10 Packing Tips for Your Family Beach Vacation
Family trips to the beach are a great way to spend those lazy, summer hours, but packing for them can be difficult and stressful. There are always a million things you want to bring, but no way to squeeze them into that four-door sedan with the kids in the back. This little guide should get you off to the right start in the art of packing smart and packing light, by listing the 10 basic must-have items for the perfect family beach vacation.
1. Sunscreen is the most important item for any excursion to the sandy shores. Sun poisoning and eventual skin cancers are serious risks, and young children with fair skin are especially susceptible to exposure. Protect your whole family by picking up a squeeze or spray bottle, and lather up before you head out into the heat.
2. A good set of beach chairs is an excellent choice for all your leisure needs. The best kind to look for are lightweight, with a canvas seat an aluminum frame for stability. Plastic chairs are cheaper, yes, but they won’t last as long and sometimes even blow away!
3. Towels are the quintessential beach accessories, and you should never embark on your trip without them. They’ll dry you off when you’re cold and wet, and provide a great lounging bed on the soft beach sands. Find an extra long one so you can stretch out and take a nap without getting any sand on you.
4. Umbrellas are key to keeping you out of the sun for an afternoon nap. Nobody likes to wake up and find his or herself tomato-red on the front and pale on the back. Sunscreen can’t stop all of it.
5. Toys are a great distraction for the kids as you kick back and watch over them from your seat up the beach. Buckets and shovels are a must-have, for castle construction and just general digging (underrated fun!). Boogie boards and kites are also fun items for the whole family.
6. Snacks are important to keep up everybody’s energy. Kids get hungry quick, and it’s no fun to pack everything up and leave to get lunch when you can just munch on something quick and easy right where you are. Make sure you seal everything in plastic so the sand doesn’t get in!
7. One of the best ways to pass the time on the beach is by curling up with a good book. For the beach, bring something fun and easy to read, or that you will enjoy discussing with your friends or family. Bring some children’s books, too, for a nice activity when they need a break from the waves.
8. Sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the high levels of ultraviolet light at the beach. They will also make your reading more pleasant, as the glare off the pages of a book can often give you a headache if your eyes aren’t properly shielded.
9. You are surrounded by water at the beach, but remember that you can’t drink any of it! Be sure to pack more than enough drinking water for your family (overestimate if you can), because nothing dehydrates a person faster than running around on hot sand in high temperatures. Heatstroke is a serious risk for the young and elderly, so play it safe and bring plenty to drink.
10. Finally, you will need to make sure to bring some big beach bags to pack all your gear in. Find some fun, ocean-themed canvas totes: they will fit a lot, they are durable, and they will last for a long time.
If you haven’t yet booked your Grand Strand family beach getaway, you can get started right here. Enjoy!
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