Many people enjoy long summer days by lying on the warm sand and listening to the waves crashing on the shore.
A trip to the beach on a warm summer day can mean hours of relaxation and fun while you enjoy the outdoors and take in a plethora of activities.
One of the hardest parts of going to the beach is carrying all your heavy luggage, and a beach cart makes it easy to get your gear from your car to the sand while reducing muscle strain.
Before you head to the beach for a perfect summer day, don’t forget to bring these essentials with you.
1. A cooler with drinks and snacks
Pack plenty of drinks and snacks to last you through the day at the beach.
Chips and sandwiches are great foods to take to the beach, and mini sandwiches are even better as they can be snacked on throughout the day.
Drinking plenty of water is essential to stay hydrated in the hot sun.
2. Toddler cabana
Every parent knows that taking a baby to the beach can be a disastrous situation if the adults aren’t prepared.
These are relatively inexpensive and can provide your children with much needed shade during a day at the beach.
3. Use lots of sunscreen
Don’t forget to bring sunscreen when you go to the beach.
Make sure you have everything on hand: sprays, lotions, sunscreen for your face.
If you have a lip balm with SPF, keep it in your bag for extra protection.
4. UV wristband or sticker
Making sure kids have enough sunscreen on them all day can take most of the fun out of a beach day for parents.
There are plenty of products available that can help reduce stress by letting parents know when it’s time to reapply sunscreen.
The UV stickers come in a pack so you have enough for a day at the beach – just stick the sticker on and watch the color change when it’s time to reapply sunscreen.
These will help you know when to put sunscreen on your kids.
You can also stick stickers on yourself to protect your skin.
5. Sunglasses and a hat
Sunglasses and hats can provide additional protection from the sun for both children and adults.
Pack a few extra pairs of sunglasses and hats in your bag in case the person you’re traveling with needs them throughout the day.
Bucket hats are great for the beach as they provide plenty of shade, but baseball caps work well too.
6. Sheets that fit snugly in places where sand can’t get in
The ultimate beach hack is to bring a fitted sheet to maintain a sand-free zone: simply place the fitted sheet upside down on the sand and place four objects on each corner to hold it open.
Next you will need a small foot bath, fill this with seawater and place it on the outside of your fitted sheet with a towel next to it.
If you get sand on your feet, soak them in a bucket of water, dry them off with a towel, and then get into the fitted sheet. This method should keep most of the sand away.
Throughout the day, whenever you want a break from the sand, such as at lunch, follow these steps to keep sand out of your sandwich.
7. Portable Fan
A day at the beach can get hot.
A dip in the ocean will cool you down quickly, but it’s handy to have a portable fan with you.
Portable hand fans are available for cheap on Amazon, and some even spray mist for added cooling.
If you want to cool down but don’t want to get wet, this fan can help.
8. Hooded towel
When it’s time to go home at the end of the day, it can be hard to keep the kids out of the water.
Hooded towels are plentiful and can be useful for lifting children out of the water.
Hooded towels come in a variety of designs, including land animals and sea creatures, so you’re sure to find something your child will love.
9. Buckets and shovels for building sandcastle masterpieces
Sand toys will keep your kids entertained for hours.
Take a bag of sand toys to the beach, including plenty of shovels and buckets, to make sand castles and other sand structures.
Be sure to give your toys a good rinse in the ocean to avoid bringing hidden piles of sand into the car.
10. Beach Games
Beach games provide endless fun for the family.
Whether it’s games like Spikeball or just tossing a football or volleyball around, having a variety of activities for your kids to enjoy will keep them occupied.
A set of waterproof cards is a must-have for the beach, as it allows you to enjoy a variety of fun games without worrying about ruining the deck.
11. Comfortable seats for mom and dad (and little chairs for little ones)
While you may not be able to sit on the beach and work on your tan while taking care of the kids, it is important to have a nice, comfortable beach chair to sit on when you do have time to relax.
While they are napping, you can take a relaxing break in a comfortable chair.
There are also cute beach chairs available with umbrellas to keep your kids in the shade.
12. Wet clothes bag
After a day at the beach, you’re bound to have a lot of wet gear, which can be a struggle to get home if you don’t have a place to store wet and dry items separately.
Be sure to bring a separate bag for everyone’s wet clothes after a long day splashing around.
Then when you get home, just toss the bag with your wet clothes right into the washing machine.
13. First Aid Kit
Accidents happen, and you need to be prepared for them.
You don’t need anything fancy here, just a basic first aid kit to deal with minor injuries.
If you don’t have a first aid kit, keep some extra band-aids in your bag in case you need them.
If you or your children are injured at the beach, find a lifeguard who can provide assistance.
14. Beach Cart
Carrying all your belongings to the beach can be a challenge, but a beach cart makes it much easier.
Beach carts come in a variety of designs, but many resemble wagons.
Instead of trying to carry everything with both hands and increasing the chances of dropping things along the way, you can throw everything into one of these carts and pull your items along with you.
15. Speakers and a catchy beach playlist
You have to have beach tunes playing all day.
Waterproof speakers are the best option, so you don’t have to worry about them breaking.
Please be careful not to play music too loudly to avoid disturbing other beach users.
Kimber Crandall contributed reporting to this article.
