Are you wondering what to bring to the beach? This was my top question when planning our first family trip to Myrtle Beach last year. It wasn’t because I’d never been to the beach, but I’d never been with children. So, I wanted to make sure we had all that we needed in order to maximize our time.
So just like when my husband asks me what I’d like to eat for dinner, I find it easiest to begin with what I don’t want. So here are the few items I do not recommend bringing to the beach.
What Not To Bring To The Beach
- Beach Tent– I’m not sure if it’s just because my husband and I are not used to putting up tents, but this was more of a hassle than it needed to be. The wind made it very difficult. Plus it becomes way too sandy, quickly. At least with a beach towel you can shake off the sand periodically. Not with the tent.
- Beach Blanket– While this was easier to lay out, it still got caught by the wind while trying to anchor it. And again, it became way too sandy.
- Foam Football- The foam football made playing toss difficult. Definitely recommend bringing a traditional leather football if that’s something you’d enjoy.
Still wondering what to bring to the beach? Well, here are my suggestions…
What To Bring To The Beach
- Lots of cold water: Whether you have a Yeti, a Stanley, or a Manley (what my husband calls his cup from Amazon), it is best to fill up your bottle of choice to ensure you stay hydrated.
- Chairs with the umbrella attached- Some friends we met on the beach grabbed some of these chairs from Five Below. I love the simplicity of this set up. We will be grabbing some before we head to the beach this year.
- Individually wrapped snacks- There’s no doubt that sand will be everywhere! Therefore, if you have a snack, the plastic will serve as a barrier between your hand and the food. Eating small grains of sand is no fun. Ask me how I know!
- Extra sunscreen- No explanation needed here!
- Sun hats for the whole family!
- Beach buckets and shovels- This was the go-to for my kids. We originally brought other items, but they kept gravitating towards the basics to build sand castles and collect shells
- Beach Towels- Grab a few extra if you have them.
- Portable mini-fan– It gets hot! Even in the shade.
I know that this is a short list, but the one thing that I hope to convey is to keep it simple. There are tons of things you can add to this list like a Bluetooth speaker, small cooler, sand remover, phone pouches, and much more! At the end of the day, you don’t want to spend precious time putting together tents or organizing items, while your family is already in the water!
What’s your response when someone asks you what to bring to the beach? Let me know in the comments below!
