Free Press Boater Hat via Nordstrom Rack (similar) || Zaful White Dress c/o || Camille Swimsuit (similar polka dot bikini)

A couple weekends ago we (sadly) realized that we had barely been to the beach this summer...and it was already August! Insert emoji with big eyes and mouth gaping wide. With few weekends left that were both free and weather-appropriate, I threw on a swimsuit and easy breezy white maxi dress and we headed out to one of the beaches closest to us, Rockaway Beach. It's probably our least favorite in the area, but it IS the closest and sometimes, when you want a beach day, just about any beach will do.

After struggling with parking and crowds, we discovered a few new places that make the Rockaways perhaps a bit more bearable. One of those places, Playland Motel, we stopped at for brunch.  While they seemed to be out of at least half their stuff and the service wasn't top notch, the decor was super fun and the food wasn't bad either. 

After brunch, we drove around a bit to explore (and let the beaches empty out a bit). We came back and settled in just in time for sunset. It didn't end up being your typical lay-on-the-beach-and-get-a-tan kind of day, but I almost liked this one better. Catching the sunset, surfers and cooler breezes was so magical, I almost actually liked the Rockaways. 

Have you been able to get to the beach this summer? Or do you have any beach days planned before the season is over? It's crazy how quickly the time has flown by and how, it seems, there's been so little time to do any summer-activities. Here's to us all hopefully fitting a few in in the last of these summer days.

PHOTOS BY DAVID LEVINE