How to Survive a Beach Trip
in Giggles on July 20, 2016
Side note: my apologies to all of you who see a SIDEWAYS picture in your inbox! It is right-side up on my end! Technology and I are not the best of friends.
Welcome to the third installment of my Surviving Summer Series! Today, I thought we would take a nice trip to the beach. Growing up, I was blessed to have the opportunity to visit the beach every summer as I would go see my grandparents in Florida. To this day they are some of my fondest childhood memories. Now, living in southeast Texas, my husband and I have taken full advantage of our location, and taken our own children to the beach.
There is just something magical that happens when you put your toes in the sand and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. My parents have accompanied us on many of these weekend getaways, and my children begin to ask every Spring if we are planning a Summer trip to the beach with Granny and Papaw.
In case you cannot tell, the beach is my happy place.
Here are my Top Five Tips for surviving a beach trip…
- POP-UP CANOPY: This is a must! Beg, borrow, or steal one of these…just kidding…don’t steal one, but DO get your hands on one. Shade is a precious commodity at the beach; I have yet to see a sandy beach littered with big, shady oak trees. Not only will your canopy provide you with shade for the day, but it will also give you a built-in and ready-made towel rack. No one likes to dry off with sandy beach towels. Hang your towels on the frame of the canopy. It’s a win-win.
- ICE CHEST WITH WHEELS: Yes, I know that pushing and pulling an ice chest through the sand is no picnic; however, carrying one through the sand isn’t any easier. Now, as for the contents of your ice chest: ZIPLOC bags. I always bag the snacks, meats, and cheeses in ziploc bags…even meats that have come from the deli of the store. When it comes to a secure seal–ziploc cannot be beat. As for your drinks, here’s a useful tidbit I picked up last summer while my oldest was enduring football training in the Texas heat…we are Gatorade drinkers, but if you put regular ice cubes into Gatorade…your Gatorade will become watered down…HOWEVER, if you plan ahead, and FREEZE your Gatorade into ice cubes…you have ice cold Gatorade that is NOT watered down! This also works with juices and iced tea. You’re welcome.
- SUNSCREEN, SUNSCREEN, and more SUNSCREEN: Did I mention you need sunscreen? In my Surviving a Pool Trip post, I know we talked about sunscreen. I am a BIG FAN of protecting our kids’ skin. The sun at the beach is very different than the sun at the pool. It seems to burn hotter, and quite honestly, you are typically exposed to it for longer periods of time. The sun reflects off of the water and the sand. Our babies’ skin fries up nicely in the summer sun, therefore it is our responsibility to protect them. I completely understand the lure, the draw, and the convenience of spray sunscreen, but trust me when I tell you–IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE BEACH. Thick, wipe-in, and rub-down sunscreen is the best. I will tell you that spray sunscreen has its place: heads with little to no hair. This could be your baby or your man! But, in both of those cases, I would also recommend a HAT!! Don’t forget to RE-APPLY every couple of hours. A once-in-the-morning-application will not do the trick!
- FITTED SHEETS: Somehow, I manage to have fitted sheets at home with no match OR sheet sets that I no longer use…these are perfect for beach mats. Grab a fitted sheet, flip it upside down, fill the corners with sand (to act as anchors) and voila! you have a beach mat that won’t fly away with the wind! The real trick is going to be keeping the kids and their sandy feet off of the mat! Unfortunately, I have no suggestions for that, as my children are inexplicably drawn to a clean and fresh beach mat!
- SAND TOYS: No trip to the beach is complete without sand toys. It does not matter how young or old your children are–kids of ALL ages LOVE to play in the sand! When you have toddlers, a bucket and a shovel will suffice. They can sit at the water’s edge digging and scooping for hours. Then, as they grow older, their digging abilities improve, as do their imaginations and the sand creations morph into works of art. We went to the beach last summer, and even as teenagers, my kids could NOT get enough of the sand! If Dad gets involved, be sure to have your camera ready!
Now, of course this list is NOT the end-all-be-all of beach lists, but it WILL get you started. I hope you have a terrific time at the beach! I would love to see pictures of your escapades and sand castles! Be safe and stay hydrated!
Here’s hoping your day is wonderfully SANDY!
-Dallas
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