People Who Were Just Trying To Have A Relaxing Day At The Beach, When Chaos Struck

Jackson Sawa | May 23, 2025 1:30 pm

The sun, sand, and ocean create the perfect spot to spend a day, whether you're alone or with friends. But sometimes, the beach can feel like the Wild West, where things get wild when lots of people come to relax.

It's hard to go to the beach without seeing something funny or unusual. So, we've put together some of the craziest moments people have caught while enjoying the sunshine.

Beach Master

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Imgur / clickfun
Imgur / clickfun

Here's someone who really knows how to enjoy the beach. While others are busy dealing with towels, chairs, and grills, this guy is just relaxing with a cold drink. We don’t mind how much time it took to set up this seating—it definitely looks worth it. You could fit all your friends and family there and stay cozy by the fire.

But if you want to try this yourself, be sure to check the rules at your local beach first, because it might not be allowed in some spots.

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Take Me Back Home Please!

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Imgur / quicksilver540
Imgur / quicksilver540
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This photo clearly shows that cats really don't like water. The cat looks like it’s facing its worst fear, staring out at the vast ocean. It probably wants to escape but also stay as far away from the wet sand as it can.

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We feel sorry for this poor kitty, but the picture is definitely worth it. We’re sure the next time this cat gets in a car, it’ll hope it’s headed to the vet and not the beach.

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Be Careful What You Read In Public

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Imgur / raymichel
Imgur / raymichel
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It's always smart to be mindful of what you’re reading in public. People often glance at what others have in their hands—whether waiting at a bus stop, riding a train, or relaxing at the beach. This woman should have made sure what her book cover looked like before holding it up to her face.

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Fortunately, it’s nothing inappropriate, but it does look a bit strange. Plus, the way her arm is positioned isn’t helping. This might even startle any kids who see her.

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The Beach With A View

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Reddit / Yoko8th
Reddit / Yoko8th
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Can you really say you went to the beach if there wasn't a big fire on the pier? We’re pretty sure this fire was an unexpected surprise during their day at the beach, which is kind of ironic since the fire is right above the water. What’s really interesting about this photo is how no one seems to notice or care.

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The first thing this girl did was snap a selfie with the fire, while the other girls in the background look totally calm. It just goes to show that nothing can ruin a beach day.

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Hello Sea Dog, I'm Land Dog

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Imgur / FreshPrinceOfDenmark
Imgur / FreshPrinceOfDenmark
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Most dogs don't get to meet many different kinds of animals in their lifetime, and seeing a sea lion is usually not one of them. These lucky dogs are probably among the few that get to meet a sea creature up close. It’s likely the three of them played together a bit, since sea lions sometimes like to play with dogs.

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We’re glad someone captured their reactions on camera—both animals seem unsure what to make of each other. Even the more careful dog is running over just to take a look.

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So Pitted

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Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register via Getty Images
Paul Bersebach/Orange County Register via Getty Images
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There's probably nothing more exhilarating than catching a wave and suddenly finding yourself soaring 10 feet in the air, heading straight for the shore. This guy definitely seems like a pro, as it's hard to believe an amateur could get that much air by accident.

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But hey, at least it makes for a great Instagram shot—he looks surprisingly graceful, even though he's likely about to feel some serious pain. Hopefully, the lifeguard was paying attention, because he may need some help after that fall!

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"Where We're Going We Don't Need Roads"

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Reddit / markesmongu
Reddit / markesmongu
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We're going to assume this person was driving along the beach and got caught by the rising tide. There can’t be many things worse than watching your prized truck slowly swallowed by the ocean while you stand there, powerless.

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By the time the tide pulls back, this truck will likely be a total loss, so here's hoping they’ve got solid insurance. Given how stunning this picture is, maybe they could post an ad on Craigslist, and who knows—someone might take it off their hands. But realistically, that’s probably not going to happen.

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Couldn't Contain Its Excitement

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Reddit / fugololo
Reddit / fugololo
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This baby elephant is either having the time of its life or possibly a rough day. We're leaning toward the former, assuming it's just too excited to be at the beach and couldn't resist burying its head in the sand and water. Honestly, it looks pretty relaxing, especially for a baby elephant.

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Maybe it’s its first time at the beach, and this is its way of reacting to something totally new. All we know is, it’s absolutely adorable and possibly one of the cutest sights we've ever seen at the beach.

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When The Sun Is Not Your Friend

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Reddit / dmcneary
Reddit / dmcneary
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For many, a trip to the beach means relaxing in the sun and maybe taking a dip in the water, but not for this person. Soaking up the rays is out of the question due to a serious fear of sunburn. While we understand the fear of burning, there are definitely less extreme ways to protect yourself.

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We can't help but wonder if they stayed fully wrapped up like a mummy the whole day, or if they peeked out just to take in the ocean view. We're guessing they also slathered on some sunscreen under all that!

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You Can Never Be Too Careful

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Reddit / wakefool
Reddit / wakefool
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We all know that when you're at the beach, your sandals are at risk of being swiped. This person is clearly taking extra precautions to keep their flip flops safe and sound. Before we judge, though, it's possible these sandals have sentimental value or could even be a rare, limited-edition pair.

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That said, the simplest way to keep them secure might just be to wear them. But hey, who wants to wear sandals at the beach in the first place, right?

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A Horse Enjoying Its First Time At The Beach

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Imgur/ raizzark
Imgur/ raizzark
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This is an animal that doesn't know what to do with itself. Much like the adorable elephant, it looks like this horse is overwhelmed seeing the beach for the first time. It's probably a mix of amazement and confusion. Horses are generally very smart animals, so they know when they're somewhere out of the ordinary.

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Hopefully, this horse had an opportunity to frolic around in the water with his friends. Who knows, maybe he'll even be hired to give couples romantic rides on the beach. That would be the life.

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Romance Might Be Dead

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Instagram / heatherparady
Instagram / heatherparady
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There's no way to tell for sure, but this seems to be a rather ironic picture with a couple arguing as they're taking romantic engagement photos at the beach. We're sure that the photographer is cringing behind the camera, continuing to take pictures anyway.

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We can't blame the couple either, they might as get their money's worth whether they're arguing or not. Hopefully, they will be able to look back at these pictures and laugh instead of seeing it as a reason they might have split up. We wish them the best of luck!

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Hope He Has A Wireless Hotspot

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Reddit / jasonjulias
Reddit / jasonjulias
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Bringing your computer to the beach is risky for a number of reasons but that's not stopping this guy. We're not sure if there's any wi-fi to be found on the beach but we're sure he's got that all handled. Aside from having a computer, he looks like he's prepared for a successful workday at the beach.

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He's got a 12-pack of Dr. Pepper, a grill, an ice chest, and a few other beach necessities. We hope he's watching a beach-themed movie like Endless Summer or Finding Nemo in order to get ready for his day at the beach.

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Will You Grab Me My Milk?

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Imgur/ hannabananaforscale
Imgur/ hannabananaforscale
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This baby should be every vacationer's spirit animal. We don't think we've ever seen someone kicking back with such suave and ease. The kid looks so relaxed it's like he were born in that inner-tube. We should all take notes from this baby about what it means to take a load off, although surely their life isn't all that stressful yet.

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This is going to be a picture that the family needs to keep forever so the baby can prove that he's been chilling since a young age. This would be a great social media photo later on in life. Cheers, little guy.

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Just Hanging With The Locals

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Imgur / FunAlive3
Imgur / FunAlive3
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The sand, water, and few few cows... what more could you need? Unlike the other animals we've seen, these cows seem very accustomed with the beach and calm enough to relax next to some vacationers. We're not sure which beach has free-roaming cows, but it's now a must-visit for us.

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We wonder if they like to cool off in the water, because everyone should get the opportunity to swim with some cows in their life. Those tourists better keep and eye on their lunches, we're sure the cows would be happy to take them off their hands.

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Garfield Phones

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FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images
FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images
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For 30 years, Garfield phones have been washing up on the beaches in Brittany, France. It was a big mystery, with a lot of people assuming that a shipping container carrying the phones had sunk years earlier and was at the bottom of the ocean. Turns out they were pretty close.

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In 2019 a local farmer came forward and solved the puzzle: he had found a metal shipping container stuffed with Garfield phones in a cave back in the 1980s. The tide would wash the phones out at times, leading to the bizarre beach sight.

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Not The Children!

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Reddit / mainstreetsteve
Reddit / mainstreetsteve
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This is the definition of a family photo gone wrong. There are a multitude of emotions in this one photo, ranging from joy and fear to despair. Considering the smile on the dad's face, it's clear that he doesn't even know what's about to happen, and that their cute family photo is going to end in disaster. And possibly a mouthful of sand.

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To keep things on the lighter side, we're going to assume that the mom caught her baby by its feet miraculously and the family will be able to nervously laugh the situation off. It's safe to say this might be their last family picture for the foreseeable future.

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Always Look Behind Yourself Before Snapping A Photo!

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doug sargent/X
doug sargent/X
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This girl wanted nothing more than to have a nice selfie of her time at the beach. It is just too bad she didn't think to look behind herself.

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In the back of her photo, there is a night billboard of a young girl sticking her tongue out. It looks as though she is making fun of the girl taking the photograph!

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Serious Mud Baths

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Sergei MalgavkoTASS via Getty Images
Sergei MalgavkoTASS via Getty Images
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For centuries, people have used different types of mud in their beauty regimens. The people in this family are clearly fans of the treatment. They look almost like they're dressed in black latex cosplay suits, but it’s actually all mud.

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It’s hard to tell what the other people at the beach think about these mud suits, but the one woman looks pretty curious about it. Hey, if it works we’d try it. It’d be easy enough to rinse off in the ocean, anyway.

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"Every Girl At The Beach"

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Reddit
Reddit
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Listen it's way too funny how square these guys hit the nail on the head. There's no way they could be this accurate unless they were forced to take some of these pictures themselves for their sisters.

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Just another day at the beach in middle school.