Beach Birthday?

I think it sounds like a good idea. I would offer to give her friends a ride. I think that a lot of girls would come,I would come

I know I wouldn't go. Too much hassle. Sorry. I think it's kind of rude to ask for parents to drive 2 HOURS total, to a party. Especially, since a gift has to be bought, plus the gas, plus the hours you would have to spend at the beach to make 2 hours in the car worth it.

What if she just took a few best friends to the beach? You could drive them and supervising them wouldn't be an issue. You could make a day out of it.

Our daughter (8) went to a bday party that was held at the American Girl store in Los Angeles. It's about 1.5 hour drive from where we live. The birthday girl's parents drove all of the children that were invited (well, actually they hired a party limo). So although not the beach, it was a party that was a good distance away and the parents of the bday girl handled the transportation. You may also want to consider the comfort level of the parents in regards to their child's ocean safety and your ability to watch a certain number of kids at once at the beach, etc.

RM:

how old is your daughter?

When we have party's that are more than 30 minutes away - we drive the kids. We have two cars and make sure that no one is inconvenienced to be able to attend.

Are you going to San Clemente, San Onofre or Oceanside? Have you considered going to Lake Elsinore instead?

If I didn't have the room to cart them all - I would check my budget and the cost for a party bus.

http://www.limobuses.com/services/sub-html/Murrieta.html
http://www.ulcpartybus.com/locations/murrieta-party-bus-s...

I'm a California girl at heart - so going to the beach is something I would DEFINITELY do!! I love West Coast beaches - they are so much better than East Coast beaches....

If my kids are not good beach swimmers, I would most likely decline or tell you that I would bring them to the beach so I could supervise. That also comes from me being a California beach life guard for two summers....I know about rip-tides and crowds...

Consider Lake Elsinore instead. It might be closer for you as well.

Good luck!

I have been to one. It was about 30-45 minutes away from most of the invitees. And it was NOT just for the kids, it was a family invitation. It was a child in our church and lots of people (even without kids) were invited. They brought pizza and drinks to share. (Didn't know exactly how many people would show up, because it wasn't a formal invitation except for the kids--kinda weird to explain, but it was the Pastor's daughter and so her friends were invited, and we all were friends with the entire family, and several families had sort of "adopted" the family since the rest of their actual family was across the country).
Anyway... I would be leary of just sending my kid anyway. Beaches can be dangerous places. We are 20 minutes (in the car, but about 4 miles as the crow flies) from Jekyll Island. The rip currents and disappearing sandbars are natural hazards that cause at least one fatality annually around here. Usually tourists who just are unaware or think they are being "careful enough".

Unless you have lots of adult supervision and are planning to go where there are life guards stationed and ON DUTY... then plan something else. It isn't worth the risk otherwise. (I can't speak for CA, but around here, not every beach has lifeguards stationed, nor are they on duty during all daylight hours...).

No I would never have a kid's party an hour away.
Family party only, no school friends? Maybe.
And for sure I would make sure the transportation was included. A two hour round trip drive is a lot of time, and gas.
But I'm a home party kind of M.. I'd be more inclined to have a beach themed party at the house, sand and water play, drinks with paper umbrellas, limbo game, surf music playing, goody bags with cheap sunglasses and coconut scented sunscreen. I would TOTALLY do that!

We have 3 kids in our extended family, including my daughter, with June birthdays. We always meet up on the Central Coast to celebrate (it's a few hours away for us, about an hour for the other cousins). It's always a blast! There's nothing kids like better than playing on the beach.

What I would do is pick the number of kids you can take in your vehicle, and then ask their parents if they'd allow you to drive their little darling to the beach. (I wouldn't expect the parents to drive unless you know them really well and they seem like the type who would happily do it.) Bring super easy food, tons of sunscreen (the kind that goes onto a wet kid is very helpful, I've found), and an extra change of clothes for everybody. It will be the best birthday party ever.

uh, not sounding like a good idea to me. I would consider it only for 1-2 super bff friends whose parents i knew and were ok with it, and i would provide transpo.

because as a M. I'm sure as hell not going to drive my kid an hour each way unless i also planned to stay at the beach and if i planned to stay i would feel akward if i wasn't part of the party, and then there is the whole safety issue and it just sounds like too much hassel, so no i would not attend.

It is not the distance. It is a beach. I would never have a beach birthday party for a child! Too risky.

You didn't say the age of your girl and I think that would matter. I take it you're talking about the ocean when you say the beach. If your child is old enough and parents agreed I would think you would drive them since it's so far for a party.

I wouldn't let my child go unless I knew the parents and he/she was older.

Isn't there a lake with a nice beach near by? That might be more suitable. But I get wanting to go to the ocean.

Good Luck

If my son was invited to a party an hour away and I had to drive him there, he would not likely attend. If you would really like to do this (and it WOULD be fun), consider:

1. Having your daughter invite a few close friends and you provide the transportation. If you and your husband (or a friend) drive two cars, she could easily invite 4 or 5 friends for the day.

2. Include the families of the invitees, so that you aren't asking parents to drive an hour... find something to do... and then come back.

3. Consider and even smaller group of guests and do an overnight. My parents did that for my sister's 10th birthday and it was a blast! They invited her 3 best friends and went to Daytona for the weekend (3 hours away). They got a hotel suite (two bedrooms, living room and kitchenette) and drove up Friday after school. We spent Saturday on the beach, had dinner at a "beachy" restaurant and drove home late the next morning. BLAST!

I would go and make it a family D.. But, if you are not providing transportation, then say NO GIFTS on the invites. Have food for the adults and provided the umbrellas. Sounds expensive on your end. Just do a pool party in your area.