From Cape Cod to California, LIFE photographers chronicled how Americans were enjoying their beaches in the late 1940s. They were engaging in activities not often seen today, belly-sliding, trampoline flipping, tossing one another in the air on blankets and shooting grape juice from water guns...
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| The perils of blanket tossing are happily undergone by pretty Miss Norma Baker with the help of eight husky friends at Hermosa Beach in California. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A woman sunbathes at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A surfer catches a wave in the distance at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
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| Young men take a break for cigarettes and Coca-Cola at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| Friends bury a young woman in the sand at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A man climbs on the roof of Neta's hit dog stand at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
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| Gymnastics in the sand at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A child reads comics in the sand at Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
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| A game of volleyball underway at Santa Monica Beach, California, 1948. (Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A car pulled over by Santa Monica Beach, California, 1948. (Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| A couple plays cards at Santa Monica Beach, California, 1948. (Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| Belly-sliding, a perilous but pleasant sport, is demonstrated by an expert at California's Hermosa Beach. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
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| Daring young man flies off trampoline at California's Santa Monica Beach, where movie starlets show off. (Loomis Dean—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| Pretty girl gets fast and foamy surf ride on inflated mattress cover at Hermosa Beach. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
Americans Were Enjoying Their Beaches in 1948
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| Hermosa Beach, California, 1948. (John Florea—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images) |
