Hobbies And Interests
Checkers
The classic game of checkers is a great way to spend your day in the sun. The two player game is easy to set up, play and pack away with minimal pieces to misplace. Just bring a cloth or plastic checkerboard and a set of checkers. Lay the board out on the sand, then set your checkers up on the black squares at opposing ends. Checkers is a turn-based game, with each player making a one-space diagonal move each time. The point of the game is to eliminate your opponent's checkers. Do this by "jumping" your opponents' checkers. Move your piece over them into the square diagonally behind. If any of your checkers make it all the way to the opposite side, your opponent must "king" them by placing another checker on top. Once kinged, your pieces may move in any diagonal direction.
Twister
While at the beach with a group of friends, playing Twister can prove a great way to break the ice. Simply lay out the mat, then have one person spin the spinner and call out game instructions. For example, the spinner might call, "Right foot on Green," which requires the next player to place her right foot on the green dot. If you fall, slip off the dot or simply can't twist your body into the required position, you are out of the game. Continue until only one person is left.
Beach Towel Candy Land
With a beach towel that has the Candy Land game board printed on it, the colored cards and multi-colored game pieces, you can start playing Candy Land at the beach. Lay out the towel, place all the cards face down in a pile and put the game pieces in the starting square. Each player draws a card when it's his or her turn and goes to the nearest square in a corresponding color. If the player gets a card with two colors, she should treat it as two different cards and take two turns. If another player gets a character card, he must go to that character's corresponding square. The first player to reach the end wins.
Battleship
With your Battleship game board in hand, turn plastic pegs and miniature battleships into a full-blown war. Watch the battle unfold as you and your rival attempt to guess the position of each others' ships. Race to sink all his ships before he sinks yours. Start by setting your ships on the field and then begin guessing where your opponent placed his. For example, you may say "I fire on Row 5, Column 7." Your opponent must notify you whether you missed or hit one of his ships.