Beaches

—- NPR's Ina Jaffe talks with historian Robert Ritchie about humanity's history of going to the seashore. He's found that before the 17th century, most people normally stayed away from the beach. They wouldn't go unless their doctor made them...around that time, doctors decided that splashing around in cold, foul seawater was good for your health. They also recommended drinking it. Recreational beach trips didn't usually happen until the mid-19th century, when swimming became popular.