10 Must-Have Items to Take to the Beach This Summer

What do you bring with you when you go to the beach?  For me, I like to plan out the day.  Even if this means taking more time to load up the car.  I like to get all the big stuff  done the night before.  Boogie boards, towels, extra clothing, snacks, etc can all get loaded up at night.  That way in the morning we can eat breakfast and head out the door.  Here are some ideas of must-have items to take to the beach.

Always bring a good book. This is great if you are stuck in traffic (and not the driver) or just have had too much time in the water and want to relax in some shade and enjoy the ocean breeze.  Don’t forget kids need a good book too.  Especially for the car so they are entertained and not fighting or bugging you driving.  I love this new one: Mason Jar Science: 40 Slimy, Squishy, Super-Cool Experiments by Jonathan Adolph.

This is a brand new book that adults and teens will love.  The Edge of the World: A Visual Adventure to the Most Extraordinary Places on Earth.  Amazing photos from all sorts of locations.  Some beautiful, others totally fascinating. It has a lot of photos from all over the world and not a lot of reading, so will lessen chances of getting car sick.

Food & Drinks

Bring a snack!  I love Entenmann’s Little Bites and they have a brand new flavor, Banana Muffins.  Each box comes with 5 pouches, 4 mini-muffins in each pouch.  They are even made with real bananas. The kids love them for the flavor and sweet taste.  I like that there is no artificial colors or flavors and aren’t messy.  Each pouch is a perfect serving size. 

Make sure you pack plenty of water.  I prefer stainless steel water bottles, especially if they are double insulated.  That way I can fill them with ice, top them off with water and have cold drinks all day.

If you are going to be at the beach mid-day either eat before you go or bring lunch.  Having hungry kids is never fun and most beaches don’t sell food.  I like to bring sandwiches (and wrap them well so they aren’t SAND-wiches), Little Bites and some fresh fruit.  Apples are best un-cut and oranges are good since they are a little messy but the kids can wash their hands in the ocean waves.

Don’t Forget Chairs, Blankets, etc.

 
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Get stuff you can pack lightly.  It is never fun to have a ton to carry or to make two trips.  I like things that can go on my shoulder or back.  I usually skip chairs and umbrellas and just grab a beach blanket, towels, flip flops (in case the sand is hot), sunglasses and lots of sunscreen.  Bring a light-weight jacket or sweater in case you are there at sunset and it starts to get chilly.

Get a decent blanket.  I love this one from Songmics.  It has a shoulder strap, is water-proof (so great if sand below you is damp or if you take it to a park), comes in a dozen colors and folds up nicely with a Velcro closure for easy transport and storage. I chose the pattern with fish on it. It can even get thrown in the washing machine once we are back home.

Here, in California, the drive to the beach in Los Angeles is through a canyon.  I’ve been in a car with kids that get car sick (not fun at all, especially if they start puking).  Getting a ReliefBand or letting them borrow one.  I like that it is drug free and works by putting a pressure point on the inside of the wrist.  It is fast acting too.

If the beach has clean enough bathrooms I have the kids bring a set of dry clothing to change into before we get in the car.  Baby powder is good for getting sand off legs and feet.

What are some of your ‘must have items’ to bring to the beach?