Last summer, when I told my colleague that I was going to the beach, the look on her face was one of shock. “But it’s so far away!” she lamented. DC is about 3 hours away from the coast, which to a native San Diegan might as well be a transatlantic flight to Portugal. For me, a Nebraska native, 3 hours was almost too good to be true. Growing up landlocked, any trip to the shore felt like I was on vacation because that’s the only time I got to see it. And now I can take weekend trips and even day trips to the beach anytime I need it. I love that my happy place is within reach and that I can take off and just go when I want to. All I need is a tank of gas.
Two years ago, when I was living in Nebraska, I spent a summer missing the beach. The best thing I had at my disposal was a pool with a pool chair– not complaining, but something about hearing waves crash and sizzle against the shore puts me in my best state of mind. Calm, present, content. So, I put together a playlist called “My Happy Place” with songs that remind me of sunny days with toes in the sand, a beer in my hand, and frolicking in the salty surf with the feeling of sun on my skin. Some of these tunes are chill and relaxing but still have a peppy island vibe, some are all-out beach party hits. Ahh, I can practically smell the funnel cakes and malt vinegar now.
Enjoy! And be sure to let me know what some of your favorite beach/poolside hits are.
My Happy Place Playlist
- For starters, pretty much anything on Kenny Chesney’s “Be As You Are” album. My favorites:
- “Somewhere in the Sun”
- “Soul of a Sailor”
- “Guitars and Tiki Bars”
- Other Kenny Chesney hits:
- “Live Those Songs”
- “Key’s in the Conch Shell”
- “Beer in Mexico”
- “I Go Back”
- “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem”
- “Anything But Mine”
- “When the Sun Goes Down”
- “Pirate Flag”
- Zac Brown Band
- “Island Song”
- “Knee Deep” (feat. Jimmy Buffet)
- “Castaway”
- The entire “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” soundtrack (trust me)
- “Ocean Avenue” Yellowcard
- “Island Feeling” Clear Conscience
- “Cake by the Ocean” DNCE
- “Lights Out” Santigold
- “Island in the Sun” Weezer
- “12:59 Lullaby” Bedouin Soundclash
- “I Like It” Enrique Iglesias
- “Paradise” Ana Serrano van der Laan
- Anything by Bob Marley (obviously!), but especially:
- “Jammin'”
- “One Love/People Get Ready”
- “Stir It Up”
- “Could You Be Loved”
- “Cruel Summer” Blestenation
- “You’ve Got the Style” Athlete
- “Wildfire” John Mayer
- “Middle of Nowhere” Hot Hot Heat
- “Sleeping With a Friend” Neon Trees
- “She’s Mine” Brett Dennan
- “Darlin’ Do Not Fear” Brett Dennan
- “Lost” The Mary Onettes
- “Forever” Matt Hires
- “St. Croix” Family of the Year
- “Smoke Detector” Rilo Kiley
- “Harvest Moon” Neil Young (and Poolside has a good remix)
- “Love Is Strange” Lady Saw and Shaggy
- “If I Ever Feel Better” Phoenix
- “Soak Up the Sun” Sheryl Crow
- “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” Tavares
- Basically any country song about having a good time, my favorites:
- “Yeah” Joe Nichols
- “It’s 5:00 Somewhere” Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett
- “Let’s Ride” Easton Corbin
- “Summer Thing” Troy Olsen
- Anything from the Beach Boys
- “Dancing on the Shore” Tropical Flavor Steel Drum Band
- Other classics, like:
- “Shambala” Three Dog Night
- “Under the Boardwalk” The Drifters
- “In the Summertime” Mungo Jerry
- “Copacabana” Barry Manilow
- “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” Rubert Holmes
My favorite beach photos from over the years:
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