Pack your Bag with Beach Essentials: Our Favorite Must-Have’s

When you pack for your beach day, you want to pack light but still have everything you need. Any parent knows that can be difficult when your kids are a range of ages. 

Staying in an oceanfront vacation rental steps from the beach makes for a much more enjoyable experience. After all, forget the sunscreen? Just run back up to the house and get it. Still, that short trek in the sand won’t be necessary by packing right the first time. 

First and foremost is that sunscreen. Put it in the bag along with sunglasses and sun hats. Protection from the sun is essential when you’re spending time in the sand. Those sunburns sneak up on you. Be sure to re-apply after swimming. 

Speaking of shade, you’ll want an umbrella or two, or a tent to protect your family from the sun’s rays. This is particularly important if you plan to be at the beach during the hottest part of the day. Check out our partner, VayK Gear, for beach gear rentals. They’ll deliver it to your property, and they have anchors to secure and tables to keep your food and drinks off the sand.

As for food and drinks, put your snacks in handy reusable containers. Plastic baggies can easily blow away and litter the beach. Plastic or stainless-steel containers keep your snacks fresh and make a better environmental choice. As for your drinks, ice them down in a soft-sided cooler. They’re not as heavy as hard-sided coolers but keep your soda and water ice-cold. 

Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated. 

Throw in a blanket or large beach towels to spread out on the sand. If you prefer to sit back in a comfortable beach chair, rent those from VayK Gear. 

You can also rent a beach cart to tote your gear to the beach.

If you have small children, consider bringing a blow-up pool. Placing a toddler in a baby-sized pool helps keep the littlest tykes out of the waves, which can easily pull them down. Put some shade over the small pool, fill it with salt water and keep an eye on them while you soak in the sun. 

Let the kids each pack a beach toy while you bring a paperback. Now you’re set for a perfect Hammock Coast beach day.