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Home » Nature Outings » Beaches

Simple Play: The Wave Game

Waves. I sit and I listen. Or I stroll with my toes feeling the sea foam, heels sinking in the soft sand.

The roar blocks out everything else. It's one of the most calming sounds I know.  When I watch from a distance, it's enough just to witness the surfers gliding or to see children digging holes to be filled by sea water.

With the incredible heat inland, all I've wanted to do was play with the waves of the cool Pacific.

Hear the rumble?

As I sat on a rocky beach this weekend, the waves played with me and my camera.

It became a game, like Cloud Watching. Instead of comparing a cloud to a floating whale or the shape of a diving pelican -- the waves begged me to guess their mood. Was this one an angry slap or a gentle strum? Was this wave feeling calm and relaxed or frantic to get somewhere? Or maybe it was just there for the sake of a SPLASH?

Or to meet in the middle and give itself a "high five"?

This one mixed up a recipe for Sandy Soup!

My favorite? The one that tickles the toes of the sea birds scuttling back and forth in an endless game of tag.

That's the game I used to play,
with my friends, The Waves,
way back when I was a kid!

I wonder what your kids think the waves feel?  Play the Wave Game some day and let me know.

More Beaches in OC

  • 2025 Best Beach Restaurants in Orange County (Family Friendly)
  • 6 Best Toddler Beaches with No Waves
  • 7+ Beach Playgrounds Right in the Sand
  • Best Tidepooling and Beaches for Minus Tides (with Tide Table Tools)

About Michele Whiteaker

Writer mom and nature guide promoting play and empowering families to prioritize outside time since 2008. Park information gathered through my personal experiences and provided as a FREE community resource to millions of Orange County families over the past 17 years via blog and social media. Subscribe to my FREE weekly email inspiring you with park tips and play ideas.

"The Park Lady"

My name is Michele Whiteaker and I'd love for you to think of me as your personal Play Concierge. When I used to search online for family-friendly activities, nothing quite fit my playful outdoor interests or tight budget.

More about me

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