People all over the world love to visit the beach. The solitude and relaxation it brings certainly crosses all cultural and language barriers.  The sun setting over the Adriatic Sea in Europe is as intriguing and beautiful as it is over the Atlantic coast of Maine.  What are the differences across the ocean between Americans and Europeans when it comes to beach day? Let’s explore this summer activity from the shores of America to those of European nations.

A typical American family loves to spend a hot summer day at the beach. We put on our swimsuits, fill a cooler with bottled water and soda, pack a few sandwiches, pack our suntan lotion, iPod, and towel.  We load the kids’ bucket and shovel into the back of our SUV and head towards a day of fun in the sun.  Upon arriving, we park in an overcrowded parking lot and head to the free beaches that line the US coastlines. We see people strolling the beach searching for seashells, surfers searching for the perfect wave and kids digging in the sand. We observe teenage girls giggling as a group of boys walk by and couples watching the sun set over the water.  We drink our cold sodas and eat soggy sandwiches. Families enjoy Frisbee and friends enjoy volleyball. At the end of the day, more than a few Americans have left their mark on our beaches with empty bottles and wrappers. Sometimes a good Samaritan will take a leisurely walk and pick up the trash in a clear, plastic Wal-Mart bag. It’s just another typical day on an American beach. Is it like this all over the world? Do other cultures enjoy their beaches as we do?

Europeans take their vacations very seriously and spend an entire month in the summer on vacation.  In places like Italy, the cities are so crowded and hot in the summer that families close up their homes and head to the mountains or the beach.  Once there they pay to park and pay to visit the protected shorelines. Many families enjoy renting homes with private beach entry to avoid the steep fees to enter the beaches. Europeans enjoy quality time with their families and take a much needed break from their daily lives.

In contrast to Americans who pack coolers and blankets, many Europeans pack picnic tables and barbecues. Europeans take their food very seriously. Planning is done in the morning with a visit to the local meat shop, bakery, and fruit and vegetable stand. Grandma’s and mothers spend the morning preparing and cooking the food for the day. 

Once at the beach families and couples stroll along the sandy shore much like their American counterparts, except that on most European beaches, clothing is optional.  Europeans do not look at this as anything other than natural and children play right alongside nude sunbathers. This may seem odd to the American visiting European beaches, but to Europeans, it is the norm. Europeans also have a special bond with their beaches; cleanup and is a must and is strictly enforced.  Families spend weeks visiting familiar restaurants and sipping wine in a cafe overlooking the beach. Many activities like shelling, surfing and watching the sunset are similar to the ones vacationers enjoy in America.

Each year thousands of people visit beaches on both sides of the Atlantic, and one thing is a constant: beach-goers enjoy the sandy feet and salty oceans no matter where they are in the world.