Tips on Being a Professional “Beach Bum”

Spend a little time on the beach and you will see a class of beachgoers that spend a greater portion of their day on the beach. These are the people that surf, jog, volleyball, lay out for hours on end. A few beach bum tips will help you shed your power tie in no time.

What is a professional beach bum? It is a person who spends most of their free time on or around the beach. Some may commute to the sand, but most live near the ocean. They are the locals that you see early in the morning and late at night when everyone else is gone.

Ok...I will probably never be a real “beach bum” but spending more time on the beach is hopefully in my future. A few hours a week won’t do much but may get me to beach bum “poser” status. Even if I don’t have the time, at least I can look like it.

The first thing you notice is that beach bums don’t wear the latest fashion. They are casual and come to realize that expensive clothing gets lost, dirty, or ruined. Why wear a $500 pair of glasses if you are going to sit on them?

Professional bums chronically are engaged in coastal activities. Their lives revolve around the beach, and they spend every moment they can outdoors enjoying the weather. You can see the deep-toned tan on their skin.

Beach bums either own a junky van or use alternative transportation. Commuting bums take their rusted out van, packed with gear, to the beach early and find the best spot. Locals don’t bother to drive because of traffic and prefer to bike or skateboard around.

Beach bums frequent the places far away from vacationers. If you want to be a be a local you have to stay away from expensive tourist traps and spend your time in the local dive bars and diners. Every beach bum knows the best 99 cent taco hot spots.

If you are likely ever to be a professional bum you will need to have a beach bum personality. Time is measured by the sun, and the outside world ceases to exist. When there is so much sand, the hourglass ceases to work.

It may take some time to learn how to be a professional beach bum, but you can do it if you practice “nothingness”. As you graduate from vacationer to local you will notice your persona change from the stuffy to the stuff less. Few things matter much on the beach other than how much time you have before you have to return to ordinary life.

Sunset Dining Experience at South Beach Bar and Grill

South Beach Bar and Grill isn’t your run of the mill chain mall dining experience. Located a block from Ocean Beach pier, adjacent to the beach, and less than a mile from the San Diego River entrance it is a seafaring restaurant that boasts a unique dockside experience. Hosting over 22 tequilas, over 40 different craft beers, flat screen TVs on nearly every wall and some of the best Mahi Mahi tacos in San Diego it draws a sizable beach thumping crowd.

Their menu contains many of your standard items like burgers, salads, and steaks but also provides some unique offers more exclusive the restaurant. You may opt for an Octopus Cocktail, Lobster Taco, or the Maui Chicken Grilled Pineapple and Teriyaki. If you’re a little adventurous you could try a Shark Taco or Oyster Shooter with Peppered Vodka.

South Beach Bar and Grill is popular with tourists around Ocean Beach. Restaurant experiences contribute to the overall tourist satisfaction of their vacation (Sparks, et. al., 2003). Customers who visit the area often find this popular destination conveniently located next to popular attractions. They may come to socialize with friends, sit down for a meal or have a beer and watch a game.

The theme of the restaurant also fits into the coastal lifestyle of San Diego and its natural history of commercial fishing. Restaurant themes help to create awareness of local cultures and livelihoods (Wood, et. al, 2007).  The type of atmosphere patrons experience at the establishment are likely to be remembered for some time and be recalled when thinking about San Diego.

San Diego boasts a lifestyle many Americans are unfamiliar with. Restaurants like South Beach Bar and Grill provide an atmosphere people will remember. With prices ranging from a few dollars at the low end to $18 at the high end most patrons will find the offerings affordable. If you are in the upstairs bar area you may just get a glimpse of the sunset while sipping on your favorite cocktail.

5059 Newport Ave #104

San Diego, CA 92107

http://southbeachob.com

Sparks, B. et. al. (2003). Restaurants and the tourist market. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 15 (1).

Wood, N., et. al. (2007). No rules, just right or is it? The role of themed restaurants as cultural ambassadors. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7 (3-4)

Sunset Cliff Photographs-Oceanside Light Show

Sunset Cliffs is located in the Ocean Beach district of San Diego. As an underdeveloped strip it maintains its charm as an attraction during the early evenings. Locals line up on the rocks and watch the sun make its way into the ocean providing a spectacular view.  Photographers make their way to the area to catch some of the most spectacular sunsets in the country.  

Because it is underdeveloped people can get hurt on the rocks. Stay away from the cliffs and stay within the roped areas. There is a nice spot to climb down to the waterfront but this does take a little agility. The rock that leads over a small crevice can be slippery when many people have traversed it in a short period.  On the waterfront, there are plenty of places to sit and many pools of water to jump over.

1253 Sunset Cliffs Blvd
San Diego, CA 92107