment whilst reaping the rewards of your fitness, then why not join a community exercise group located down the beach?

If you’re not sure where to start then we recommend using Google to find classes in your area.

20. Boat Spotting

Okay, admittedly, this isn’t the most typical thing to do at the beach, but for those who appreciate the engineering that goes into ships then boat spotting can be a good way to pass the time.

This is really location dependant as some beaches and harbors are busier than others, though, for those lucky enough it can be a bustling center of trade and commerce with ships being at the forefront of all this activity

You can even combine your enthusiasm for ships with photography and can capture ships coming into to harbor, or whilst docked.

21. Rock Stacking

Ever seen those unusual rock structures down the beach where they’re precariously balanced on top of each other?

That’s rock stacking.

Although it seems simple, it’s a really fun way to pass the time and can even lead to a regular hobby if you’re down the beach enough.

The challenge isn’t completing the structure, it comes in the form of patience and having enough time to complete it.

It’s the perfect little hobby to take your focus off the stresses of life and onto something more engaging.

22. Fishing

Going to the beach is synonymous with aquatic life and fishing.

If you’re a regular beach-goer then we recommend grabbing a fishing rod and giving it a try, not necessarily to eat what you catch but just as good sport.

Most fishing enthusiasts return the fish back to the water once they’ve got a good picture of it as it’s more about prestige than survival.

With that said, fresh fish can be a tasty treat if you’re a meat eater and fishing can be a good way to save a few dollars from buying it in-store.

Although it’s predominantly men who end up fishing, it’s seeing a surge in popularity with women too, so don’t let anything stop you.

23. Snorkeling

If you’ve ever wanted to get closer to the ocean and its wonders, then there’s no better way to do that than snorkeling.

It’s a great activity and no two trips under the water are the same.

We recommend a degree of vigilance and caution before you go sea swimming, though, when practiced safely it’s perfectly fine.

You’ll need a snorkeling kit (mask, flippers, and snorkel), however, we also recommend getting a wetsuit too to enhance your experience in the water and to prevent any grazes from occurring.

24. Visit Coastal Ruins

Humans have been drawn to the coastline for thousands of years and because of this, there are literally thousands of ruins all around the world for you to explore across various beaches.

If you’re not familiar with where to go then a simple Google search should point you in the right direction or at least will give you a few ideas of places to visit.

We recommend making a day out of this with some friends or family; don’t forget to pack some lunch too as it’s likely you’ll be out for a good few hours.

25. Spelunking (Cave Exploration)

Spelunking, otherwise known as cave exploration, is the perfect activity for daring adventurers.

The beach is a great place to find caves and they’re often hosting lots of different wildlife living inside them. You might even be lucky enough to find crystals growing inside them which can really make for a magical experience.

We recommend consulting an expert before you try venturing into caves, especially since they require a degree of caution as it’s easy to become trapped inside.

26. Glass Collecting

Last, but not least, glass collecting is another very popular activity for adults who visit the beach.

As you may know, the natural lapping of the waves against the shores and the rocks slowly smoothes out any glass pieces into rounded objects of beauty.

You’ll be able to find a wide variety of glass colors with some being rarer than others.

As a tip, we recommend rocky beaches rather than sandy beaches as they’re often better for finding the glass for your collection.

5 Simple Tips on How to Enjoy the Beach

Going to the beach needn’t be stressful, especially if you know how to prepare for an enjoyable time. Follow these tips to guarantee an enjoyable time down at the beach.

Know why you’re going — have an idea in mind of what you’d like to accomplish at the beach i.e. is it to relax, have fun, or get more active?
Take the essentials — depending on the activity, you might need to prepare some things; don’t forget the sun cream either!
Bring company — Most activities or days out are far more fun when shared with others, so why not get in touch with a friend you haven’t seen in a while to arrange a date?
Observe Water Safety — Water-based activities require an extra degree of care which is why we recommend checking out these safety guidelines.
Be courteous of others — Most beaches are public spaces; treat them how you would want others to treat them.