The weird history behind the American beach vacation
The modern-day American beach vacation is a relatively new concept.
Beach-going is actually a concept borrowed from the Brits.
Before the 1700s, most people's idea of the ocean came from the Bible. It depicted the ocean as full of shipwrecks and natural disasters.
17th century art began to reveal the beauty of the ocean and attracted tourists to seaside towns.
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A century later, doctors in England began prescribing ocean treatment for "melancholy." They believed deep sea baths helped cure feelings of sadness.
When oxygen was discovered in 1778, the health benefits of sea air were popularized. These benefits made beach visits a status symbol amongst Britain's upper class.
19th century transportation allowed the entire social ladder to jump in, and visiting the beach soon became an international trend.
By 1960, tourist havens like Coney Island became the beaches we know and love today.
Click through the gallery below to see the 6 most romantic beaches in the world:
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