Summer Beach Trip Essentials

Planning that epic all-day summer beach trip? Nothing is worse than arriving at the beach and realizing that you forgot something important. In this article, “Summer Beach Trip Essentials,” I keep you on track to have the best day ever without any distractions. I will say that I won’t add swimsuits to the list because most of us would probably have our bathing suits underneath our clothes instead of changing on the beach or in one of those dirty public restrooms at the beach. So don’t worry, I didn’t forget an obvious item like a bathing suit.

Beach Towel

A beach towel seems like something you wouldn’t forget to pack, but it happens and can put a damper on your trip, especially if you plan to lay out and tan without sand getting in places where it doesn’t belong or doesn’t belong. So packing a towel in your beach bag first is key. There are even beach bags that turn into a mini backpack, so all you have to do is put it on your back and roll it out. 

Sunblock

Okay, if you forget sunblock at the beach, prepare to be burned and hurt for the next week. The one thing that I learned from working with children for over thirteen years is that you have to reapply sunblock every time you get out of the water or sweat. For example, there were two twins that I battled with sunburns at my summer program. No matter how often we put on sunblock, they would end up with pink faces at the end of the day. Even with keeping them out of the sun and wearing hats whenever they went outside, they always had a slight sunburn.

So if you have fair skin or not, it’s important that you find a sunblock that will provide the best protection possible. You might even need to use two sunblocks on different body areas. We found out with the two kids I mentioned that when we started using the sunblock stick with a higher SPF, the kids didn’t burn anymore. It might take some trial and error, but you can do it. Also, make sure that you reapply every time that you come out. 

Sunglasses

Having a great pair of dark sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s harsh UV rays is key. I’ve lost or broken my sunglasses so many times that I always have two or three pairs in the car just in case because my eyes are so sensitive to light. If you have a small pocket in your beach bag, I would suggest tucking an extra pair of sunglasses in your bag and before you get out of the car, make sure that you have your sunglasses on before leaving the house.

Sandals

Tuck a pair of your favorite sandals in your beach bag just in case of red hot lava sand. Nothing is worse than walking on hot sand and burning your feet to the shore. There are some great sandals on Amazon, and I can always find cute and affordable sandals at Ross or Nordstrom Rack. 

Umbrella Or A Tent

Lying in the sun for a little while is great, but there comes the point when you need to retreat from the sun and rest in the shade. Having a canopy or a beach umbrella can help to keep you cool and give you a great place to hide and get out of the wind. The key is to find a tent or umbrella that is lightweight and easy to carry as you look for a perfect spot to set up.

My favorite beach umbrella has a heavy-duty anchor to prevent your umbrella from falling in the wind and the ability to adjust the angle. I purchased my beach umbrella from Rite Aid, and I’ve had it for over a decade and always have it in the back of my trunk for a spontaneous trip to the beach. 

Cover Up

 Having a coverup on hand is a great way to stay warm or transition from the beach to a restaurant. In addition, there are some great bargains towards the end of the summer at Target, Ross, and Nordstrom Rack. 

Snacks

Packing up a bag full of delicious summertime snacks like fresh fruits, veggies, hummus, and a charcuterie board never hurts. Bring foods that are lightweight, easy to carry, and of course, they have to be delicious! Don’t forget to bring an ice pack and drinks, so your food stays nice and cold.

Water

Stay hydrated all day long with a refillable water bottle. One of the most annoying things is being thirsty and surrounded by water that you can’t drink. One of my favorite refillable water bottles is Hydrojug. It holds about half of a gallon at a time. 

Music

You have to put on some of your favorite jams when you’re at the beach, right? You can certainly bring your earphones but if you want to share the music with your closest friends, then pump up the music with a JBL portable speaker. 

Beach Bag

Of course you have to have a beach bag to hold all your essentials for the day.

Beach Sports Equipment

If you love sports, you must bring classical beach equipment like volleyball and frisbee. The benefit to beach sports is the extra burn you will feel from the sand’s resistance as you run and dive for the ball. 

Trash Bag

An essential item is to take with you to the beach not only to pack up the trash that you create and any trash you see left on the beach that is harmful to the environment. 

Now that you have your essential list for the beach, you are prepared to have a wonderful day without the distress of finding that you left something behind. If you enjoyed this article, read another helpful article, How To Plan The Perfect Summer Self-Care Retreat.