Sunbathing, sleeping, reading, drinking, more sunbathing, and an occasional stroll to the ocean for a float around in the shallows are all common activities at the beach.

While these are excellent ways to unwind and enjoy the calm and quiet of the seaside, they aren’t the only options. You could also throw in some beach games for seniors and enjoy limitless hours of competitive fun.

Physical Games

These are great for seniors who still have good or decent mobility. They help enhance the physical fitness and well-being of the elderly. As such, if you or your loved one is in good shape and can enjoy something active but safe, here are physical games you could enjoy at the beach

Beach Bocce Ball

It is an easy-to-play game that can be enjoyed between two or more players or teams. Metal (or sometimes plastic) balls are tossed as close as possible to the bocce ball. After all the balls have been thrown, the frame ends, and points are counted. From here, points are awarded to the team or individual who gets closest to the bocce ball.

Bocce ball is a popular sport among senior adults since it is both enjoyable and competitive. It’s an Italian classic that dates back to the Roman Empire and is simple enough for even new players to pick up. The bocce ball set can also be kept and used on other outdoor and backyard adventures.

Horseshoes on The Beach

Horseshoes is a classic lawn game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it at the beach. It’s simple to learn and, most importantly, enjoyable. All you’ll need is a flat surface (the beach) and a horseshoe set with two horseshoes for each participant, as well as a stake.

Following this, all you have to do is outscore your opponent by throwing your horseshoes closer to the stake than theirs. When purchasing your set, look for sturdy, high-quality, and durable horseshoes and stakes. You may even get one that includes a rule book and a carrying case. Amazon has this great set that includes rubber horseshoes which are definitely more beach appropriate than metal one.

Ring Toss, Beanbag Toss, or Ladder Toss

These games involve tossing items to hit certain targets or land the tossed items on a ladder. They are fun and a lot more portable than horseshoes. The best part of all is that they can entertain a variety of age groups since they are pretty simple. As such, our grandmas and grandpas can enjoy a good game with all people in the family!

Ladder ball, also called ladder toss involves tossing the rope rings to hit the pegs. The advantage here for older adults is that there is a lot less bending over and squatting when playing.

Ring toss involves landing rings or sometimes bolas on ladder rungs. Each rung has a different score. To win, a team must hit 21 points exactly. Beanbag toss involves tossing bean bags to hit set pegs.

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Beach Cornhole

Cornhole is a very popular and fun outdoor game. It is also called “bean bag”, “sack toss” or “bags”. It involves two wooden boards with a hole at the end of each platform. The boards are propped up at a low angle and set around 27 feet apart. Players take turns flinging bean bags to the board.

Whoever gets the bags into the hole of the board, gets the most points. Those who land the bag on the box of the board are also awarded. Remember to get a portable cornhole set that includes all-weather bean bags and whose frame is made of a sturdy but lightweight aluminum frame. You could also find one with a carrying case so you could transport it easily to the beach.

Croquet Golf

Croquet golf is an enjoyable outdoor sport that may be played on grass, sand, dirt, or even snow. If you go to the beach regularly, you’re probably already familiar with this one, as it’s popular among the elderly. It’s a game in which colored wooden balls are pushed through a set of wickets spread over the ground. Players take turns to strike the balls through the wickets with wooden mallets. The player that hits the final stake first wins the game.

If you’re a pro at this one, you could use the sand to make the terrain more varied. This increases the difficulty for you and your buddies. Nonetheless, it is a relatively easy game that can be played by a large number of people. When purchasing one for a senior, look for mallets with comfortable handles that are long enough to be used by anyone. They should also be waterproof and long-lasting to handle regular trips to the beach.

Metal Detecting

It’s a game where you wander around the beach with a metal detector and a giant set of headphones. Consider it to be a treasure hunt – you never know what you might find! It’s perfect for beaches, parks, and other open-air public spaces. Metal detecting is a popular pastime among children, making it a fun game for grandparents and grandchildren to do together. If you want endless fun and fascination with your younglings, this one is a top choice.

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Beach Badminton

It’s a terrific option for seniors who want to stay active but don’t have the energy or athleticism to play a full game of tennis. It involves the use of a net, lightweight rackets, and the passing of a shuttlecock back and forth. Basically, it’s similar to tennis, but instead of tennis rackets, a shuttlecock is used. Like tennis, you’ll need two or more players for this one.

To play on the beach get a badminton set that is easy to set up and take down. You’ll also want it to be sturdy enough to sustain the winds!

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Staying Safe at the Beach

Whatever you play, a few precautions will keep the day enjoyable. Most of them go in the beach bag before you leave the house.

Start with your skin. Wear strong sunscreen, and choose clothing that is comfortable and covers your body. Add sunglasses to protect your eyes, and a hat to help protect your head from the sun and heat.

Look at your feet next. Your sandals or shoes should be comfortable and fit well, so you don’t take a tumble.

Bring plenty of water, and bring refreshments too. Pack some healthy snacks, because you need to keep an eye on your hydration and your blood sugar while you’re out there.

If you take medication, bring what you need to use. Tuck it in the bag with the water and snacks, so it’s there when you want it. A small, easy-to-use camera is worth packing too, so you can keep a few pictures of the day.

The trade-off is a heavier bag, especially once you add a game set, a chair and a cooler. It’s worth the extra weight, since every item on this list is easier to pack than to do without.

Relaxed Toss Games: TidalBall, Bucketball, and a Bocce Rule Set

If you would rather toss than swing, three throwing games keep things relaxed. You stand in one spot and aim, and nobody has to sprint after anything.

TidalBall is the gentlest of the three. A set comes with six balls in two colors, two koozies and a sand scoop. You use the scoop to dig holes and trenches in the sand, then try to get your balls into the holes and keep them out of the trenches. The point is to enjoy yourselves and chat, not to win hard.

Bucketball is the beach cousin of beer pong, and you don’t need any alcohol to play it. You need 12 buckets, six of one color and six of another, plus two hybrid balls made to handle beach wind. Play with two teams of one or two players. Stack each team’s buckets 15 to 25 feet from the other team’s, stand behind yours, and throw into your opponents’ buckets.

When a ball lands in a bucket, that bucket comes out of the stack. Each team can rerack its buckets once. The first team to remove all of the other side’s buckets wins.

For bocce, the set I’d look for has four red balls, four blue balls, a measuring rope, a white ball called a pallino and a carrying case. You need about 27 feet of space, and a beach has plenty. Each team gets one color and throws as close to the pallino as it can. A team scores when its ball lands closer than the other team’s. The first team to reach 13 points wins.

All three need at least two people, and bucketball needs a good pile of buckets to carry. If you are heading out alone, TidalBall and bocce are better suited to a small group than a solo afternoon.

TidalBall Portable Beach Game

If you want the toss game that packs smallest, the TidalBall Set is a sand game that sits somewhere between cornhole and bocce. You dig a hole and a trench in the sand, split into two teams, and take turns tossing the wooden balls. Four players make a game.

It suits older adults because there is very little to it. No boards to carry, no setup, and the whole set weighs 10 ounces and comes in a waterproof mesh bag that measures 10″ x 4″ x 2.5″. The balls are triple-coated and waterproof, and they float, so one that rolls toward the water is not lost. The set also includes koozies, which is a nice touch for the grandchildren’s side of the family.

One trade-off: you need to dig the hole and trench yourself, and that means bending or kneeling in the sand. If that is hard on your back or knees, let a younger player do the digging, or skip this one for a game you can play from a chair. It also needs sand, or ground you can dig into, so it won’t suit a paved spot.

Net and Ball Games: Pickleball, Beach Volleyball, and Spikeball

If you like a game with a bit of back and forth, three net-and-ball games work well on sand. Each one needs only a little gear.

Pickleball is a tennis-style game. You hit a light, whiffle-type ball back and forth with paddles and try to score on your opponent. A set includes a couple of balls, two paddles and a net, though the game can also be played without the net. The ball is light, so it won’t cause any damage if it strays into another beach-goer.

Beach volleyball works best with two teams of two. Each team sends the ball over the net and tries to land it on the sand on the other side, so the other team can’t return it. The ball is a lot lighter than an indoor volleyball, which makes the game easier on seniors.

Spikeball looks a bit like volleyball, but you spike the ball down onto a standing net and it bounces off. You try to hit it so hard that your opponent can’t spike it back. You need the standing net, a ball, and a carrying case.

Spikeball and volleyball ask for quick movement and a lot of energy, so pickleball is the gentler place to start. Whichever you pick, you’ll need other people to play with, so these suit a group outing better than a quiet afternoon alone.

Mental Beach Games for Seniors

Let’s face it: Not all seniors can hold through a physical game. Luckily, they are not left out either! Seniors with walking difficulty or a low zeal for physical activities can also enjoy a game or two at the beach.

They could simply sit and enjoy a mental game with their counterparts at the beach. Here are the best mental games for seniors so you can have geeky fun at the beach:

Card Games

When it comes to portability, a deck of cards is hard to beat. After all, card games don’t need any electricity or hefty equipment. All you need is a flat surface and a deck of cards and a pen and paper. You can then enjoy a good game of cards with your family.

First, it will facilitate pressure-free social interaction even with strangers, and second, you’ll have lots of fun. As the cherry on the cake, your cognitive function will stay healthy! Stretch your brainpower while basking at the beach with your family!

Beach Crafts

To make your beach days even more awesome and bring the beach home with you, try some crafts! You could paint some rocks, make some jellyfish crafts with your grandkids, or even make a DIY sand bowl. Crafts are a great way to connect with kids and could be a great way to develop a new hobby.

Beyond Games: Water Sports, Fishing, and the Boardwalk

A beach day doesn’t have to include a game at all. Here are three other ways to spend it.

Water sports are one. Waterskiing, kayaking, surfing, skimboarding and riding jet skis are all options. Plenty of older adults think they’ve missed their chance at these, and that isn’t so.

Most beaches have instructors who teach beginners, and many of them work with seniors. Some can also work with people who have medical issues or disabilities. However new you are, there is a way to get started safely.

Fishing suits you if lounging in a chair gets dull. Many beaches set aside areas for fishing. You can also charter a boat for an ocean outing or a deep-sea trip.

It’s a low-impact activity, which is good for anyone who loves being out by the water and catching fresh fish. Some companies offer senior discounts, and some have different experiences for people with mobility issues.

The boardwalk is the easy-going choice. Many beaches have one with restaurants and shops. Throw on a cover-up and stroll it before you head home.

Many boardwalks let you ride a beach cruiser bike, which gives you some leisurely exercise. You can also pick up refreshments there, or bait if fishing is on your list.

Each of these takes a little planning, and the water sports and fishing charters mean booking with an outfit that knows how to work with seniors. The boardwalk asks nothing of you but a pair of comfortable shoes.

Wrapping Up

Get ready to have fun! There are no age restrictions when it comes to having fun at the beach! You, too, deserve to unwind, let go, and take advantage of the many benefits that a physical or mental beach game may have.

After all, laughter, happiness, exercise, and fun are all necessary for every senior’s overall well-being. Maybe you should just live at the beach, huh? ​That said, have fun with these games and let your vitality shine!