Beach Day Essentials: What to Pack for a Day by the Water

There's not much to a good beach day.

A bag, some drinks, sunscreen, a towel and whatever you plan to eat. Throw everything in the car and go.

At least, that's how it sounds.

In reality, someone usually forgets sunscreen. Someone else wants a dry shirt. The drinks get warm, the towels get wet, and by the end of the afternoon there seems to be sand in places that shouldn't have sand in them.

After a few trips, you figure out which things are actually worth packing.

Here's the short list we'd start with.

Start With the Things You'll Use All Day

Sunscreen is an obvious one, but it's easy to leave it sitting on the kitchen counter.

Take sunglasses and a hat too. If you're spending several hours outside, some shade is worth thinking about, particularly if you're bringing young children.

I also like having a spare shirt in the bag. It takes up very little room and doesn't seem like a big deal until you're sitting in a wet swimsuit on the drive home.

Water. More Than You Think.

A cold bottle of water disappears pretty quickly on a hot beach.

For a quick morning trip, a couple of bottles might be enough. For an afternoon with the family, bring extra. An insulated bottle or small cooler is useful if you want to keep drinks cold.

Food can stay simple.

Sandwiches, fruit, crackers, snacks - things you can eat without setting up an entire kitchen. Nobody really wants to spend half the beach day looking for somewhere to prepare lunch.

Give Yourself Somewhere to Sit

This is probably the item people underestimate.

A towel works perfectly well when you're drying off. It's a different story when you want to sit down for a couple of hours.

A larger beach blanket gives you somewhere to stretch out, eat lunch, read a book or let the kids sit without constantly worrying about where the sand is going.

And if you're with a few people, the extra space becomes even more useful.

beach mat

Sand Is Going to Happen

There's no getting around it.

Even the cleanest beach trip usually ends with sand in the bag, on the towels and inside the car.

A beach blanket with a sand-resistant surface can make the cleanup a little easier. Give it a good shake before folding it and most of the loose sand will come off.

It won't magically remove every grain.

Nothing does.

But when you're trying to pack everything up at the end of the day, being able to shake the blanket out instead of carrying half the beach home is a nice little advantage.

Pay Attention to What's Underneath

People tend to think about the top of a beach blanket first.

The bottom matters too.

Beach sand can be damp, and you may end up using the blanket somewhere other than the beach. Maybe it's a grassy park after lunch. Maybe it's beside a lake. Maybe you take it camping the following weekend.

A water-resistant or waterproof bottom helps keep moisture from coming through.

It's not about turning a beach blanket into a piece of technical camping equipment. It's simply more comfortable when the ground underneath isn't completely dry.

Bigger Isn't Always Better

A large blanket is great when several people are using it.

But there is a point where "large" becomes "why did I bring this?"

Think about how you'll actually carry it. If it folds down small enough to throw over your shoulder or put in the trunk without taking over the whole space, you'll probably use it more often.

For families, a generous size is usually worth having.

For one person heading down to the beach with a book, maybe not.

Keep Your Wet Things Separate

Wet towels and swimsuits don't belong next to your phone.

It sounds obvious, but once everyone starts packing up in a hurry, everything tends to end up in the same bag.

A simple waterproof pouch or separate wet bag can keep the important stuff dry. Put your keys, cards and phone somewhere secure as well. Leaving them loose on a busy beach isn't worth the risk.

Pack One Dry Outfit

Even if you don't plan on swimming.

Plans change.

Maybe the water looks better than expected. Maybe the kids are already in before you've finished setting up. Or maybe you simply get tired of wearing a damp swimsuit.

A clean T-shirt and a dry pair of shorts take almost no space in a beach bag.

Keep them away from the wet towels and you'll be happy to have them later.

Don't Bring the Whole House

Beach trips can get out of hand when it comes to packing.

A frisbee. A ball. A book. Maybe some toys for the kids.

That's usually enough.

You don't need six different games and a bag full of things nobody will touch. The beach itself gives you plenty to do.

And if you're packing for a family, giving each person a little say in what comes along can save a lot of last-minute arguments.

A Little Wind Changes Things

The beach can be perfectly calm when you arrive and surprisingly windy two hours later.

If you're using a large blanket, check whether it has corner loops or another way to secure it. Depending on the location, beach pegs or anchors can help keep it from folding over or blowing away.

The same goes for hats, towels and lightweight bags.

Keep an eye on anything that can fly.

We've all watched a towel make a run for it down the beach.