From beach sports days to treasure hunts, Rockwater shares some fresh ideas for a family day on the coast
The school holidays may be entering their final stretch, but there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy. For families looking to make the most of the remaining weeks without planning another big trip, Rockwater, the coastal hospitality group with venues in Hove and Branksome, shares five fun ways to turn a day by the sea into a memorable family day out.
- Create Your Own Beach Sports Day
Bring a few classic sports day bits down to the beach and turn the afternoon into a family competition. Set up an egg-and-spoon race along the sand, split into teams for tug of war or mark out a start and finish line for a sack race. Keep score throughout the day and let everyone take turns choosing the next event. The beach gives traditional sports day games a fun summer twist, and it is an easy way to get the whole family involved rather than simply sitting by the water.
- A Little Indoor Intermission
British summer weather rarely sticks to the itinerary, but a spell of rain does not need to mean abandoning the coast altogether. Treat indoor time as part of the day rather than the backup plan, breaking up time on the beach with somewhere to eat, get creative or simply dry off before heading back outside.
Both Rockwater Hove and Rockwater Branksome sit directly beside the coast, making them an easy stop before or after time on the beach. At Rockwater Hove, the summer programme continues with a Kids’ Collage Class on 26 August from 10am until 12pm, giving younger visitors a chance to cut, stick and create their own artwork by the sea.
- Swap The Car For Two Wheels
The promenade can become an activity in its own right. Pack the bikes or scooters and choose a stretch of seafront where the family can explore at its own pace, stopping whenever something catches their attention. Giving children a destination to ride towards can make the journey feel like part of the day rather than simply a way of getting from one place to another.
- Turn The Beach Into A Treasure Hunt
Make a simple list before you leave with things for the kids to spot along the coast, from a striped shell to a boat in the distance or something shaped like a heart. It gives the walk a purpose and works just as well for younger children as it does for older ones. To make it last a little longer, split into teams, add a few trickier finds and finish with a small prize for whoever completes the most of the list.
- Make A Beach Time Capsule
Give everyone a piece of paper to write or draw their favourite thing about the summer, then collect them together to open next year. You can add photos or little paper mementos from the day without taking anything natural away from the beach. Add the date, where you spent the day and one thing each person wants to do next summer, then seal everything away somewhere safe until the holidays come around again.
