10 Vintage Photos of Beachside Fun to Keep You Warm on Snow Days

Bikinis have existed in some form or another since the fourth century AD, but it took Americans quite awhile to accept the idea of seeing women in navel-baring swimwear. However, it became more commonplace to see these revealing two-piece sets on sandy shores by the 1950s.

There were always so many things to do at the beach when we were kids, but collecting seashells was always one of our favorite pastimes. 

These suits may seem a little silly to our eyes, but they're not that far off from the colorful prints and patterns that are popular for men's bathing suits these days. 

Playing leapfrog at the beach was always dangerous, because you might end up with a mouthful of sand if you didn't time your jump correctly. 

Going to the beach with your kids usually means pleading with everyone to stand still long enough to rub a coat of sunscreen on them before stalking the shoreline for hours to make sure no one wanders too far.

There's nothing as refreshing as running into an ice-cold wave on a hot summer day!

Cookouts on the beach are one of our favorite beach activities. Of course, you always have to have someone on guard duty to ensure those sneaky seagulls don't steal anything!

A family beach day always required extensive planning, especially when the kids were little — but what better way to spend the day than running back and forth between the warm sand and the cool water?

When we were in our 20s, no beach trip was complete without a posed picture on the rocks. 

Ruched bathing suits with sweetheart necklines were all the rage in the 1950s, as they expertly hid any problem areas while also accentuating the waist.