Eat a hearty breakfast. Make sure you eat a hearty breakfast the day you go to the beach. It’s easy to lose track of time while you’re enjoying everything the shore has to offer, and that means you can suddenly become dehydrated. So fuel up for fun in the sun!
Take along a beach chair or two. It can be downright annoying to lug beach chairs from the condo, hotel room or car to the beach. With that being said, they can be lifesavers! Not only do they give you a comfy place to sit, but you’ll also get less sandy throughout the day.
Look for lost kids downwind. Have your kids decided to beachcomb, only to leave your sight? Look for them downwind. It’s been proven that most youngsters will follow a path of least resistance.
Accessories
Don’t force little kids into the water. Everyone seems to think it’s hilarious when little kids are forced to go into the ocean, but if yours is scared, it’s best to back off. Let him or her get in at a slow pace. Some children are more wary of the waves than others.
Teach children not to bug the lifeguards. Youngsters don’t always seem to understand that lifeguards are at work at the beach. Make sure your kids know that the lifeguards are there to help people, not to be their personal conversationalists. If you have teens who are attracted to lifeguards similar in age, you may have to say this reminder a lot!
Beach bag
Flip-flops
Glasses and/or contact lenses, if necessary (bring an extra pair, too)
Sunglasses
Sun hat
Clothing
Swimsuit
Swimsuit cover-up
Equipment
Alarm clock
Batteries for small electronics and cameras
Beach blanket
Beach chairs
Beach towels
Beach toys
Beach umbrella
Camera (and film, if needed)
Cell phone
Chargers for your cell phone, camera, video camera, and laptop
Cooler
Fishing poles
Flotation devices
Goggles
Hair dryer
iPod and iPod dock
Snorkel and fins
Video camera