How many times have you gone to the beach, got everything set up and realized that you forgot to pack something? Don’t worry, we’ve all done it!
In order to help, we created a handy list of things to bring to the beach that will remind you of the go-to items you need to take. As an extra bonus, we’ve included a few items that you may not have even thought about bringing before, that will make your day at the beach a little safer and a lot more enjoyable.
Lots of Water
Did you know that the average adult requires 8 full glasses of water each day? This number increases when lying out in the sun because as you sweat, you begin to dehydrate. In order to stay hydrated while you’re at the beach, a good rule of thumb is to bring a gallon of water. Depending on the size of your family, you may need to bring a little bit more than a gallon to be on the safe side. Remember, hydrate often!
Sunscreen with SPF 30 or Higher
Remembering to take sunscreen with you to the beach is a no-brainer. However, many people make the mistake of bringing sunscreen with an inadequate SPF (sun protection factor) rating. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Now that you know what type of sunscreen you’ll need, you also need to remind yourself to reapply. Generally, you should reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. If you’ll be swimming or if you’re sweating a lot, you may want to reapply sooner in order to stay protected.
Beach Umbrella
Bringing a beach umbrella is a perfect way to keep your kids (and you) from having to endure constant exposure to the sun. If you’re not able to pack an umbrella, daily rentals are typically offered by the city or you can have one delivered to your hotel or vacation rental by a local beach equipment rental company.
Related reading: How to Properly Secure a Beach Umbrella
Snacks
With so much activity going on, you’re sure to get hungry. Bring fresh fruit, chips, pretzels and anything you like – just make sure you watch out for those pesky seagulls who can swoop in and grab them right out of your hand.
Extra-Large Blanket
You can’t go wrong by bringing a large blanket with you to the beach. This way, beach towels can be used for drying off and you can use the blanket to lay on instead. Also, blankets are usually heavier than beach towels, making them easier to keep flat on the sand. We’ve all had a towel blow away on the beach and it’s never a fun time having to retrieve it and re-do your setup.
Jug of Water or Baby Powder
Do you ever find yourself returning from a long day at the beach just to get into the car with half the beach with you? Keep a jug of water in the trunk so you can wash off those sandy feet before you enter the car. Or, you can use baby powder! Just wipe it on your sandy feet and the sand magically falls off.
Change of Clothes
How many times have you returned to your car only to have 5 semi-wet people climbing in? With a quick change of clothes kept in the trunk, you’ll manage to avoid bringing home all the wet sand!
Beach Chairs
For those who prefer to be at the beach, just not sitting directly on the sand — a beach chair is a great companion. If you don’t own one, most local beachwear stores have them in stock and sell them for a reasonable price. If you don’t want the burden of carrying them to and from the beach, most cities offer a daily beach chair rental service.
Portable Speaker
The beach can be busy, especially during the summer months and a portable speaker is a great way to tune out annoying neighbors. There are tons of great Bluetooth portable speakers at reasonable prices so you can connect your phone and jam out all day. Make sure to pick up a water-resistant one that can take a beating from water, sand and heat.
Lots of Entertainment
Bring footballs, a bocce ball set, Frisbees and any other game activities the whole family can enjoy. Buckets, shovels and small toys are perfect for digging in the sand. A family that plays together, stays together. Just remember to respect your neighbors at the beach.
Books or Magazines
Pack a reference book to see what types of shells you can find, or which species of birds are flying around! Or if you just want to relax, bring some light reading material or your eReader.
First Aid Kit
It’s always best to keep a first aid kit in your car or even bring it to the beach with you. You’ll be surprised at how handy it can be. Especially with kids, it’s easy to step on a shell, get knocked down by a wave or fall while running — causing little bumps and scrapes.
Binoculars
Often there are times when you are on the beach looking out toward the ocean and someone asks you “what is that?” pointing to a tiny blip in the distance. How nice would it be to be able to tell them? Well with a cheap pair of binoculars, you’ll know exactly what type of boat or marine life you’ve discovered.
Flip-flops
Flip-flops are vital for that transition from the hot sand to the not-as-hot sand as you walk towards the ocean. Bring them and you won’t regret it. Be sure to pack a waterproof pair so you don’t mind rinsing them off in the handy showers near the beach access.
Sunglasses
Now, this may seem like a no-brainer, but to those who don’t wear sunglasses regularly, you may forget this handy little item. If you’re able to, pack a pair of polarized sunglasses as they offer more protection from the sun reflecting off of the water and the sand than non-polarized ones.
Are you Planning a Beach Vacation?
Now that you know what to pack, you might need a place to stay! If your next beach vacation destination is South Carolina, feel free to explore Condo-World’s selection of professionally-managed vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach.
