Essentials to Pack for a Successful Beach Day

One of the activities that everyone looks forward to in the summer is going to the beach! Warm weather means beach trips with friends or family, getting to lay in the sun, and swim in the ocean. As much as I love a beach trip, I feel like I am always forgetting something or wishing I brought another item to entertain during those days. For this article, I’ve created a list of essential items to pack in your beach bags, and ideas of how to stay entertained! Keep scrolling to read the list of essentials!

1. Beach towel

Yes, this is an obvious essential to bring to the beach, but there are many options to use to lay out and catch some rays, or to dry off after swimming in the ocean. An alternative item is to bring a picnic blanket or a bed sheet for larger groups to lay on. You can even pick a towel that shows off your style, through fun prints and colors!

2. Sunglasses

Another essential is to pack the perfect pair of sunglasses! Having sunglasses is great to protect your eyes, and show off your style. You can match the sunglasses to your bathing suit. (It would also give you an option for photo opportunities to show off your beach style.)

3. Hair Accessories

One of my personal favorites to carry in my beach bag is accessories for my hair, like hair clips, head scarves, or hats. Bring some type of cute hair accessories to maintain your beach hair. I’ve always found that clips are great after getting your hair wet, to push the hair out of your face. Head scarves and hats are a good way to keep your hair in place, or not let your scalp get damaged by the sun’s harsh UV rays! I also love being able to accessorize with these items to amp up my beach out/bathing suit.

4. Personal Maintenance Items

These “personal maintenance items” are things I feel like we all typically forget when packing for the beach, but are sometimes what we need the most. First off, sunscreen is always an essential to avoid sunburn and protect from damaging your skin against UV rays. Another essential is a deep conditioner and a hair brush to detangle your hair after swimming in the ocean. Lastly, I like to bring pain medication to handle headaches from being in the sun, and bandaids in case of emergency, like cutting yourself on seashells on the ocean floor!

5. Camera

To those who love to document their activities, a camera might be an essential for you! A camera is a perfect way to capture all the memories you make with friends or family at the beach. If you have a polaroid or film camera, this can allow you to take photos and even distribute them to your friends, so you can all have memorabilia from the day trips!

6. Speaker

Make sure to bring a speaker to the beach, so that you and your friends can listen to music while tanning, hanging out, or eating! Listening to music can always set the tone for the day. By playing upbeat music or your favorite songs, it can put you and your friends in the best mood!

To find beach playlists, head over to Apple Music or Spotify for already made playlists, or create one with your friends! Here are links to some beach playlists for inspiration:

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/vsco-c1-filter/pl.u-8aAVMYaHox1o1vL https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/beach-town-coming-of-age-movie/pl.u-8aAVMRqtox1o1vL

7. Books & Art Materials

A way to occupy yourself at the beach is to bring a form of reading or writing material! This can include a book to read while laying in the sun, or supplies to sketch and draw! This is a great way to occupy yourself if you are looking to relax at the beach, rather than play beach sports or swim in the ocean. Another plus is that it doesn’t require packing a lot of extra items in your beach bag!

8. Beach Games

I know that the beach can become boring for those who like to move around, rather than lounge in the sun all day. For those readers, I recommend bringing a frisbee, soccer ball, volleyball, or

any other beach games! You can purchase beach games like spikeball or pickleball (and here is a link on what activities there are and where to buy the equipment! https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-beach-games-for-adults-5069980) Another option to stay occupied is to bring a deck of cards to play with your friend group!

9. Drinks & Snacks

The last essential I think you should always pack on a beach day is snacks and drinks! Definitely make sure to pack water and drinks to stay hydrated since you will be in the sun all day. To keep the drinks cold either use a cooler filled with ice or use a reusable water bottle! Also make sure to pack lunch, like a salad or sandwich, along with some snacks to keep your energy up! It is super important to fuel your body on hot days at the beach!