Every single time I go to Fort Myers Beach, I swear I’m going to be smarter about sunscreen. Every. Time. And then I come home looking like a lobster who lost a fight with a tanning bed. But you know what? Totally worth it. There’s just something about sinking your toes into that soft sand and hearing the waves crash that makes you forget all about SPF 50.
The beach chaos always wins
Going to the beach is never as simple as it sounds. You pack the cooler, the towels, the chairs, the snacks, the sunscreen (which you later forget to reapply, of course), and by the time you drag everything from the car to the sand, you need a nap. My kids immediately sprint to the water while I collapse into a chair and pretend I’m a glamorous beach goddess. Reality check: I’m sweating, my hair’s frizzing, and the seagulls are eyeballing my chips like they’ve already filed a claim on them.
People watching is the real entertainment
Honestly, the ocean is gorgeous, but the people-watching? Next level. There’s always a guy with a speaker blasting Kenny Chesney, a family arguing about who lost the sunscreen, and a group of teenagers perfecting their volleyball poses like they’re auditioning for a commercial. I once saw a man build a sandcastle so big it deserved its own zip code, and then some toddler ran straight through it like Godzilla. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my lemonade.
By the end of the day, my cooler is empty, my skin is crispy, and I’ve got enough sand in the car to start my own mini dune. But driving home with the windows down, salty hair whipping in my face, I always think, “yep, that was the perfect day.” Sunburn and all.
