I Don't Like Beaches Sometimes: So Here's What I Do Instead

Let me say something controversial: beaches are overrated.

There, I said it.

Well, sand is overrated. Beaches are fine if they don't have sand.

I can feel the collective gasp of travel influencers worldwide as I type this.

I can sense beach lovers mentally composing angry comments. But I stand by my statement.

It's not that I don't understand the appeal. I get why people love stretching out on warm sand, listening to waves crash against the shore, sipping something cold and fruity while pretending they're going to finish reading that paperback.

It's just that for me, beaches represent a particular kind of vacation: sun that seems determined to transform me into a lobster regardless of SPF level, sand that infiltrates every possible crevice and electronic device, and the peculiar pressure to "relax" that somehow makes me more tense than my normal everyday anxiety.

So what do I do instead? I'm glad you asked. Here are my alternatives to the traditional beach vacation for those of us who prefer our adventures with less sand and sunburn.

Mountain Towns in the Off-Season

Ski resorts and mountain towns transform when the snow melts. The prices drop, the crowds thin out, and what remains is often a perfect blend of outdoor adventure and small-town charm.

Last February I went to British Columbia.

While beach-goers were fighting for towel space on the Bahamas, I was watching the sunset from a cruise ship overlooking Victoria Peak, with an entire viewing platform to myself.

Literary Tourism

Why lie on a beach reading books when you could visit the places where those books were written or set?

I spent a day tracing Sándor Márai's footsteps through Budapest, wandering the grand cafés of Andrássy Avenue where he once wrote, climbing the stairs to the Castle District, and sitting in the same Café where he debated with fellow writers in the early 20th century.

There's something transcendent about reading a book and then going to the place the author himself frequented, standing on the Chain Bridge at dusk, seeing the Danube through the same melancholic lens he described in "Memoir of Hungary." The city becomes both setting and character simultaneously.

For the less than the price of a day at an all-inclusive beach resort, you could feel the weight of literary history in these places, walking the same cobblestones as your favorite authors and returning home with a connection to their work that no reading guide could ever provide.

Food-Focused City Breaks

Some travelers organize their itineraries around museums and historical sites. I organize mine around meals.

A trip to London becomes an exploration of traditional British pubs serving local specialties. A weekend in Singapore transforms into a methodical sampling of every night market. Even less-celebrated food cities like Boulder or Park City have culinary gems that tell the story of the place better than any tour guide.

Between meals, I walk EVERYWHERE. Partly to see the city, mostly to make room for the next feast. I've found that cities with reputations for terrible weather (London, Seattle) often have the most dynamic food scenes. Perhaps chefs flourish when they don't have beach weather tempting them outside.

Cultural Immersion via Classes

My favorite souvenirs aren't trinkets; they're skills. Instead of lying horizontally on vacation, I prefer to engage vertically, standing in a kitchen, leaning over a workbench, or hovering over a loom.

I've taken cooking classes in Italy, pottery workshops, and dance lessons in Spain. These experiences connect you with local experts passionate about sharing their knowledge, and you come home with abilities that last longer than a tan.

The best part? These activities often take place in climate-controlled environments with comfortable chairs and a distinct lack of sand in uncomfortable places.

Historical Deep Dives

History is everywhere, but it's rarely on the beach (with notable exceptions like Normandy or Dunkirk).

Some of my most memorable trips have focused on deeply exploring one historical period or event in the place where it happened. Following the path of Hadrians Wall. Touring Churches and Cathedrals with a knowledgeable guide. Exploring the volcanic ruins of Pompeii.

These trips engage your mind in a way that beach vacations rarely do. They're educational without feeling like homework, and they give you context for the current events unfolding in these regions today.

Quirky Festivals

Why visit a place during its normal operation when you could see it at its most bizarre?

I've attended Frankfurts Fasching, Isreal's Yom Ha'atzmaut, and a festival in Spain where people dress as devils and run through the streets with fireworks attached to pitchforks (the safety protocols were concerning, but the patatas bravas were excellent).

These events show you a side of local culture you'd never see otherwise, and they give you stories that don't start with "So I was lying on the beach..."

The Anti-Resort: Farm Stays

For those who still want relaxation but without the beach scene, farm stays offer a peaceful alternative.

These accommodations range from working farms where you can help collect eggs and milk goats to luxury versions with farm-to-table restaurants and spa treatments. You get the pastoral views, the connection to nature, and the satisfaction of knowing where your food comes from—all without the need for sunscreen reapplication every two hours.

I've never done a farm stay outside of Australia, where we own a farm. And on our farm my biggest responsibility was deciding whether to pick apples or visit the chickens each morning. The pace is slow, the local food is incredible, and not once did I ever have to shake sand out of my shoes (only the occaisonal spider...)

Winter Embrace

If you really want to avoid beach crowds, travel during the opposite season. Embrace winter. Learn to love layers.

The French Alps in February are magical, with its winter carnival. Japan's snow monkeys bathing in hot springs make for better wildlife viewing than most beach destinations can offer. Even traditionally summer spots like Mediterranean islands take on a different, more authentic character in the off-season.

Plus, winter travel often means better deals, shorter lines (unless you're skiing), and the deep satisfaction of posting snow photos while your friends are complaining about summer heat waves.

The Verdict

I'm not trying to convert beach lovers. If lying on sand is your bliss, I respect that and will happily look at your Instagram stories from a distance. But if you've ever felt secretly bored on a beach vacation, or if you've returned home feeling like you need a vacation from your vacation, know that there are alternatives.

The world is full of experiences that don't require swimwear or sand removal techniques. And in my experience, the best souvenirs are the ones that don't need to be shaken out before packing.

So the next time someone suggests a beach getaway, feel free to counter with a pottery class in Kyoto or a food tour of Mexico City.

Your sunburn-free skin will thank you, and your travel stories will be far more interesting at dinner parties.

Just maybe don't tell the beach lovers in your life. They get weirdly defensive.

And as always, if you want to book an exciting adventure, reach out to my wife at https://vistaexpeditiontravel.com/

A very crowded Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia