Personal Narrative Essay: What Old Orchard Beach Means to Me

Old Orchard Beach in Maine holds a special place in my heart. I have been going up there every year since I was about one week old. Usually, my family goes up there in July for our summer vacation. Going up to Maine and specifically to this beach has been a family tradition for decades. Old Orchard Beach holds a place in my heart and being there brings me joy and relaxation. This place is important to my family because of its long tradition and the comfort and happiness we derive from being at the beach. I love visiting the beach because of the nostalgia and relaxation that it offers me every time I’m there.

The beach is beautiful and the land that it is made up of makes it breathtaking from the first steps that are taken on the beach. When arriving at the beach, there is a long, gray, wooden boardwalk surrounded by razor grass that leads you up a sandy hill and eventually onto the beach. The sand on the beach is usually quite hot and is difficult to walk on with bare feet. People set down towels and blankets to provide a spot to stand while they unpack their belongings. There are occasions, however, when there was rain the night before and the sand underneath the top layer is cold and refreshing. When it rains there is always more red seaweed and yellow sea foam that comes to the shore which usually washes up on the sand during low tide. The water is cold and refreshing on a hot day and when it’s especially warm, the water tends to feel like sitting in a warm bath. The setting of the beach is quite relaxing and beautiful. There are seven white and red lifeguard towers that line the beach from one side to the other and from where my family sets up our things, the pier can be seen down the beach. The smells of the beach are nostalgic and comforting to me since I associate them with the calm and joyful vacation that I am on while I’m there. The smell usually consists of sunscreen from all of the people on the beach and a salty smell from the ocean itself. However, there are a great deal of things to do and see while visiting the beach.

The atmosphere and people of the beach add to the cheerful environment and make the whole experience of being there pleasant. There are big, jagged rocks halfway down the beach covered in barnacles and full of crabs and snails. During low tide, it is not uncommon to see most kids down at the rocks trying to find the crabs and the snails and picking them up when they find one. This means that usually many buckets and shovels are lining the beach while kids play in the water and explore the rocks and ocean. Music can be heard from different peoples’ speakers and usually is upbeat and that makes the beach brighter and joyful. Another interesting thing is the airplanes that fly over the beach every few hours. Attached to the tail of the plane is usually an advertisement for places like restaurants, water parks, and other tourist attractions that might be interesting to visitors. When I walk down the beach, I always see large, detailed sand sculptures that people have worked on for hours as well as deep and large holes that kids have dug in the sand. The sculptures always leave me amazed and impressed and the holes remind me of when I was younger and would try my best to jump into everyone I could find. The land at the beach is not the only thing with a great deal of activity occurring within it during the day. The ocean is also full of activity and people trying their hands at new experiences.

It is not uncommon to see many  people in the ocean and above the ocean doing a multitude of activities as well as people exploring the stores along the side of the beach. During high tide, there are usually paddle boarders who slowly make their way across the water and try their best not to fall off. Sailboats come by at high tide as well and can be spotted far out in the ocean. My mom and I always make an effort to point out the sailboats to each other since both of us find them beautiful. Parasailers are also common at Old Orchard Beach and can be found sailing over the ocean around noon time. The majority of people are floating in the water or jumping waves with their friends or family. During low tide, however, many adults and kids can be found boogie boarding and surfing all down the beach. At lunchtime, most people head to the sandwich shop along the side of the beach and then head over to the ice cream shop after to cool off with root beer floats and a multitude of ice cream flavors. When everyone comes back with their food the seagulls on the beach often try to steal food out of people’s bags or hands. After lunch, the crowd on the beach starts to gradually decrease and by five o’clock the beach is mostly empty. Something special that happens at night on the beach is extremely unique and pleasurable to me. On Thursday nights, everyone gathers on the beach to watch fireworks that are set off on the pier, and everyone is always laughing and clapping. I’ve always loved this time and it brings me a great deal of happiness and excitement.

The beach holds a special place in my heart and every small detail I’ve noticed has made me feel more endearment towards the beach. I continue to go there every summer and all of the experiences I’ve had there have made it my favorite place to visit and think about. The people, environment, activities, and atmosphere that is at Old Orchard Beach brings me joy and peace. The beach is an important part of my family’s life and its tradition continues in my family and will continue for a long time. The beach is relaxing, full of life, and a happy place that I am thankful to visit. My family continues to love and come back to this place every year and I wouldn’t have it any other way.