I know about:
- swimsuit
- towel
- sunblock
- kite
- water bottle
- chair
Snacks for energy and drinks for hydration under the sun.
Not always necessary but can be nice: Bug repellent A cooler with water/ice Shoes/sandals/flip flops for walking in sand
A relaxed and open attitude. Then just enjoy.
Flip flops or beach shoes, some kind of shade, and a HAT!
Trashbag, maybe not for what you bring but for the bits of crap you’ll find scattered around the beach
i find chilling on inflatables with the waves relaxing so i would recommend an inflatable.
[water] bucket if you know the beach is known for fire pit gatherings. some people just bury their firepit in sand which tends to keep the sand warm longer than expected. water buckets are also nice if you want to find crabs hiding in sand.
vinegar, if the area is known for jellyfishes.
eyeglasses, mouth protection/ face mask if windy.
Coverup, rash guard, hat. I have to bring at least 2 of everything because wet clothes don’t dry overnight here, ymmv. Goggles or snorkel if you like to look underwater. Clothes for going out to eat or bar. Hair ties, shampoo, conditioner, gel, because the beach wrecks my hair so bad, no cute beach waves here, just beach witch hair.
A good book.
I was going to suggest The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, after all, they will already have a towel.
I could write 42 in the stand with a nice stick or a shell if I find one ;)
Hat, maybe a fan if it’s gonna be particularly hot
Also bring something to listen to, with headphones usually, but if you know that it won’t annoy others, a Bluetooth speaker can be a good addition.
If you’re gonna generate any rubbish, something to put that in and take it away again
I like to bring some cold beers too, but that’s obviously not for everyone
I’m just seeing OP rocking up with a fan after reading your advice and wondering why there are no outlets on the beach
What beach? If you’re going to one in California, bring a warm set of clothes. Even in the summer, it can be downright freezing. Last time I went down to Santa Cruz it was in the hundreds where I live but only 60f at the beach.
OP it could be helpful to add some context here as flying somewhere like Hawaii and driving an hour to a beach in NW Washington are going to have completely different recommendations.
Flying limits what you can bring and the climate of the beach you’re traveling to can make a difference too. More northern areas aren’t going to be as hot or dry so it might be advisable to bring a rain jacket or sweater and no swimming gear because the water is too cold.
Mid Atlantic beach, taking a car, but I’ll be going with some other people so I probably just have room for motel stuff in one bag and beach stuff in the other
A great big bottle of tap water or a gallon jug of water for when you’re ready to leave. Why? So you can wash the sand/dirt off your feet before getting into your car.
Just leave it in the car and it’ll be nice and warm when the time comes 👍
This was my sister’s favorite suggestion by far, I’m definitely going to try this!
Bring a diaper (nappy). When you go swimming, you can put valuables in the diaper (cellphone, jewelry, etc) and not worry that anyone will take it.
That’s really clever, I love that! Someone stole my stuff from the beach onc while I took a nap, but they mostly got oranges and a swimsuit. Still, left a bad taste in my mouth
- beer (cheaper away from the beach)
- hat for shade
- fishing pole if you like fishing
- cheap old phone if you have one, can swap your sim card to it. Keeps sand and water away from nice newer phone
Spare change for ice cream
