Well, of course not, but when you are heading to the beach, you can no longer just pop on flip-flops, grab a cheap beach towel and some sunscreen and go. When the sun is shining and the temperatures rise, many families head to the beach. They go to enjoy a day of building sand castles, swimming and splashing in the water, flying a kite or throwing a Frisbee. What’s not to like, right? But, if you don’t plan accordingly, a day at the beach can turn into a nightmare. When visiting your favorite beach destination, you need to be prepared for a successful outing.
CLOTHES FOR BEACH
Sometimes you feel like What to wear to the beach seems a no-brainer, but having a checklist always comes in handy. We recommend these 6 key items.
1.Swimsuits
2.Rashguards
3.Cover-ups
4.Flip flops/sandals
5.A change of clothes (more than 1 for babies)
6.Water Shoes
7.Sunglasses – rated for full UVA/UVB protection
8.Sunhats
9.Swim diapers
10.Lightweight jacket or sweatshirt.
2. FIRST AID KITS
It is good to be prepared for other small ailments and injuries. You should always keep a kit in your car and take a small one for when you travel. Keep in mind that most first aid kits will need to be in checked baggage if they contain sharp items like scissors. Ziptop bags are a beach essential!! They can be used for some many things. In your first aid kit, it can be turned into an ice pack in an instant. Or you can use it to protect your cell phone from sand and water. You can also use ziptop bags to keep the items in your first aid kit dry and keep metal items protected from the salt air (aka RUST).
3. SUNSCREEN
Since skin cancer is on the rise, we know to come home with seashells, not sunburns! Kids’ skin is delicate and should be protected regardless of complexion. I had to have a skin cancer removed from my face, so I learned the hard way that sunscreen should be priority #1! Don’t forget lip balm with SPF as well. It is true that sunburn can be miserable, and there is no way to spend your much-deserved getaway. On top of being miserable, sunburns are dangerous to your short-term and long-term health. Make sure Try to keep your vacation sunburn free!!
4. COMFORT ITEMS
When you want a more “luxurious” day at the beach, these are the additional comfort items you’ll want to bring (depending on what can fit in your car, of course).
1.Beach chairs
2.Beach blanket
3. Shade Tent
4. Cooler/Insulated bag
5. Beach Umbrella
6. Folding snack table
7. Collapsible utility wagon – these are the absolute best way to get all of your stuff to the beach from your car without breaking your back.
5. TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
- Water bottle
- Reading material
- Passport/visa/ID
- Itinerary/directions or maps
- Guidebook
- Cash
- Credit cards/ATM cards
- Insurance cards (medical and travel)
- List of medications
- Emergency contacts
- Copies of passport/credit cards
- Cell phone
- Electronics chargers
- Adapter
- Camera w/memory card
- Snacks
- Tablet/laptop
- Portable phone charger
- Suitcase locks
- Travel pillow & blanket
- Earbuds/headphones
- Tissues
- Reusable baggies/small dry bag