Emma woke up with a big smile. Today was the start of summer vacation.
She jumped out of her bed. She was ready for a fun day.
Emma went to her closet. She picked out her favorite flip-flops.
She found her big yellow bag. She put a soft towel inside.
Then she added her sunscreen. She did not want to get a sunburn.
Emma’s Dad called from the kitchen. "Are you ready to go, Emma?" he asked.
Emma ran down the stairs. "I am ready!" she shouted.
They put the bags in the car. Emma sat in the back seat.
She looked at the map. The beach was far away.
On the way, they saw a big farm. Emma saw cows eating green grass.
She saw a red barn and a tractor. The sun was shining high in the sky.
After a while, Emma smelled the air. The air smelled like salt and water.
"We are here!" Dad said. Emma saw the big blue ocean.
The waves were small and quiet. They made a soft sound on the sand.
Emma ran to the edge of the water. She dipped her toes in the waves.
The water was cold and fresh. It made Emma giggle and jump.
Then she sat down on the sand. The sand was soft and white.
Emma used her shovel to dig. She made a very big pile of sand.
She used a bucket to make walls. Her sandcastle had four tall towers.
She found a feather and a stick. She put them on top of the castle.
"Look at my castle!" Emma said. Dad took a picture with his phone.
Emma walked along the shore. She looked for pretty things.
She found a smooth gray stone. She found a piece of green sea glass.
Then she saw a little crab. The crab walked sideways into a hole.
Emma laughed at the funny crab. The beach was a busy place.
At noon, they sat under an umbrella. The umbrella was striped like a rainbow.
They ate sandwiches and crunchy grapes. Drinking cold water felt very good.
The sun was very hot now. Emma wore her sunglasses to see.
Later, they went for a walk. They saw a tall lighthouse far away.
The lighthouse was white and red. It looked like a giant crayon.
Emma was having the best day ever. She did not want to go home.
But the sun was getting low. The sky was turning a soft purple.
"Time to pack up," Dad said. Emma helped pick up the toys.
She shook the sand off her towel. She put her treasures in her bag.
On the ride home, Emma fell asleep. She dreamed of waves and sandcastles.
Summer vacation was just beginning. She had many more fun days ahead.
