bestillandwrite Last week my family took a trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama and spent several days on the beach. We kept track of things that were helpful to pack and things we wish we had brought with us. If you’re looking to take a trip to the beach with your family, I hope this list will give you a good idea what you might need. Below are 20 Helpful Things to Pack for a Trip to the Beach.
Things We Needed at the Beach:
1. Beach Bag
I gave into the hype and decided to try the Bogg beach bag. Though the bag itself is a little pricey, I was actually really pleased with how it worked as a beach bag. The structure of the bag is sturdy so it doesn’t fall over easily. The accessories you can get make it easy to keep your things organized. It’s waterproof and easy to clean. The only negative I found is that it can get a little heavy, but that all depends on what you’re packing.
(However, keep in mind you don’t need a Bogg bag to go to the beach. You can make almost any bag work for your family.)
2. Solar Buddy / Sunscreen
Sunscreen is extremely important when you are going on a trip to the beach. Most of us still got a little burnt even after re-applying every hour and a half. Something that came in handy was our Solar Buddy. It made applying sunscreen easier for our 3-year-old.
3. Beach Towels
Another item I decided to try on this trip was the Sand Cloud towel. We got three different designs, and I was pleasantly surprised by how easily they shook off sand and absorbed water. They also took up less space in the bag.
4. Waterproof Phone Case
I’m so glad we brought a waterproof phone case to the beach. On multiple occasions a wave took me by surprise while I was getting a picture. It also kept the sand out of all the crevices.
5. Shell Display Box
I got these adorable shell display boxes for my daughter and nephews. They loved finding tiny shells and other treasures to put into their box to display at home. I would say you need to be careful not to jostle the case too much or it will come open and tiny shells will be everywhere…
6. Beach Toys & Shell Bags
Our daughter absolutely loved making sand castles on the beach. We brought some beach toys, but it would have been even better if we had had more sand castle making tools. That’s something I would pack if we go to the beach again. We also packed little bags for each kiddo, which they used to collect bigger shells.
7. “Snackle” Box
My sister had the idea of packing “snackle” (or snack tackle boxes) for our road trip and at the beach. The kids were a big fan of this idea as well! You could have each family member pack a small one or get a bigger box for the whole group, which is what we did.
8. Tent
Our airbnb provided umbrellas for the beach, but I saw other families with very cool beach tents that would have worked much better. If we ever end up going back to the ocean I will definitely be making an investment in a good beach tent. Shade is so important to give your skin a break from the sun and beach umbrellas tend to blow away in a big gust of wind.
9. Water Cooler
Something I really wished we had packed was a water cooler. We had water to drink, but nothing with which to clean our sandy hands. We ended up rinsing them in the ice inside the cooler or using precious drinking water…
10. Trash Bag
You should never leave trash on the beach. In fact, if you see trash on the ground at the beach you should pick it up and dispose of it properly. Please remember a trash bag to do just that!
11. Misting Fan
Another item that came in handy when we were lounging by the ocean was a misting fan. The batteries on ours were very impressive. We used them every day and I didn’t need to re-charge them once!
12. Wagon
The wagon provided by our airbnb was unfortunate. It was so rusty and not easy to drag through the sand. If you plan to go to the beach with your family, a wagon would be handy to help carry all the items you need, but I recommend getting a wagon meant for sand.
13. Cooler
Like I mentioned before, we packed a small cooler for drinks and fruit. I liked the one we brought, because it was small and had a hard shell.
14. First Aid Kit
My nephew got a small jellyfish sting while we were on the beach, and it occurred to us that no one had brought anything to deal with an injury. In the future I will be bringing a small first aid kit.
15. Beach Mat
We got a water-proof picnic or beach mat from a small shop and it came in handy every day on the beach. Be sure to check out Magical Mamas Handmade!
Bonus Items:
1. Boogie Boards
Some of my family members absolutely loved playing on boogie boards in the waves. These aren’t a necessity, but they certainly made things more fun.
2. Chair
You can easily sit on a beach mat or in the sand, but my mom and brother preferred having a chair on the beach. If you have trouble getting up and down or don’t want to get super sandy, I recommend bringing a chair or buying a cheap one at the dollar store.
3. Hat
If you burn easily, it might be a good idea to pack a sun hat or baseball cap.
4. Book
I had my hands full entertaining a three-year-old, but if I was at the beach by myself it would have been so nice to relax and read a book.
Thank you for reading about Helpful Things to Pack for a Trip to the Beach. I hope they will help you on your next family vacation. For more helpful tips, be sure to read the additional content below:
A Review of the Contemporary Resort at Disney World
How to Save Money Going to Disney World
Pros and Cons of Caribbean Beach Resort
If you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message on Instagram. Follow @gentryjourneys on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and don’t forget to subscribe below for new content every week!
Safe Travels,
