From gentle waves and beach games to ice cream by the ocean, another family outing reminded us why Strand Beach is one of our favourite places in the Helderberg. It also highlighted one thing we feel the beachfront is still missing.
Some beach days are memorable because of perfect weather. Others because of the little moments that happen along the way. Our latest family visit to Strand Beach had a bit of both.
The weather couldn’t have been better. The wind was barely noticeable, the ocean was calm, and for once, we managed to leave without sand somehow finding its way into absolutely everything. No gritty sandwiches, no crunchy snacks and, thankfully, no sand in our teeth.
For a family that spends plenty of weekends at Strand Beach, that almost felt like a small miracle.
As always, our son Daniel wasted no time. One minute he was racing towards the shoreline, laughing as the waves chased him back onto the sand. The next, he had moved on to what he clearly considered far more important work.
His excavator was waiting.
A busy morning of beach construction
Every visit to Strand Beach seems to follow its own familiar routine. First come the waves. Then comes the digging. Daniel happily spent what felt like hours moving sand from one place to another, excavating pebbles, building roads and carving little channels for the water to flow through.
The excavator remains the undisputed star of every beach trip.
It’s always fascinating to watch how children can transform an ordinary stretch of sand into an entire construction site. We probably pack more beach toys than we need because, in reality, the excavator does about 90% of the work every single visit.
Watching him become completely absorbed in his own little world is easily one of our favourite parts of spending time at the beach.
The familiar sound of the ice cream bell
As we relaxed on our towels, another familiar Strand Beach tradition made its appearance. The gentle ringing of a small bell.
A few moments later, the ice cream vendor appeared, making his way along the beach as families looked up from their umbrellas and towels. Naturally, we couldn’t say no.
There’s something about enjoying an ice cream while looking out across False Bay that simply feels like summer, no matter the season. It was the perfect way to end another relaxed morning before packing up and heading home.
The one thing we still wish Strand Beach had
As much as we enjoy spending time at Strand Beach, there’s one thing I find myself thinking about almost every time we visit. Why isn’t there a proper ice cream shop right on the beachfront?
There is the pop-up trailer on Strand Road, where you can grab a coffee, a muffin or a samosa. A little further along, near Waterworld Strand, there’s also the Marcel’s Frozen Yoghurt mobile trailer.
But if you’re craving a freshly scooped ice cream in a waffle cone, there really isn’t anywhere to go. I’m not talking about the pre-packaged ice creams you can pick up at a convenience store. I mean the kind of ice cream that becomes part of the outing itself. The sort of place where you choose your favourite flavour, stroll along the promenade and enjoy it while watching the waves roll in.
Our family still talks about the freshly scooped cones we’ve enjoyed at Green Point Park in Cape Town, and every now and then I catch myself wishing Strand Beach had something similar.
With so many locals and visitors spending time along the beachfront throughout the year, it feels like the perfect place for a dedicated artisan ice cream shop. It would be one of those simple additions that naturally becomes part of a family beach day.
That said, it certainly didn’t take away from another wonderful morning by the ocean. Calm weather, happy children, plenty of digging, a welcome ice cream and the beautiful backdrop of False Bay once again reminded us why Strand Beach remains one of our favourite places to spend a family morning in the Helderberg.
