Summer fun! Have you planned a trip to the beach for the summer? From here in Northern Virginia we have so many ocean beach options that make for a great weekend get away.
I love making vacation plans! I definitely do not want to take away from a weekend get away but I know I look forward to nothing to do for a week. But of course, even a day at a local inland lake can be so much fun!
But before you head out for your beach vacation (or staycation!), be sure to grab these beach essentials!
12 Must Have Beach Essentials
1. First and foremost consider your skin. With a broad spectrum, barrier sunblock
, you can be ready to go out immediately. No waiting for the chemical to activate.
2. Sunglasses
are a must. While you likely have your favorites, I recommend a pair that you can afford to lose in the sand, but still look great.
3. As for the kids or anyone else spending a lot of time in the water, consider a rash guard
that also includes UPF since sunblock does wash away, no matter the brand.
4. Hats
can be fun and functional, so give a wide-brimmed one a try. If you want one that won’t blow away, then choose one with elastic or other tie on option.
5. Don’t forget a good pair of beach flip-flops— or if you’d rather not, there are leather lace-ups or slides and jelly sandals
that do the same job— but with flair!
6. Tunes! You have your phone and music on it, but do you have a nice bluetooth speaker
?
7. Up next you need to have good beach towels
that create a barrier to the sand and are absorbent. Get two per member of the family if you can swing it. It gives time for the towels to dry and for washing if they are too sandy!
8. Don’t forget beach toys
! Sand castles are perfect for anyone age 1-100! Also, in the same line, don’t pass up a frisbee and a beach ball!
9. Water is essential! Rather than buying packaged water again and again choose a water bottle
that keeps water cold, even when it is hot out. Of course a cooler helps make your beach trip fun as well. If you can pack snacks or even a picnic, it means more time at the beach, and less time arguing over where to go for dinner. Score!
Finally you need the all around essentials:
- Prepackaged first aid kit
- Aloe Vera gel in case you do burn
- A tote bag that carries it all (and lets the sand fall through as well).
What are your summer beach plans?
WIN IT!
Lucky you, one Hip Mama’s Place reader! One of you will win a $50 Amazon gift card with a surprise beach bag that contains some of the beach essentials mentioned above. Approximate total value of the prize will be no less than $100! Go enter and good luck!
To enter this giveaway contest, just follow the Rafflecopter entry link below. This giveaway contest is open to U.S. 18+ only. One entry per household, per IP address. Void where prohibited. I will pick and notify the winner by email after 06/07/16 at 11:59 PM, EST.
More Giveaways!
For added fun, I’m entering this giveaway at the Life’s a Beach Giveaway Hop, hosted by The Kids Did It and The Mommy Island. Below this post, check out the linky list of giveaways from all the participating bloggers and go enter each of their giveaways as well. Good luck and have fun at the beach this summer!
Disclosure: Hip Mama’s Place and the Life’s A Beach Giveaway Hop participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill their prize obligations. Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and any other social media networks are not affiliated with this giveaway. This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Hip Mama’s Place!
Last day. Thanks for the contest.
We love to travel to Myrtle Beach and try to make it once a year! It’s been a few years since we were able to go but planning it again soon! We definitely need to bring towels and a boogie board when we go down to the beach!
I really love that beach tote! Its so awesome. We are not going to the beach this summer but I really want to
I love that beach bag! i would love to take it with me to our local beaches here on Cape cod
I agree that a strong sunblock lotion is the most important thing to bring to the beach. Not only can sun be damaging to our skim but it is not fun to have a sunburn. We like to go to our local lake and go fishing. We do not live close to an actual beach and I have never been to one either.
The tote bag is so cute
I would love to try the broad spectrum barrier sunblock, as this is one of the more important items needed at any beach.
I have to have a hat and sunblock in my bag with some sunglasses with having skin cancer from being at the beach you have to protect your skin and eyes too.
We love to go to Ventura Beach in Southern California and we love to go beach camping all along the coast with our entire family. Because some of the beaches have tar on the sand I always bring a bottle of baby oil to remove it. Also when we go beaching camping, I bring a first aid kit because sometimes ones of the kids hurts themselves. I always have Aloe Gel if there is a sunburn.
I live in the sunshine state so sunblock and sunglasses are everyday essentials for me. I have very fair and sensitive skin. Just ten minutes out in the sun will turn my skin red. I do not have a favorite summer getaway. I have gone to Daytona Beach twice which was very nice and this summer we plan on making a trip to the Keys which I am looking forward to.
My last trip to the beach was almost 20 years ago to Virginia Beach. My son was just a baby then. I would love to go back with him some time this year.
I live in Kentucky so the only beach I get is the bank of the Nolin River. It is so beautiful here though. We always make sure we pack big fluffy towels and snacks.
Being from New Jersey, we always go to Point Pleasant Beach on the Jersey Shore! I loved going there as a child and I am thrilled to be able to share my memories and create new ones with my children, by bringing them to the same spot! What we love the most about Point Pleasant is the Boardwalk and all the fun games and interesting foods they have! It’s the kind of place that you can go to every year and never get tired of!
We bring snacks, water, games, beach toys, glasses, hats, sunscreen.
Tip #1- having a broad spectrum barrier sunblock – is the most important to us. We do not have a specific favorite beach.
Going to the the beach isn’t something I like t do as I live on the beach but when I do its a night walk along the edge of the water
Water and towels are my number one and two beach essentials. The thing about the beach is it’s almost like packing and unpacking for a vacation. Toys, snacks, drinks, towels, sunscreen, umbrella, anything else. It is so time consuming to get set up. My husband and I are both Florida natives and often we will eat at a restaurant on the beach and just walk down to the water, horse around with the baby awhile, and then leave. Give me a pool any day – shade you don’t have to unpack, no sharks, and smaller crowds. We can’t resist the beach though, there’s just something about the ocean that demands our presence from time to time. That beach tote bag would probably help us a lot!
I agree sand toys are a must. We live near Lake Erie so we go to the beach there. My son loves it there as we can not only stay on the beach but enjoy walking over to the pier where we can enjoy ice cream. He LOVES chasing the seagulls and I love watching him think he can catch one!
The prepackaged first aid kit is a great essential to bring, or just to have in the car at all times. We live in Oregon and have a ton of different spots we like to go to, depending on if we’re camping out or just staying in town somewhere.
We go to a local pond. We pack plenty of snacks and water, towels and sunscreen but I won’t leave the house without the kindle.
A good beach tote is an important essential. It helps keep your things organized and at hand.
I really loved the idea of the Bluetooth speaker. Can’t have fun without music right? Our family loves going to beach once the water is the right temperature. We love the beach because it’s so open and relaxing. And the distractions of life and the city all melt away when we are all together. 😉
Sunscreen and rash guards are a must for us! I do not want to get burned (or worse). I am lucky enough to live on the west coast of Florida, so there are literally hundreds of beaches that are within easy driving distance. One of my favorites is Lido Beach, a private resort beach in Sarasota.
I always buy the cheapest sunglasses that offer eye protection. I cannot begin to tell you how many expensive sunglasses I have lost in the ocean. We always go to Panama City Beach.
Water is definitely the most important, in my opinion. We use thermoses to keep our water cold, which helps a lot! 🙂
I love the bag its big enough to carry all my stuff and for travel. We go to the beach for the summer family get away. We love it because of the sand and the waves and water.
My family always takes an annual trip to Myrtle Beach. It’s a short drive and there’s so many things to see and do! I agree about the importance of sunscreen and Rainbow sandals are my favorite flip flops.
We usually go to Myrtle Beach because everyone enjoys it. Sunscreen is the most important to me.
You list is pretty much the same as my list when we go to the beach except I don’t listen to tunes while at the beach because I am always listening for my 4 grandkids. We go to the beach at the river outside of town where the water is shallow and there is a sandy beach.
Sunscreen, sunglasses, towels, snacks, water and toys are whats in my beach bag.
Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses are a must for us. I’m looking for a new tote for summer travel, so this pretty blue one would be perfect. I’d love to take the family to Marin county in California.
This article makes me think I don’t ever pack nearly enough! LOL We love to visit the beach in SoCal. We’re landlocked in Vegas. We definitely take what we can get. We love clean sand and decent waves. My daughter is 6 and she and my husband are the ones who swim together and play in the waves. I’m more of the take pics, make a sand castle, bury whoever will let me, etc. We’ve been to beaches up and down the West Coast, but we loved the Gulf Coast beaches best. The water is so warm there! Even I swim when we have a chance to be at the Gulf coast.
Yes! The beaches of Florida..both coasts are my happy place and of course the keys. All diverse is why for camping, fishing, paddle board, snorkeling, diving..beachcoombing etc.
Lucky me I am here a lot as I live here!
My must haves from your list is, tote, water, shades and sunscreen..adding book and beach chair.
Thanks so much.
Beach toys are a must when visiting the beach. My kids particularly love plastic containers of various sizes and shapes.
Our favorite beach is Folly Beach in Charleston, SC. It’s usually pretty empty, but the beach is wide and clean.
My absolute FAVORITE place to getaway to is Hawaii…by far! I’ve only been there once, but I would love to go back! I loved it because it is so peaceful, and the people were so welcoming. The one thing I think you need in the tote bag is definitely aloe vera gel! That is one thing you must have!!! I got SO sunburned in Hawaii. Omg, I was hurting for two days! Thank God they sold Aloe gel at the store right next to the hotel I was staying in. haha God bless everyone!
I wish we had a family summer getaway place, and unfortunately we do not live close to a beach. Our favorite beach experience was in Jacksonville, FL
I definitely need some new sunglasses along with sun block for trips to our favorite beach, St. Pete Beach.
I like the mention and reviews on the sunscreen and the sunglasses listed up above, two for sure must things to have when going to the beach or swimming in a pool-
I think the beach towel is one of the most important things. I learned that the hard way one year we forgot them. I can not wait to go to Virginia Beach this year. We love going there because it is so beautiful
Sunscreen is my must have beach item, I buy several bottles when it’s on sale. We go to Ocean City, MD every year. They have clean beautiful beaches and something for everyone to do, you can never be bored.
I am in LOVE with the tote bag!! I love the look of it and the fact that sand falls out the bottom. That’s genius!! Our favorite place to go in the summertime is to the Frankfort, MI pier. It has a lighthouse at the end of the pier and you can jump off the pier into Lake Michigan. It’s absolutely beautiful and we try and camp there once a year, since it’s about 2.5 hours from where we live.
Our Local beach is our favorite weekend get away, We love to walk the pier and swim in the water, . Sunglasses, tote bag and sunblock are a must for us.
Water is definitely my must have! If I don’t stay hydrated I get a bad headache! I love the beach but haven’t been in a long time.
I accidentally submitted a Tweet today (5/31/16) but I put in the wrong link.
Here is the correct one 🙂
https://twitter.com/saralogan1990/status/737634102560608256
We are lucky enough to live just a short drive from some beautiful beaches in southern RI. I like just heading over there with a picnic dinner after work with my kids.
Rash guards with SPF are a must!
I love the beach ad we travel to enjoy it as often as we can. Since we moved to Montana we’re now lake goers. Almost everything on your list is needed for the lake, too!
We like to take our grandson to some of the local parks and splash pads in the summer. It’s essential that we remember to pack beach towels, sunscreen and plenty of water. It gets very hot here in the summer.
I make sure I bring Aloe vera gel because there is almost always someone getting sun burned. We go to the beach called Oceanside on the Oregon Coast,I go to this particular beach,not because there aren’t other beaches but because it’s where my mom took me when I was little and when I go there I think of her reading her book(she loved to read) and watching us like a hawk,I cherish every memory of her I can.
I live a couple of hours from the nearest beach in lower Delaware, so I don’t get there as often as I would like. Great list! I agree that sunglasses and sunscreen are really important!
I agree with bringing sunscreen and good beach towels, and the kids definitely do need beach toys. I am not so sure about jelly shoes, although I would try them again if I found a pair that is comfortable. IMPO sandals have been my go-to summer shoe instead. For summer vacations, I do always love getting to a beach. We don’t have any one place that we go to, as we are true travelers in the sense that we would love to see the world and go to many different destinations.
sunglasses are a must for sure, get blinded out there, sunblock is important too. we used to go to the local beach but we’re too old nowadays
sunscreen is a must! we always go tothe beach or pool all summer long.
I love the tote bag that will carry lots of sunscreen and water!
This is a really good list to keep in mind when going to the beach. We love different beaches but prefer South Carolina or Florida beaches for the clear, warmer water. We haven’t gone in a while but I sure wouldn’t mind going there this summer.
Our family goes to the lake for fun. i like the tote – looks sturdy. Sun screen and a hot are a must for everyone.
I would have to a say the most important thing to have on the beach would be my family. Me and my children have never been but my husband has. He used to live in cape cod lucky duck. But other then family sun block beach towels sand toys sun glasses beach tote…the essentials guessing lol
I don’t usually take any trips or vacations during the summer but since my family all lives fairly close, we get together pretty often for things like grilling out. I’m always the odd duck because I don’t eat a lot of meat and I burn like crazy if I’m in the sun for very long. I use a lot of aloe vera and Solarcaine in the summer. 😉 It would make me happy if someone in my family would put in a pool one of these days but for now, we enjoy hanging out.
Great list of beach essentials you’ve put together and could be used as a reminder list too. Where I live we don’t really have sandy beaches, we have rocky beaches, so I don’t really go to the beach that often but when I do I have to have sun block because I burn easy, sunglasses because I have photophobia caused by an eye condition, a towel to lie down on, and a hat to keep the sun off of my face. My favorite beach (don’t remember the name) is located down in Florida. I believe the beach I went to was located somewhere around Orlando and it was gorgeous! White sandy beaches and sunshine all around. The family and I loved being able to lounge on a beautiful semi-tropical beach with a nice soft breeze and smell of the salty ocean water in the air. It’s been years since we visited Orlando but I really miss that place 🙂
A beach.tote bag is a great idea. We always bring sunscreen, sunglasses, towel, and goggles/snorkling gear for kids. We love to visit Emerald Isle in NC because the beach is clean and nice.
I thought all of the items listed in your article were essentials – we take all of those things when we go to the beach. I’d add food, as well, and lots an lots of water – you never want to get dehydrated on the beach! We love to go to the Oregon Coast – any beach will do, but I guess thus far Cannon Beach is our favorite. We love the tidepools and the vast areas of smooth sand, and running in the ocean – it’s a wonderful lace to spend the day. For actual swimming, we like rivers and lakes, and Oregon is full of them. Our favorites are the Sandy river beaches. Again, there are so many. But going to the beach is our favorite summer activity for sure.
The sunblock and aloe vera gel are truly a must have when we travel during the summer – really important for the skin. We visit family in Florida and hit the beaches when we can. Thanks for the giveaway!
Hats are SUPER important. I’ve gone to the beach without one and paid the price. We usually do our big beach getaway to Mexico in the Spring and it’s heaven down there on the Riviera Maya, but in the summer we do weekend trips out to Hammanasett in Connecticut. It’s clean and big and it’s always a nice time.
A MUST have that you included is sunscreen, especially for our fair haired and skinned family! We love going to Dog Island in Florida and enjoying the quite island!
Honestly my family does not have a beach getaway location
nice to have something to carry the sunprotection like the nice carry all
My eyes are light and photo-sensitive. I can’t go anywhere without my sunglasses.
I only live about 10 minutes from the beach, so I actually stay away from it in the summer. My favorite time is the autumn so I can walk on the boardwalk comfortably. But any time I even leave the house, sunblock is important due to my fair skin.
We go to the beach in Monterey. They allow dogs on the beach. It so pretty, nice, and cool.
I’ve only been to the ocean once, Hilton Head Beach and it was beautiful but I’ve heard Mrytle Beach is amazing and has more family entertainment so I hope to go.
I think this is a good list. I always always make sure to never forget the water! because, that’s the omst important beyond sunscreen! We have two camps on a lake a few hours away, we spend a lot of time in the summer there! kayaking, fishing, four wheeling, swimming, etc 🙂
I entered my bloglovin name wrong – it is nataliek711 and I put nfinch11 on the form. No way to correct it.
I agree with everything on your list. I had not thought of the bluetooth speaker which I need to get. We go to local public beach for our getaway.
Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential. The Aloe Vera gel comes in handy in case of a sunscreen fail. We like to go to the Oregon coast because it is so peaceful and beautiful.
I had heard that you have to wait for the sunscreen chemicals to activate before so I always try to apply mine early. I did not know that “broad spectrum barrier sunblock” took care of that problem. I just checked my sunscreen and it says “broad spectrum”, but it doesnt say “barrier sunblock”, but I’m hoping it’s still all good! I would love a pair of “jellys shoes”. I remember wanting a pair so badly when I was a kid but I never had one. I like going to the beach at Santa Cruz, CA when I can because it’s a fun town with a boardwalk and a charming downtown within walking distance.
When we were living in the States we would go to Destin all the time. Growing up my family would go to Gulf Shores. Sunscreen and Sunglasses were definitely essentials for us. I am very fair so I have to make sure Im covered in sunscreen!
I love going to nearby Swartswood Lake during the summer. Sometimes I go alone. Sometimes My daughter and grandchildren come with me. Its so beautiful and peaceful. Its good old fashioned fun. I would like to bring the bag with me along with my sunglasses and sunscreen. I very often pack a cooler with snacks and DRINKS.
I agree that the top two most important items for a beach trip are good sunscreen and sunglasses. We like the Jersey shore, I love it because we lived an hour away when I was a kid and as a teenager my friends and I made day trips there all summer long.
I don’t really get to a beach very often. I usually just go to the pool. We live in the middle of the country, Missouri, so our beaches are at lakes, and they’re just not as much fun. But we always have sunglasses and definitely the sunblock for our skin!
Sunblock and sunglasses are the most important to me. I don’t go to the beach as I have MS and it’s difficult for me to walk on regular ground, never mind the sand, lol My niece and her husband take their kids to a local waterpark in their town, which has water slides and high dive boards. The kids can go into the “kiddy pool” and use the small slides with supervision, so they are happy 🙂
2 towels is a great idea to bring one to sit on and one to wrap around. Also, sometimes the thick big beach towels take a long time to dry to 2 are great. I love to go to Cape Cod on vacation. Aloe also is a plus too something people forget to bring with them.
You have to bring sunscreen, and a towel. But I am sure I would bring a lot more.
My kids call me the Bag lady…lol
I think the first aid kid is very important. It seems like every time we go to the beach someone gets an owie that needs a band aid. We live in WI right by Lake Michigan, so we are really lucky that we get to go to the beach often. There are also really nice trails off of the beach, so I like to be sure to pack tennis shoes in case we decide to go for a walk.
Sunblock and water and a towel are the basics for me. I just go to the local pool.
Thanks for the contest.
I used to work in eye care, so for me the sunglasses are a big MUST for summer beach care/wear. People do not know that uv can damage the lens, which can cause early cataracts. WATER is a must also. I dehydrate so easily so replenishing is so important. It can mean the big difference in a great day beachside or having to hide out for the day due to dizziness, headaches, and weakness. (also a big thing to remember is to hydrate BEFORE going to the beach…several hours in fact. As with sports athletics and sweating, people do not know how fast dehydration takes place. you need to prevent it by early water intake before your events). There is only one beach near us that is of any quality and that is Ripley beach about 20 minutes away. Its such a chill beach!
My favorite beach by far is Destin white beaches but that is one we were lucky to visit in the spring.
The tote bag is so darn cute! Gotta have that to put all your essentials in!
Whenever we go to the beach, we plan ahead and freeze water bottles overnights so we are sure to have cold, refreshing water when we are there. It’s a lot easier than worrying about keeping bottles semi cold with ice packs and insulated bags.
Water is important for a trip the the beach. Every year we go to Traverse City, it’s my favorite place because it just simply beautiful!
the list seems to cover everything I think I would need for a beach vacation. we usually head to Bethany beach, de, if we go to the beach at all
We usually go to a beach in Florida. We live close to Florida, so we spend time in different parts in the years. My essential item has to be sunscreen with a hat for protection.
I would like the Amazon gift card the most.
Sunglasses are a must for my family because we have sensitive eyes. Our favorite beach destination is Ocean City, MD because it is relatively close and there is a lot to do.
I think that the jelly sandals are such a fun item to wear to the beach! My family and I love to travel to Colorado each summer to visit Rocky Mountain National Park. We love to hike, bike and kayak there.
This is a really good list! We live a couple of miles from the beach, so we go often. I can’t wait until the water gets just a bit warmer! We have an umbrella that has flaps that come down to create a quarter dome. It’s perfect for keeping the sun out. We also like to take sand toys, magazines and a little flag to mark our spot easily.
The tote bag that carries it all is for real an essential! I would also add it should be easy to clean because if the sunscreen or anything falls in it things can get sticky! There is nothing worse than trying to juggle 50 things. We like to go to a local beach (Its at a lake) there is swimming, fishing and they rent paddle boats. Everyone has a ball.
We go to the dog friendly part of the beach at Malibu, because we can bring the dog! I like that the tote doesn’t collect sand.
Hats, especially wide-brimmed hats, are so important for me, along with sunscreen. I have very fair skin, so it’s essential that I protect my skin from the sun’s harsh rays.
In the past, my family and I have spent time at a large state park about an hour away from where we live(d). We would go rock climbing, sit out on the beach by the lake, have a picnic, and go hiking and rock climbing. We always had a great time!
We use to love going to Lake George NY, very family friendly, I went there every year since a child and I miss is since moving down south. I love that you mentioned jelly shoes!
When we go to the beach we usually go to Carolina Beach, it is a nice beach with lots to do. I personally prefer going to a pool or waterpark over the beach just because of the sand. I am not a fan.
These beach essentials are a must for my family, especially the sunblock and lots of water! We usually go to Clearwater Beach, FL for our summer beach getaways. We love it there because it’s so pretty and is very family friendly with events going on all the time.
My family loves Myrtle Beach because it’s a family tradition and it’s where my grandparents used to take the family on vacation.
A water bottle that keeps your water chilled! That’s one of my must-haves at the beach. Our favorite beach is in upper Michigan at Torch Lake.
All of your Beach essentials are excellent and spot on. We always make sure to bring Sunblock and Lots of Water. My family loves to visit the beach when we can and the Emerald Coast in Walton Beach is one of their favorites.
Great list of beach essentials! I love that rash guards have become so popular and I can find them now in fun colors. We love going to Wilmington, NC to Shell Island Resort each year because it is always so peaceful there.
Sunscreen, sunglasses and a light hat are essential items in our bag. We usually go to Lake Livingston State Park in Texas. We love going there because there are so many things to do, ie, fishing, boating, swimming and just playing.
WE HAVE FAMILY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH SO WE LOVE TO GO THERE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
The beach tote would be perfect for carrying all our essentials – sunscreen, towels, snacks, drinks, diapers and such for the baby and of course toys for the toddlers to play in the sand. We love going to the beach. I use to go to Ocean City when I was a kid but i just take my kids to the beach at a near by lake and the really enjoy it
No beach here, we do need sunscreen and hats year round.
Leave a comment with your opinion about any of the Beach Essential items listed on the article.
gotta have me sunglasses and sun screen baby..thanks
I think the aloe vera gel is fantastic. It’s just about the best thing there is for a sunburn. I also love the fact that the bag lets sand fall through, I usually bring home a bag full of sand. I live in Pensacola, Florida so we always go to Pensacola Beach, it’s so beautiful and has the most sugar white sand you will ever see. It also feels comfortable like home. Thank you.
We like to go to Santa Rosa Beach, FL because the beaches are beautiful and the water is a emerald color. We love the area because it’s very family friendly and not so much a “party” atmosphere where my grandsons are seeing inappropriate things.
We definitely take bottled water to the beach. We just got back from our vacation place in Myrtle Beach. We go there twice a year. It’s great for families.
We love Edisto Island, SC. It is small and private. A really nice change from the bigger beaches that everyone flocks to.
The hat and the jelly sandals are my favorite in the article, much needed items for the summer. I don’t have a beach getaway, but I do have a camping getaway to our local national park area: so pretty and it is energizing to be there.
I like to put a sun hat on my grandson, it really helps to protect him from the sun. We don’t really get to the beach since one is not close by but we do enjoy going go to the lake. Porcupine Bay is my favorite. I like it because it has a nice grass area, kids play area and an area for camping.
Got to remember the Sun Screen and the Aloe Vera Gel. We recently found SPF 100 for my husband’s face from Nutregena.
I like the summer tote bag for carrying necessities around for the kids.
sun glasses, sun screen, and water are my major must-haves. we couldn’t survive the beach without them. we love going to the beach in NC and have been going for many years. its a very special place to us because of all the fun things to do
Agreed, a good water bottle is essential – gotta hydrate! We love going to Gulf Shores for the white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
We love to visit the beaches of upper Michigan. The beach bag and the Amazon gift card would come in handy this summer.
Sunglasses and sunblock are our 2 musts!! I have never thought to bring a first aid kit but that is a great idea!! My hubby’s family has a lake house in the woods and we spend lots of weekends there in the summer!! Its fabulous!!
A tote bag is a must have for any beach visit. A good quality tote is important because of the weight of the items I carry.
I have never actually been to a real Beach before. Here in Indiana there are not too many of those around. I can always sit outside and pretend to be there though. A big glass of Lemonade & a straw. A sun hat and I am all set.
Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must and we go to Santa Cruz California!
You know I’ve never really thought about bringing a first aid kit! What an awesome idea! You never know what can happen. My family and I love going to Seaside, Oregon. It’s a small little beachy town and has tons of culture and fun. I love the shops and the huge beach! Tons of fun!
I have started getting my daughter swim wear with rash guard to help protect her skin and also sunglasses to protect her eyes that have built in uv protection because of her medical condition we have to be extra cautious with her health care.
We like Vacation in kid friendly places North Myrtle Beach because it is close to the boardwalk and lots of activities for the kids, ocean, lazy, rivers, and carnival and arcades etc! Always loads of fun searching through the sand for shark teeth and seashells.
I agree that we need sunscreen and hats year round from sun damage.
I really love the tote bag- so fashionable!
The aloe vera gel is one of the essentials I always bring to the beach. We live close to San Diego and like going to San Diego beaches in summer
Sunscreen, water, and an umbrella are a must for me, along with the lipbalm. We have a lot of great parks in our area with lakes and many we haven’t even been to yet!
we’ve never been to the beach we should go !
We usually head to Myrtle Beach, it’s about a 6 hour road trip. Your beach essentials list is really helpful. If I an going to forget something, it would probably be the bluetooth speaker. I don’t use it at home a lot. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
I love tote bags like this one and the color is so pretty. I bring my beach towel, sunscreen a book, and games for the kids to the beach!
Aloe Vera gel is important because someone always gets a sunburn. We go to the Jersey shore beaches in the summer.
We’re very lucky and live at the beach! I love that tote bag – and that it lets the sand fall right through! Nothing worse than a bag full of damp sand LOL
A rash guard is my new favorite item. I was able to go swimming this weekend and it made a big difference in protection from the sun as well as modesty. I want to get one from my daughter – who burns no matter how good she is with sunscreen. We don’t make it to the beach very often. Maybe one day – until then we visit a lot of swimming pools!
Yes, Sunglasses are a must. Our family likes going on camping trips to getaway in the summer.
I LOVE that this beach bag lets the sand fall through the bottom! I so NEED one of those! We live in Florida about a ten minute drive from Siesta Key beach. We try to go as much as we can. It’s so relaxing there!
We don’t have any real beaches in Oklahoma, and I’m not a fan of the major beaches, too many people for me. I do like my saltwater pool though. Most of what’s on your list is still essential for pool time. My daughter is a redhead so a rash guard and sun block is a must.
We don’t get to the beach a lot, but a good blanket is essential for me to keep a sand-free spot! Our local lake has a beach, but Iowa is pretty coast-less!
My family loves Arroyo Burro Beach, our beach essentials are sunscreen, sunglasses and beach towels.
We go to San Pedro beach and it’s so pretty!
You gotta have a tote bag and sunscreen – those are essentials.
We don’t have any beaches in Wisconsin so we usually chill by the lake
We have to have our sunglasses when we go to the beach in Florida every year, the sun can also burn your eyes so we all wear them. We love the beach at Cape San Blas, the water is beautiful and it’s not usually crowded.
A tote bag is essential for the beach, keeps all your stuff in one place.
The most important item to be in my beach bag is a broad spectrum, barrier sunblock to protect against sunburn and damage the sun can do to your skin.
I’m a Jersey girl and grew up going to to the beaches in New Jersey. Seaside or Wildwood has been our go to place as long as I can count.
I totally agree about rash guards! My entire family wears them, I even convinced my husband! He hates sunscreen, so this way he only has to put sunscreen on his face, ears, and neck, along with a hat and sunglasses! Skin cancer (and all cancer) runs in my family, and my husband and I are both as pale as can be, so our children have no hope of getting a tan, hahaha. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win!