How to Navigate Beach Etiquette this Summer

Summary

Podcast Summary: "How to Navigate Beach Etiquette this Summer"

All Of It with Alison Stewart, WNYC
Original Air Date: June 12, 2026
Host: David Fuerst (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Jeremy Schneider, NJ.com food and culture writer; author of “New Jersey Beach: 15 Ways to Make Sure No One Hates You at the Jersey Shore, 2026 edition”

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Overview

This lively episode dives into the dos and don’ts of beach behavior just in time for summer, mixing practical advice with callers’ stories and frequent laughs. David Fuerst welcomes Jeremy Schneider, who shares his wisdom on avoiding “beach villain” status—those well-meaning or oblivious people whose actions can ruin others’ relaxation by the sea. Topics range from sound pollution to seagull chaos, parking etiquette, respecting wildlife, sun safety, and resolving conflicts with good humor and empathy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Why Do We Lose Our Minds at the Beach?

• New Attitude, Old Problems:
  Many people "flip a switch" into “vacation mind” at the beach, forgetting standard social awareness in the name of relaxation. Schneider remarks on how the desire to unwind can lead to “I don’t care what you think” behavior.

  "It's a happy place for people...sometimes as we're trying to do that, we don't think about everyone else we're with." (Jeremy, [02:46])

• Mission:
  Jeremy sees himself as a “gospel spreader” of beach etiquette, aiming to teach one “beach visit at a time.” ([02:04])

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Beach Etiquette Starts in the Parking Lot ([04:00])

• Parking Pitfalls:
  Beach parking is limited and precious. Taking up more than one space, dawdling, or being inconsiderate sets a bad tone for everyone.

  "Please, when you're parking, make sure you're only taking up one spot. And…don't dawdle...we all want to get out of our hot cars and get on that, on that cool sand." (Jeremy, [04:00])

• Leaving Notes?
  David asks if it’s okay to leave a note on someone’s car after bad parking.

  "There is no way that putting a note on someone's car is actually going to fix anything. But I love it anyway…if you're parking in an uncourteous manner…you deserve a note." (Jeremy, [05:01])

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Saving Spots and Early-Bird Beachgoers ([06:01])

• Reserving Territory:
  Claiming a patch of sand for late-arriving friends is a gray area—fine if the beach is empty and they’re not too late, but comes off as inconsiderate otherwise.

  "If you're holding this for... you're putting this down at 9am and they're getting there at noon. That is a, that's a beach foul." (Jeremy, [06:07])

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Music at the Beach: The Soundtrack Debate ([07:01], [07:40])

• Callers Reminisce—Unanimous on Boomboxes:
  Jackie fondly recalls transistor radios—but doesn’t want to go back.

  "That's the beach's soundtrack, not something coming off a boombox." (Jackie, [07:01])

• Jeremy: Use Headphones!

  "There's a crazy invention in 2026 called headphones. If you want to listen to music at the beach...use your headphones." (Jeremy, [07:40])
  "If you're blasting music, that's terrible...especially...about someone leaving the boombox on as they went into the water. That's incredibly disrespectful. Jail. Beach. Jail." (Jeremy, [08:07])

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“Cloth Walls” and Obstructive Setup ([08:32])

• On Wind Screens:
  Large windbreaks or tents blocking the ocean view are called out as a rising nuisance.

  "If you're putting up something like that...it better not be impeding my view of the beach, because the best part of being at the ocean is looking at the ocean or being in it." (Jeremy, [08:46])

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Respecting Wildlife and the Dunes ([09:39], [10:41], [21:58])

• Caller Chris alerts for Plover Chick Nesting Season:
  “Do not bring your dog to the beach in June and July…please just follow the posted rules. These birds don't get a lot of space.” (Chris, [09:39])

• Jeremy echoes:

  "We are visiting the beach. It is not our environment...Respect the wildlife, respect the dunes." (Jeremy, [10:41])

• Homemade “Ticks” Signs:
  Caller Judy created fake warning signs to keep kids off the protected dunes.

  “Just the way to keep people off.” (David, [23:07])
  “Maybe say there's poison ivy or something...if you're bringing your kid to the beach, this is not a playground. This is not your...keep your kids in check." (Jeremy, [23:09])

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Smoking & Littering: Universal No’s ([11:33], [12:09], [12:53])

• Strong Opinions:

  "Nothing can ruin a beach day like getting a big old face full of secondhand smoke." (Jeremy, [12:09])

• Littering Amplifies the Annoyance:

  "If you're leaving trash at the beach, you're the worst kind of person." (Jeremy, [13:40])

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How to Politely Address Bad Behavior ([14:06])

• Caller Kelly asks for conflict-resolution tips.

• Jeremy urges “Kill with Kindness”:

  "If someone's being rude...be subtle--'Hey, I'm so sorry. Could you maybe turn your music down?'...If they're not receptive...then you might escalate things. But...be as cordial as possible." ([14:32])

• Key Advice:

  "Just be a good human." (Jeremy, [15:41])

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The Personal Space Principle ([17:04], [18:14])

• Caller Trey’s “Under My Umbrella” Problem:
  People sometimes sit uncomfortably close, even stealing shade.

• Jeremy: Use Common Sense:

  "If the towels are touching, that's too [close]...Personal space is at a premium at the beach." (Jeremy, [18:14]) “This is not a Rihanna situation. Do not get under my umbrella.” (Jeremy, [18:40])

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Logistics for Groups and “Staking Out” Spots ([19:49], [21:48], [25:23])

• Avoid Abusing Privileges:

  "Sometimes you see one or two people...stake out an entire city block...that is abusing the privilege." (Jeremy, [21:36])

• Kids and Area Demarcation:
  Families understandably try to carve out territory for groups of kids, but Jeremy warns against excessive land grabs.

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Kids & Games: Fun but With Courtesy ([23:09], [24:20], [25:12])

• Playing is Great—But Think About Sand and Space:

  "If you're beating out your towel right next to someone, then you're abusing the privilege of the beach." (Jeremy, [23:53]) "I love, love me some can jam...Just make them [games] discretion...try to do that as far off as possible...you're not on the U.S. national team." (Jeremy, [24:32])

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Mixing Groups: Singles, Families, Everyone in Between ([25:23], [26:59])

• Caller Juan wishes for kid/family and singles/smokers/music zones.
• Jeremy: Know Your Surroundings:

  "If you're blasting the music with the curses and then you're lighting up...then you're the problem...Observe your surroundings." ([26:59])

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The Seagull Scourge ([28:04], [28:49])

• Don’t Feed the Birds—Ever:

  "I hate you...if you're feeding the seagulls, you are emboldening them. They can be a terror...Don't feed the birds." (Jeremy, [28:04]) “Feeding the birds continues to condition them. We're gonna mob up on everybody.” (Jeremy, [28:27])

• Most Formidable Gulls:
  “Atlantic City seagulls...they probably still nursing a hangover...they're ready to strike.” (Jeremy, [28:53])

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Cleanliness, Sun Safety, and Wardrobe Finales ([29:05] and on)

• Jeremy’s Favorite Beaches:
  Cape May (overall winner), Asbury Park (all-around experience), Manasquan (nostalgia).

• Final Advice:

  “Just imagine, I mean, golden rule. We're all trying to get a little golden tan…just be a good person…wear suntan lotion…observe personal space.” (Jeremy, [29:46])

• Beach Attire?

  “Keep it decent out here, people. Come on, just have some self-respect.” (Jeremy, [30:15])

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Use your headphones!...Jail. Beach. Jail.” – Jeremy on blaring music ([08:07])
• "Do not bring your dog to the beach in June and July…these birds don’t get a lot of space." – Chris, NYC Plover Project ([09:39])
• "Just be a good human." – Jeremy ([15:41], [29:46])
• "Do not get under my umbrella. That is a terrible…Oh, my. I'm so sorry that happened to you." – Jeremy, on people crowding personal space ([18:40])
• "If you're leaving trash at the beach, you're the worst kind of person." – Jeremy ([13:40])
• "Observe your surroundings. It cuts both ways." – Jeremy, on mixing families and singles ([26:59])

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Segment Highlights (with Timestamps)

• [02:04]: Introduction, Jeremy's mission spreading good beach manners
• [04:00]: Parking lot etiquette
• [07:01]: Music at the beach, classic radios vs. modern speakers
• [09:39]: Wildlife protection and pet rules
• [11:33]: Smoking and littering
• [14:06]: Tactfully addressing bad beach behavior
• [17:04]: Personal space and umbrella boundaries
• [19:49]: Managing late-arriving group members and group setups
• [23:09]: Enforcing dune protection, kids’ behavior
• [24:20]: Playing games respectfully
• [28:04]: Seagulls, feeding wildlife
• [29:46]: General principles for a harmonious beach day

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Takeaways

• The best beach days come from everyone following the golden rule: “Just be a good person.”
• Maintain spatial awareness, keep music and odors to yourself, and leave the sand and wildlife as you found them.
• A little kindness, empathy, and awareness can prevent “sandy confrontations” before they start.

Final word from Jeremy:
“Just imagine, I mean, golden rule. We're all trying to get a little golden tan. If your actions...if you wouldn't like what you're doing to be put upon you...then don’t do it. Just be a good person.” ([29:46])

Transcript

[A]

This is all of it. I'm David Fuerst and for Alison Stewart live from the WNYC studios in soho. Thanks for joining us. Coming up on today's show, we preview this weekend's Brooklyn Guitar Festival with a live in studio performance. We'll speak with the author of a new novel inspired by the real story of a Haitian soccer player who who helped the US beat England in the World cup in 1950. And Rishikesh Hareway, the host of the popular podcast song Exploder, is here to talk about his new album. That's the plan. So let's get this started with how to be a considerate beachgoer. It's that time of year when many of us start to plan weekends at the beach. And tomorrow looks like a prime beach day with sunshine in the forecast and a high near 90 degrees. But before we head out, we take a moment on all of it now to think about our behavior on the sand. Many of us have been there that moment when your peaceful day at the beach gets ruined. Maybe it's a group blasting music. Maybe somebody parks all their stuff too close to you. Maybe the person right next to you has decided to feed the seagulls. We or maybe you are the problem. Maybe you are someone's beach villain and don't even know it. Well, let's avoid Sandy confrontations over flying umbrellas and Frisbee disasters by practicing some basic beach etiquette today. Joining us to discuss the dos and don'ts of a beach day is Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com he's the author of the new piece New Jersey Beach 15 Ways to Make sure no One Hates yous at the Jersey Shore 2020. Jeremy, welcome.

[B]

Thank you for having me.

[A]

So let's talk beach etiquette. Do you think it's gotten worse over the years?

[B]

I hope I. Well, look, I've, I've taken it upon myself as a ng.com food and culture writer, reporter, beach lover to I try to bring the gospel of how to act on the beach. We've been, we've been doing this story for years. I did my boss and I did a video years ago about beach etiquette in which I played the heel. I'm sorry, he played the heel. I was the good guy. And I'm trying to teach people, one beach visit at a time, one media appearance at a time, how to act when you're at the beach.

[A]

Why do you think that people can start to act selfishly once they get to the beach? Does a switch flip in our brains that like turns us into vacation mind. I can do anything now.

[B]

That might be it. I also think the beach is a happy place for people. It's a place we go to de stress and relax. And sometimes as we're trying to do that, we don't think about everyone else we're with. And so I like this at the beach. So I don't care what you think about what I'm doing. I like playing this music. I like, you know, bringing this out here. I like putting a beach umbrella in a shallow amount so it gets blown away and injure someone. So, yeah, I think it's, you have to, it's important to bring that, that, that spatial awareness that sometimes goes away when you're relaxed.

[A]

Okay. So also important that we want to bring you into this discussion, listeners. We want to hear from you. What is your biggest pet peeve at the beach? What do people do that really annoys you at the beach? What rules do you think should be maybe better enforced at the beach? What do you really think about beach tents? Give us a call. 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. And really, if we're talking about beach etiquette, that begins even before you get to the beach, right. It starts out in the parking lot.

[B]

It very much does. If you're, it's not just how you park, like physically. If you're be. Beach parking is at a premium at pretty much every beach. Mike. We rank the [e-mail] and one of the big categories, one of the big criteria is how good the parking is. And a lot of these great beaches don't even have great parking. So if you're taking up multiple spaces or if you're taking forever when we're trying to park, you're, you're already starting us off on a bad foot and we're already, you're already stressed, you're already annoyed, and then you get to the beach and you're already not in the right headspace to enjoy it. So please, when you're parking, make sure you're only taking up one spot. And when you're parking, like, don't, don't dawdle, don't take forever. We're all, we all want to get out of our hot cars and get on that, on that cool sand and enjoy ourselves.

[A]

What are your thoughts about leaving a note on someone's car about their parking job? I think what you're saying, by the way, about, think about your headspace. You want to be chill on this day and not spark any, you know, altercations.

[B]

I love pettiness. I, there, there is no way that putting a note on someone's car is actually going to fix anything. But I love it anyway. And if, and I, I, I have been known to leave a note. Maybe not at the beach, but in general. But, yeah, if you're, if you're parking in an uncourteous manner, if you're not being respectful, you deserve a note. If, if not, a little something else. I don't, I'm not giving anyone any ideas. Don't, don't break any cars or anything, but if a loogie gets hawked, I'm not, I'm like, I'm not saying I've done that. I can neither confirm nor deny, but leave a note. Yeah, people should know.

[A]

I'm going to go with note. Given those options, 100%. Now, if you want to join this discussion. 212-433-9692. And what about people who get there really, really early and reserve spots on the beach? Is that a thing you've seen where people kind of get there early in the morning, put out a bu chairs for people that are coming later in the day?

[B]

I think that's dicey. I, I respect it in some ways because I am someone who likes to get to the beach early.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

I'm not a morning person, but when it comes to a beach day, I am just because I want to get there as soon as possible. Now, I also think you have to, you have to read the room or read the beach, per se. If, if it's an absolutely slammed beach day and you're taking up space, that's, I think that's kind of a gray area. But let's say you're, you're getting to a nice, big, broad beach on a, on a Tuesday morning, and you just want to make sure that you have enough room for the whole group that's coming later. I think that's okay. Now, they better be getting there soon. If you're holding this for, you're putting this down at 9am and they're getting there at noon. That is a, that's a beach foul, in my opinion.

[A]

Okay, but the time limit there, there's a limit. Okay, so let's take some calls. If you want to join this discussion. 212-433-9692. Let's hear from Jackie in Oyster Bay. Welcome to all of it.

[C]

Hi. Good afternoon. I agree with everything you're saying about the pet peeves about the beach, because I am a beach broad from way back when, and my idea of going to the beach is listening to the waves and the gulls and the people screaming and whatever. That's the beach's soundtrack, not something coming off a boombox. And I come from the age where transistor radios were the thing, and even those were annoying. But now I look back, I'm thinking, I wish we could go back to those transistor radios.

[A]

I feel like this is gonna be a comment we get a lot of. I come from the age of boomboxes or the 1980s where real boomboxes were out there. So what's your take on that?

[B]

I could not agree with you more. No boomboxes. I'm not here to listen to your Drake or your John Legend or. Or your Grateful Dead. I'm there to listen to the waves. I'm here to listen to the seagulls. I'm here to talk to my friends and family. And there's a crazy invention in 2026 called headphones. If you want to listen to music at the beach, I'm. I'm all here for. I'm here for it. But use your headphones. I. If I do not want your musical choices thrust upon me in my moment of relaxation. So. And, like, I get it sometimes you're in a big group and you. You all want to listen to some music. Just. If you're going to do that, because sometimes it happens, just keep it at a reasonable decibel level. If you're blasting music, that's terrible. Especially. I heard a story recently about someone leaving the boombox on as they went into the water. That's incredibly disrespectful. Jail. Beach. Jail.

[A]

Wow. Okay. This is an interesting text we have here. I'm seeing more and more people putting up wind screens that are more like cloth walls right near the water so no one else can see the water. Very annoying. Is that something you've seen?

[B]

I've seen it. I don't like it. I know some beaches in Jersey now have specific policies about what you can or cannot put up. And I don't want to yuck anyone's yum. And I want people to enjoy the beach how they want to enjoy it. But if you're putting up something like that, it better not be in a crowded area. It better not be impeding my view of the beach, because the best part of being at the ocean is looking at the ocean or being in it. So I get it. You just, once again, have to use your common sense which somehow goes out the window sometimes at the beach and not make sure you're not impeding on anyone.

[A]

Okay, we are talking beach etiquette. What are some of your biggest beach pet peeves? We're speaking with Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com and taking your calls. 212-433-9692. And let's hear from Chris from Queens. Welcome to all of it.

[D]

Thank you so much for having me. This has been a great segment. So I'm Chris Alighari with the NYC Plover Project, and I am calling in on behalf of the beach nesting birds that nest along New Jersey and New York's beaches right now. So my pet peeve actually involves a pet. Do not bring your dog to the beach in June and July. This is prime nesting season for these very fragile beach nesting birds. So our pet peeve is, please just follow the posted rules. These birds don't get a lot of space. We have plenty of room for our recreation. But those posted signs and those fences are there for a reason, and they're to protect the newly hatched, very fragile chicks that many of which, like the piping plovers, must feed themselves down at the edge of the water.

[A]

Chris, what a great comment. Not exactly what I was expecting to get. And, and just to expand on that too, I want to hear your thoughts on that, Jeremy. But just thinking about nature in general and the dunes and how fragile the entire ecosystem is near the beach.

[B]

The dunes and don'ts of the beach right here. You gotta respect, Respect nature. Nature. We are visiting the beach. It is not our environment. And I 1000% agree. Respect the wildlife, respect the dunes. And I love dogs as much as anyone. And there are designated dog beaches and designated beach hours for dogs. Respect those rules because not, not just for the, the wildlife that we want to protect. And thank you so much for calling and saying that. But also, I don't necessarily want to get run up on by your dog when I'm at the beach. And I, I love dogs. It's just some. That's not. Not everyone's cup of tea. So for the. For the animals, for the people, and for the nature. Yes. Could not agree more.

[A]

Okay, we're talking beach etiquette with Jeremy Schneider. And let's hear from Toby in Brooklyn. Welcome to all of it.

[C]

Thank you. My biggest pet peeve at the beach is smoking.

[A]

Oh, here we go.

[C]

Don't smoke at the beach. It's the worst thing ever. You're, you know, trying to get somewhere where you can smell the salty seawater and Various other scents that feel fresh and not city wide. And then somebody smoking and it's wafting over in your face. To me, that's just the worst thing you could do. You could play the worst music. I respect that. But please don't smoke.

[A]

Okay, Toby, thank you. I think this is one we're gonna hear a lot as well.

[B]

That's the best call so far. Nothing can ruin a beach day like getting a big old face full of secondhand smoke. And I'm pretty sure it's illegal in New Jersey now. I think Phil Murphy signed that into law.

[A]

Smoking illegal on New York and New Jersey good. No, it's.

[B]

It's terrible. It's disgusting. I don't like it anywhere. I definitely don't want it when I'm trying to get that salt air and enjoy nature. And to follow up on that, I hate when I'm laying in the beach or laying on the sand and you look to. You look to the right and you see a cigarette butt in the sand. Because it's bad enough to smoke a cigarette while you're out there, but there's no way in hell that you're putting that in the trash. So it adds to the littering of it all.

[A]

What about littering on the beach? How. What's the latest status with that on New Jersey beaches in terms of how clean they're being kept?

[B]

Some beaches are better than others. The first beach that comes to mind for cleanliness is definitely Cape May down all the way in south South Jersey. I remember being impressed by how clean Seaside Heights was infamous for the. For the Jersey shore MTV show. I think I'd like to think that we're getting smarter and better about this because it's. You know, we love the beaches in New Jersey, and I know New York loves your beaches too. And you just. You don't want to. You don't want to trash it, and that's. And you don't want to put it on someone else to clean up the clean up after that. I mean, this is the kind of stuff we learn when we're five. If you're leaving trash at the beach, you're the worst kind of person.

[A]

Okay, there it is. There's the statement. And let's take another call. Karen in Manhattan. Welcome, Karen, can you hear us? I think maybe you have to turn your radio down. Okay. We'll come back to Karen if we can. Let's hear from Kelly in Fairfield, Connecticut. Welcome to all of it.

[C]

Hi. Thanks so much for taking my call. I live in a beach community And I live love this segment, but I'm just curious what you folks would recommend for us to say to those who are being offensive on the beach in a polite way to stop their behavior or change their behavior without causing an altercation.

[A]

Kelly, this is such a great question.

[B]

That's an excellent question. And it's not easy. I really do think that the best course of action in these situations is, is to try to kill them with kindness. If someone's being rude, just, you know, say something, be subtle. Hey, I'm so sorry. Like, could you, could you maybe turn your music down or. Hey. And you know, like one thing that really bothers me, when you get kicked with sand by someone walking by and hopefully that's like a one time thing. But if someone does it again, like, hey, could you, could you try to give me a little space here? Like, and if, if they don't, if they're not receptive to that, then you might escalate things. But no, you know, nothing will ruin, I mean, you'll ruin a beach day even quicker if you have a little beach rage. You know, it's hot and, you know, maybe you're hungry and you're, and you're going there to de stress and someone's, someone's killing your vibe. Yeah, it's a tough spot. I think you gotta try to, to be as cordial as possible. I also think that people are just more receptive that way. I think that, like it's, if you, if someone gets up in your face about it and they're being rude, then you're, you're more likely to match that hostility. It's harder to be mean to someone who's like, hey, I'm, hey, your music's a little loud. Can you turn it down a little bit?

[A]

But it still happens.

[B]

Oh, of course it does. No, there are some people that come to the beach and think that it's their living room. They think that they own the place. Just because you have a beach badge does not give you carte blanche to do whatever you want. And you just be a good human.

[A]

Okay? That's just good blanket advice. Be a good human. We're going to continue this discussion and maybe also if you have ever solved one of these issues that we're talking about right here, if you have solved a beach etiquette issue, let us know the number. 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-13TC back after a quick break. This is all of it on wnyc. I'm David Fuerst. We are talking about beach etiquette with Jeremy Schneider of NJ.com. he's the author of the recent piece New Jersey Beach 15 Ways to Make sure no one hates you at the Jersey Shore 2026 edition. And we are taking your calls as well. You can join this conversation 212-433-9692. That's 212-433-WNYC. And let's hear from Trey in Rockland County.

[D]

Hey, good afternoon, y'.

[E]

All.

[D]

Thanks for taking my call. I have a real question because it's happened to me more than once. Is there like a rule on personal space out there? Because I've had people out. Like, I put my little umbrella up. You know, I don't get the tent or none of that, because I hear you, you know, you don't want to block people's view. But I put up a nice size umbrella because I like some shade. I really don't want to sweat too crazy out there. And I've had people. It felt like I was laying in the bed with them. Oh. I mean, they were right there.

[A]

So you're. You're there. They set up right next to you, practically like touching you.

[D]

Yeah, they like a little bit under my umbrella. They're halfway under the umbrella.

[A]

Oh, they're stealing your shade.

[C]

They're like, hey, how you doing?

[D]

And I'm like, I'm okay, but we're in the bed together, bro. I mean.

[A]

Okay, this is a really good question. And at the core of a lot of this is the fact that the beach is a popular place. It gets crowded.

[B]

Yeah. Don't get under someone else's umbrella. We'll add that to the list next year. This is an excellent question. I would say you gotta use just kind of common sense for how close you are to someone. I think that, I mean, if they're. If the, if the towels are touching, that's too. I will. I want to see some. A decent amount of sand between my towel and a stranger's towel.

[A]

Well, you need to be able to walk between them to some degree.

[B]

Yes. And if you're under someone's umbrella, this is not. This is not a Rihanna situation. Do not get under my umbrella. That is a terrible. Oh, my. I'm so sorry that happened to you. That is because not only is that. That's awkward for you, but, like, can I'm looking at them like, are you enjoying this? Like, do you really want to be this close to a stranger in this 90 degree heat? We're all Sandy and stuff. Oh, my goodness. No. Personal space is at a premium at the beach and it's understandable, especially, you know, weekend or if you're at a popular beach that, you know it's going to be tough to stake out your space. But if you are so close that you're basically touching someone.

[D]

Yeah.

[B]

Maybe it's time to go take a little walk down, down the beach and find another spot. Because that sounds like. I mean, that sounds like a terrible experience.

[A]

Well, talking about beach umbrellas on shade, we have a text here that says, respect the redheads. We need shade and we need to cool off. We're pale and we burn fast. Okay, so there we go. Respect for sure. Delivered. Molly. Let's hear from Molly in Jersey City. Welcome.

[C]

Hi.

[F]

Good afternoon.

[A]

Good afternoon.

[F]

So, yeah, my question is, I am also. Well, I'm a beach early bird. I like to get there early and get the spots, but then I'm often trying to get my friends to join me and they're usually running about 45 minutes behind and can't get parking. And the only parking recently was at. I didn't realize, but it was at Gunnison beach recently. And I got onto the beach and realized what that was. So we had to find parking again and everyone got their closer to 10, 30 and 11, where all the spots were taken on Sandy Hook. So my question is, how do you manage the people who are meeting you 45 minutes late when all the lots

[A]

are full and tell us what Gunnison is.

[C]

I know Gunnison.

[F]

You might know, especially if you're there with kids, Gunnison is a. You might see nudity at Gunnison beach, which I learned very quickly.

[B]

Ding, ding, ding. It is that, that's, that's what Gunnison is known for. And I actually have a very funny story about Gunnison Beach. My, my now brother in law was proposing to my sister on Sandy Hook and he did not realize that they were on the nude beach. So that was the backdrop for that. But no.

[A]

Did the pro proposal still take place?

[B]

Yes. Oh, yeah, it worked out. They laughed, they made it. So I think there's, I mean, I, I feel, I hear you on. There's always that one friend in the group that is running a little behind and, you know, but they're, they're not, they're not being timely. Then they can find parking, then they can't find you. I think within reason. I think no one's out here putting a time rod or anything, but, you know, if they're going to be there within the hour, I Think that's okay. And also, if you're holding like a couple spots, it's, I will say sometimes you see one or two people get to the beach like early and then they stake out like an entire, like city block of sand.

[A]

Right? A mini, mini village.

[B]

Yes, yes. And that, that is abusing the privilege that's like, come at this point, like you, they need to fend for themselves. But yeah, if you've got friends coming running late, I think that you're there within the hour or a little bit more. I think that's totally in play.

[A]

Okay, we are talking beach etiquette and we are getting down to the granular, sandy level here. Let's hear from Judy. Welcome to all of it.

[C]

Hi. Many years ago, we used to go to this beautiful pristine beach in Southampton and there was a sign as you entered the beach that said, you know, stay off the dunes. You mentioned piping plovers before. There's a lot of wildlife. And everybody that goes there and has been historically going there knows you're supposed to stay off of the dunes. Okay. So we're down at the beach and there's this family and they're letting their kids. Actually it was two families letting their kids go up in the dunes and dig around and, and pull grass out and everything. So I went home and I created a sign that said caution picks.

[B]

That'll work.

[C]

I laminated them and I put them on little stakes and I stuck them in the dunes and they never went there again.

[A]

Wow. I don't. How do you respond to that one?

[B]

Just nothing but respect and admiration for your dedication to.

[A]

So terror is.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Just the way to keep people off.

[B]

Maybe say there's poison ivy or something. I don't know. I'm surprised it took us this long to get to talking about kids. I love kids. Going to the beach as a kid is a, you know, it's a core memory for me. But if you're bringing your kid to the beach, this is not a playground. This is not your. Keep your kids in check. Whether it's jumping on the dunes, whether it's running up on other people. Like I, I, I, I'm sure your, your, your kids adorable. I don't want them coming up to me and kicking sand on me. And I don't want them up on the dunes either.

[A]

When we talk about sand too. One of the things for me is when people pick up their towels at the end of the day and just either shake them out or it could be very windy. Even just the picking up of the Towel. You need to be careful.

[B]

You have to be very careful. I mean, when I'm, when I'm kicking the sand off my towel at the end of the day, I'm going as I don't want to, like, I barely want to be able to see people. I want to be as far as possible and like, it's inevitable. You go, you go to the beach sometimes you're gonna get hit with some sand. But if, if you're right there and you're like, and you're beating out your towel right next to someone, then you're abusing the privilege of the beach.

[A]

Well, what about games at the beach? You mentioned kids and playing at the beach. Games are really fun at the beach.

[B]

Love games at the beach.

[A]

Right. Playing volleyball, usually that's far back from the water, right. But you know, Frisbee, that can get in the way sometimes. Football, throwing a ball in the water. What are your thoughts?

[B]

Love it all. I love, love me some can jam. I love playing some Frisbee. I love kicking a soccer ball on the beach. And that's great, that's awesome. Just make them discretion and it's, it's, it's kind of unavoidable that, you know, everyone has that one friend who thinks they're good at throwing a football and then they hit, hit a random stranger in the head with it. Try to do that as far off as possible because there's another thing that can ruin your day is getting clocked with a Frisbee in the face. Which has happened to me once or twice. So yeah, no, like absolutely. Bring games to the beach. Just make sure you're, you're doing them at a proper distance from people because you're. Another World Cup's here, but you're not on the U.S. national team. You're not that good at soccer.

[A]

Okay, let's hear. Since we're talking about kids at the beach, Juan from Astoria has some more to say about kids at the beach, I believe. Welcome to all of it.

[E]

Hello, hello, hello everybody. Happy to be here. First time caller, welcome, long time listener. Thank you, thank you. So, yeah, I have two boys and my, you know, my brother in law has five kids. When we go to the beach, you know, we're doing it for the kids and we make it very clear that we're there for the kids. I am one of those people that will stake out, not a whole city block, but I'll stake out a nice sized area because I know my friends with kids are coming and it'll be five families and My one complaint is that no matter how much we make it obvious that it's for kids, we have toys, we have soccer balls. But it's in our little area, you still have singles or, you know, groups of men and group of women that come. Loud music, smoking, drinking. It's just like, can we get a separate, you know, on Rockaway, 88th to 90th for kids, 90 to 92nd for singles, and just kind of separate it out? I hate to be somebody that comes in with regulatory for the beach, but I don't see people being good human beings. We go with our kids, obviously, for them to cool off, to have a great time. And it's just, it always happens. At some point, some doofus comes with

[B]

loud music, start smoking, and like, what

[E]

are you doing, sir? This is a kid area. It's already been established.

[A]

Doofus is a word I haven't heard in a while. That's fantastic. I'm glad that that made it into the discussion. This is an interesting question here. I've definitely seen on some Jersey shore beaches, I'm thinking Island Beach, State park, where the lifeguards are really good at, like saying, hey, if you're going to throw a ball in the surf, do it over there. They're pretty good at sometimes separating those activities for sure.

[B]

But it also cuts both ways. I agree, caller. If you're, especially if the kids were already there, like the family with the kids, blah, blah, blah, and then you're pulling up and then you're blasting the music with the curses and then you're lighting up a cigarette or, or something else, then you're, then you're the problem. The, the. You need to observe your surroundings. And it, I mean, I, I'm rarely, I'm rarely bringing kids. Sometimes my, my goddaughter will go to the beach with us. And I mean, then I'm being kid friendly or whatever. But like, if you're, if I'm just going with friends and I'm definitely not parking my, my stuff next to a family because not only do I not want to get hit with the ball, but I also don't want to, like, I don't want to have to watch my language when I'm at the beach. But you have to observe your surroundings both ways. I completely agree.

[A]

Okay. I feel like we have to at least mention gulls. What about, you know, gulls on Jersey beaches or any beaches? Yes, these are birds that can be very resourceful, very persistent. What about people that leave food out or even actively encourage feeding the gulls?

[B]

I hate you. I hate. I know. Be like, leaving food out's bad, but if you're feeding the seagulls, you are. You are emboldening them. They are. They can be a terror. There. Certain boardwalks in Jersey, the.

[D]

The.

[B]

They're so used to getting fed french fries and stuff that they swarm. It's like a Hitchcock movie out there. You gotta. No, don't. Don't feed the birds, especially. You don't have to feed them.

[A]

And they don't need to eat french fries.

[B]

They definitely. It's not good. It's not good for us. It's definitely not good for them. I. I had once had a seagull steal a turkey sandwich out of my hands in Manasquan. I was like 10, and it ruined my day. And I wasn't trying to feed the seagull. That seagull did not need that sandwich. That was mine. So, no, don't feed the birds because you. Feeding the birds continues to condition them to like, oh, we're gonna get fed. We're gonna. We're gonna mob up on everybody.

[A]

Which Jersey beach has the toughest, most persistent seagulls?

[B]

That's a good question. I. I think the Atlantic City seagulls, they got a little smoker's cough. They probably still nursing a hangover, and. And they.

[E]

They.

[B]

There's a lot of boardwalk food there, so they're. They're ready to strike.

[A]

All right, if you had. If you had to pick a favorite beach in New Jersey, what would you choose?

[B]

I mean, we. We've. So we rank the beaches every year, and Cape May has been number one many times. I think that my favorite beach, though, overall, just for the full package, is Asbury park. Just because it's. It's not the. The best beach or the biggest beach, but it's. It's solid. It has an excellent boardwalk, has amazing food right in town, and it's a nice central location in, like, North Jersey shore area, so. Got a soft spot for Asbury park, though. I grew up going to Manasquan, and I love Manasquan as well.

[A]

And, you know, we're talking about all. Some of. Some of the stresses that can happen at the beach, but it's so much fun to go to the beach. Any final suggestion for how people can be good community members when they're hitting the beach?

[B]

Just imagine, I mean, golden rule. We're all trying to get a little golden tan. We're out there. If you. If your actions. If you wouldn't like what you're doing. To be put upon you. I mean, basically just be a good person. Like I said, wear suntan lotion. We didn't touch that yet. And I mean, it's your business, but I really hate when my friends complain about their sunburns. I'm like, you did this to yourself. Just, we're, we're, we're old enough to know you got to put suntan lotion on and just, just observe personal space.

[A]

And we didn't even get into the question of beach attire.

[B]

Oh, well, yeah, Gunnison came up to Newton for a hot second. That's true. But no, I mean, keep it decent out here, people. Come on, just have some self respect.

[A]

All right, well, we have a lot of calls we're not gonna be able to get to anymore. Thank you so much for joining this discussion on all of it. Jeremy Schneider with NJ.com, his new piece is New Jersey Beach 15 Ways to Make sure no One Hates yous at the Jersey Shore 2026 edition. Thank you so much for joining us.

[B]

Thank you for having me.

[C]

WNYC Studios is supported by AT&T Summer. It's when we share more time, more memories and more photos. And at ATT, the iPhone 17 Pro is your summer essential. Its center stage front camera auto adjusts the frame to fit everyone into group selfies. Right now at, at and t ask how you can get iPhone 17 Pro on them with eligible trade in requires eligible plan. Terms and restrictions apply. Subject to change. Visit att.comiphone or visit an ATT store for details.

[B]

The new strawberry watermelon refresher is now at McDonald's.

[D]

It's made with strawberries and a whole lot of whimsy.

[B]

It's one of many new drinks now at McDonald's.

[A]

Refreshers contain caffeine.