OUR FAMILY BEACH Essentials
Now that it’s summertime, I wanted to share my beach packing list. Since moving to San Diego a few years ago with the kids, I feel like we’ve tested out every single beach item you could think of. At this point, I have the list down to the essentials since it’s always a bitch to carry everything. We all love the beach and go often, so I basically keep most of this organized in the garage or even keep stored in my car during summer. Here’s what’s always on the list:
Beach bags: We use the TL totes for most of our stuff. I also love this mesh beach bag for the sand toys and this one for other essentials.
Toys for the kids: Walker always needs trucks, and we also bring a mix of regular beach toys. I have these mesh bags for Capri to collect seashells and treasures. Also want to call out this surfer toy because it keeps the kids entertained forever in the water.
Wagon: Depending on the beach / parking situation, we throw all our shit & kids in our wagon.
Food: Snacks are an obvious must. I like these containers for the kids or their lunch boxes since they stay cold and have lids. I usually pack some stuff for the adults (including June Shines lol) in our backpack cooler.
Water bottles: These insulated tumblers for Paul and me, and these for the kids.
Towels & blanket: We obviously bring towels – love this brand or I’ll bring our old TL ones. We also usually bring this waterproof blanket for the kids to hang on – sand comes right off.
Sun protection: First up, the entire family lives in hats at the beach to protect our faces. I despise the feeling of SPF on my face but if I’m going to be in direct sun, I’ll use this or this which is the best I’ve found! Love this balm or this gloss for my lips, both have SPF. For my body, obviously I’m using our SPF Tanning Oil. I like this clear lip oil with SPF or this zinc balm for my lips. I use this mineral roller for the kids’ faces and this for body.
Umbrella / tent: More sun protection! Especially if we plan to beach it all day, an umbrella or tent is key. We use this super easy little tent to keep all the food out of the sun, and it’s a great spot for the kids to eat without getting sand on everything.
Detangler spray: Both Capri & Walker’s hair gets extremely tangled if they’re playing in the water, so I’ve learned my lesson. I bring a mini brush and a detangler spray to tame things as needed.
Crocs: If Walker wants to climb on rocks or the sand is hot, his Crocs are perfect.
Post Beach / Clean Up: We fill up a gallon of water that we keep in the car to rinse the kids before they get their sandy feet in the car. This works great if there’s no shower at the beach. We also have an extra change of clothes with tons of wipes on deck so they can be comfy and warm.
What else do I need to try?