The feel of the hot sand warming your toes; the salty breeze whipping your hair in your face; watching the crisp, white, foamy waves come crashing one after another on the shore- there is an infinite number of reasons why the beach is the favorite place of so many.
Napping, tanning, swimming, surfing, playing volleyball, the options one has to enjoy while at the beach are also endless. In fact, one of the only ways to have a beautiful beach day ruined is by forgetting something you’re going to end up needing. Let’s go ahead and solve that now by working out a list of all the things you definitely want to have the next time you go to the beach.
- Coral Reef-Safe Sunblock
While you want to protect your skin from the dangerous rays of the sun, you should also want to not destroy the planet in the process. Some beaches have even started banning certain types of sunscreen in order to ease up contributing to the death of the coral reefs. The last thing you want is to catch a sunburn, which can not only cause skin problems and aging but can also sting and cause pain. Lather up every few hours to make sure you’re applying continuously, especially if you’re playing out in the water.
- Snacks & protein bars
You’re going to need the energy to keep playing in the surf or hanging on the shore. Maximize your day by making sure you’ve bought your own food for lunch, so you don’t need to leave unnecessarily early when you still want to hang out and play. I REALLY love these coconut protein bars for a quick bite, sandwiches for lunch, and some grapes, carrots, or apples cover all your bases. Make it easier on yourself by packing all these items in a small cooler.
- Refillable Water Bottle
You don’t need to have seen the images of the trash-filled beach in India to understand the importance of not bringing plastic water bottles to the beach. We love our beaches for what they are, so make sure you bring an eco-friendly Kool8 refillable stainless steel water bottle. The insulation means that the water you want to keep chilled will stay chilled during your entire beach day trip. Many beaches now have refillable stations to encourage visitors to bring their own water canisters, so having a large, insulated, and stylish bottle is the best way to go.
- Secret Wallet Holder
You don’t want to have to watch your equipment the entire time you’re out in the ocean, so a quick easy way to make sure your most vital items (keys, cash, phone) stay safe, is by hiding them in a disguised bottle. From phony sun-screen bottles to fake deodorants, there are all sorts of uniquely styled containers.
- Water-Proof Phone Cover
Why even bother taking the risk of potentially dropping your phone in the ocean and losing it forever? A water proof phone cover will protect your phone from a sudden surge of crashing shorelines rising with the tide or an unexpected splash of ocean spray. Some water-proof phone covers are even fully submersible so you can take pictures under the water in the ocean.
- UV Blocking Sunglasses
It’s important to keep your skin protected, but it’s also just as important to keep your eyes protected. Wide-framed sunglasses with UV protection will allow you to see even with the bright sun shining down, while also keeping your eyes shielded from harsh, UV rays.
- Flip Flops
Trying to shake all the sand off of shoes and socks can seem like an impossible task because the grains are tiny and difficult to remove. Flip flops are quick to put on, easy to wash and clean, and are waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about losing them. They’re also flexible and easy to toss into a beach bag.
- Spare Change of Clothes
Avoid that itchy, scratchy feeling of being stuck in stiff or sandy clothes for the drive home by packing a spare change of clean clothes to change into for the drive back home. Plus, now you’ll be comfortable and clean in case you want to stop at that neat restaurant on your way back home. And it doesn’t have to be anything fancy anyway. I love this beach hoodie from ScreenPrintThis for $18.55.
- A Frisbee
Don’t be caught without a reason to run around! Frisbees are a great, traditional toy to have and toss around. It’s a throwback to your more youthful days, but somehow, just as fun as you remember it being.