What You Need to Enjoy a Day at the Beach
Spending the day at the beach can be a good time for every member of your family. You experience the calming effects of the gentle waves, the warm breeze and the sand between your toes. Before packing up the tribe, there are essential items necessary to make the day fun-filled.
Cover-Up Clothing
Beach resort towns, such as those found along the Florida coastline, can have very unpredictable weather. Having a swimsuit cover-up on hand will allow you to seek shelter from too much sun or rain and remain comfortable. They also allow you to visit shops along the beach without having to change out of your suit.
Large Oversized Umbrella
Some beaches have umbrella rentals available for the day. However, if you live a convenient distance from the water and plan to make spending time at the beach a favorite pastime, having your own is a wise investment. Just be careful if you’re ordering your free-standing beach umbrella online as the size pictured can be deceiving. Instead, do your own research ahead of time as to what you need such as the diameter coverage, hand-crank or auto, wind and UV resistance, to name a few features.
Sizeable Waterproof Cooler
Popular beaches often have some type of concessions stand nearby where you can buy food and drinks. However, the cost is, in many cases, ridiculous. Luckily, you have two other options. You can find a beach that has separate grilling areas and picnic tables and bring your own food or you can plan ahead by making some sandwiches, packing some fruit and veggie energy bags and bringing lots of water to stay hydrated. Again, if you’re considering ordering your beach cooler online make sure that the dimensions are adequate. You should also invest in one with a pull handle and wheels for convenient travel through the sand and built-in cup holders to keep drinks on the up and up.
Sunscreen
A sunburn can instantly turn a fantastic day into an ugly one. Make sure that if you’re going to be at the beach for more than a couple of hours that you apply SPF 15 or greater for adults and SPF 30 to 50 for young children. Reapply it after swimming and every few hours. Sunburn is not only extremely painful but it also puts you at a higher risk of developing skin cancer as well.
Plenty of Towels
The sand and the wind can cause your supply of clean, fresh towels to dwindle quickly. If there’s something you should bring more of, it’s beach towels. There are so many beach towels from which to choose. For instance, if you’re hanging out under the umbrella with small children, double size beach towels work wonderfully as they won’t reveal gaps every time the wind blows.
Comfortable Shoes
Let’s face it, you came to the beach to relax, unwind and spend quality time with your family. Wearing the right footwear for the sand is essential to help you achieve personalized comfort. Waterproof clogs, crocks, open toe and back slip-on sandals and athletic closed sneakers are all good choices.
Music
You live in the day of technology and that’s a good thing when it comes to spending a day at the beach. You can use a tablet or an iPhone to play your favorite tunes without interruptions for several hours. Or, if you prefer the retro experience, purchase an AM/FM radio with an attached antenna and listen to the local music station.
Toys/Activities
Kids young and old alike will experience periods of boredom. Make sure to bring along several activities to keep them busy. For children ages 2 to 4 you can go with a plastic pail with a handle and sea shapes. For older kids, beach balls, a volleyball, and even a kite will prevent the onset of boredom.
Spending the day at the beach can be a fun outing for all if you do a little planning ahead of time. Making sure you have some basic essentials can mean the difference between a successful outing and one that’s more stress than it’s worth.