Article Excerpt:
For centuries, human beings feared the sea. “Any 17th-century European pirate could tell you terrifying tales of sea monsters dwelling in the dark waters,” Adee Braun wrote in 2013. “A pirate was about as likely to swim in the sea as a pilot is to jump out of his plane.” And the beach, “as the gateway to the sea,” wasn’t very compelling either.
Braun went on to explain that beaches remained largely empty until the 18th century, when the English began to investigate the possible medicinal effects of the ocean. Cold sea water was introduced as a “wonder drug” for the ailments of British high society. And the rest is sandy history.
Nowadays, beaches are well-established sites of luxury, but in recent years, Atlantic contributors have started to question whether oceanside holidays are actually any fun. Last year, the writer Lauren Groff made a compelling case for the “psychological torment” that kicks in if you start to think about the unintended consequences of a beach vacation on the surrounding environment and place.