With summer finally being upon us, most of us are planning summer vacations, and the biggest place most of us will go is the beach. You might head toward the East Coast and hang out on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, or you might even head to the West Coast and chill with the waves crashing in from the Pacific Ocean. If you're like me, you'd be perfectly happy heading to the South and burying your toes in the sandy white beaches off the Gulf of Mexico. The beach is by far the best place in the whole world, and here is why;

1. The seafood

I am such a huge fan of fresh seafood and any beach town is full of awesome, local restaurants. I've learned that the smaller they are, and the more crowded they are, the better they are!

2. The shopping

I never fail to find cute, local boutiques or outlet malls to go shopping at when I want to get out and explore the town I'm in.

3. The relaxing environment

Enough said. The only worry I have while at the beach is how I am going to have enough time to eat at all the local restaurants!

4. It's healthy!

Being outside in the sunshine means soaking up a ton of vitamin D, which doctors say boosts our production of serotonin, the chemical that works to keep us feeling alert, up-beat and happy.

5. The beach attire

Finally, an excuse to wear my cute new swimsuit I got from Old Navy to spend my day by the water, or that cute new romper mom got me (thanks mom!) to wear out on the town!

6. The entertainment

The amount of things that are available to do at the beach is crazy. Places like the Hangout in Gulf Shores (a restaurant that has live bands and an annual festival) are the key places to check out!