Headed To The Beach With Your Family? Make Sure To Pack These Essentials

Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better time to plan a beach day with the family and get away for a little rest and relaxation. The kids can have fun frolicking around in the sand and surf, while you and the wife can kick back and relax while listening to the sound of the waves crashing. Sounds like a pretty nice day, right?

Florida is famous for its beaches, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you and your family decided to head there for your next vacation. However, it is also one of the riskiest places to visit with regards to road accidents. Even if you pack your umbrellas and sunscreen, you won’t always be protected from others on the road. Accident.com can provide you with more information about practicing safe driving on the Florida roads. As usual, drive carefully, be aware of speed limits and the other drivers around you. If you take all of this into account, you and your family will have an incredible time on your upcoming beach trip!

We know how stressful it can be to plan for a day at the beach, so we’ve made it easy by putting together a list of family beach trip essentials so that you don’t forget anything at home.

Family Beach Trip Essentials:

Sunscreen – It’s important to protect yourself and your kids from the sun’s rays. So make sure to pack sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 (SPF 50+ is safer) and preferably waterproof. Be sure to get full coverage (including your nose/face, ears, etc), and reapply often as directed. I prefer to use a spray sunscreen, as it’s easier to apply and doesn’t leave your hands all white and greasy afterwards but use whatever type you prefer.

Beach Chairs / Umbrella – This sounds like an obvious choice, but would you believe that one time we arrived at the beach, only to discover that we left our beach chairs back in the garage?! So make sure that you have beach chairs to lay out in, along with an umbrella or two to shield you from the sun. And if you don’t feel like lugging all of that stuff, beach blankets to lay down on will also work.

Hat / Sunglasses – It’s sunny out there, so you definitely want to be prepared. I usually pack a junky hat (no mesh) and some cheap sunglasses. That way, if something happens to them (lose them in the surf, forget them on the beach, sit on them), I’m not overly concerned about it.

Pop Up Beach Tent – For a little extra protection from Mother Nature, a Wolfwise Beach Tent is just the ticket. It’s ultra-lightweight at just 3.8 pounds, and it folds down to a small travel size, while offering plenty of room when open to comfortably fits 2-3 people. The pop-up tent is made of polyester and eco-friendly silver coating that effectively blocks up to 98% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. And the water-repellent structure will keep you dry if it drizzles.

Extra Towels – You’ll obviously all need a beach towel to dry off with after getting out of the ocean, but it’s smart to pack a few extras for everyone just in case, as they can get soaked faster than you think. They’re also handy to wrap around your waist if you don’t want your car seats to get wet on the ride home.

Snorkels, Masks and Fins – Depending on where you go, there may be some opportunities to go underwater and explore all the undersea magic with their snorkels, masks and fins. We went snorkeling in Aruba and saw some truly amazing sights, and our underwater camera allowed us to capture some amazing photos!

Beach Toys – Making sandcastles is a rite of passage, so you’ve got to make sure to bring a couple of buckets and some strong shovels. If your kids are slightly older, Jazzminton (a cross between badminton, ping pong, tennis, and paddle ball) is super fun to play on the beach, and it doesn’t need a net.

Insulated Lunch Bag – Let’s face it, food at the beach is EXPENSIVE. Why not pack some food and snacks for the beach instead? With a Lifewit Insulated Lunch Bag is super roomy, with enough space to carry soda, bottled water, sandwiches, salads, snacks, fruits, and more. And it’s made of insulated material which can keep foods and drinks cool for more than 5 hours.

Hand Sanitizer / Baby Wipes – With the kids touching virtually everything in sight, you’ll want to make sure their hands are clean before eating lunch.

Insect Repellent – One of my earliest memories was a vacation we took down in Virginia, and how I got bit up like crazy by horseflies. To think that that could have all been avoided if my parents had just sprayed me down with some insect repellent. Needless to say, I always make sure to bring a can of Deet or something with us.

Now that you’ve got your packing list, load up the car and get on your way! Get ready to make some memories with the family with a fun day at the beach. 🏖️