Although we do not live near the beach, I do spend a big part of my summer at one every year! So today I thought it would be fun to share what essentials I keep in my beach bag. Over the years, the contents have changed depending on the ages of the boys but there have been a few tried and true items every summer. Since I am the one schlepping it, I do try to keep the contents to the bare minimum with only the essentials. So let’s take a look at “What’s In My Beach Bag!”
Waterproof Beach Bag ||
This large waterproof SCOUT beach bag is the perfect size for toting everything. (Last year I used a big blue Ikea bag- not cute but still effective!) It’s also great for keeping everything dry for when the tide comes up before we even realize it!
Turkish Towels ||
I keep two of these in my beach bag at all times. They are perfect for wiping off faces to reapply sunscreen, a towel to dry off, and even to wrap around as cover-up. They are great for boating too because they can easily be a cover when the seats get hot. They are super lightweight and don’t take up much room unlike larger plush beach towels.
Sun Hat ||
I actually usually keep two beach hats in my bag for myself and one for each of the boys. I am loving this packable beach hat for extra coverage and the fact that you can throw it in and roll it up and it doesn’t take much room and also doesn’t get bent. I also keep a trucker hat for when I am in the water or being more active on the sand.
Small Lightweight Toys ||
Of course we have lots of the typical shovels and buckets because a trip to the beach is never complete without a massive sand castle and digging holes. (TIP- remember to ALWAYS fill your holes before you leave- this will help sea turtles on the shore so they don’t get stuck as well as prevent accidents for fellow beach goers) In addition to the typical beach toys, I always keep a bag full of army men and other small characters or match box cars. The boys use these toys to turn their sand creations into forts or car tracks- and it helps to keep them busy longer.
Bluetooth Speaker ||
I try to keep a small bluetooth speaker in my beach bag so we can play music through our phones.
Beach Read ||
Many days I am not able to read because I am either in the water with the boys or keeping a close eye on them, but for those rare moments they are happily playing in the sand I keep a beach read on hand. This year I loved having my new Kindle Reader- so lightweight! If you are looking for a good beach read, some of my fave beach read authors are Elin Hilderbrand, Kristy Harvey and Mary Kay Andrews.
Smaller Bags for Organizing ||
In addition to the large beach bag, I always keep two other smaller bags inside. One of them holds my phone, wallet, keys, lip balm and kindle. It works perfect for keeping small things organized- and if I need to run up to the Ice Cream truck or to a restaurant it acts a “clutch” as well. I also keep another bag for stowing away wet clothes such as the boys rash guards and it also works for keeping dry clothes dry.
Inexpensive Sunglasses ||
The only way I have been able to keep my Ray Bans nice and not lose them is by wearing inexpensive sunglasses to the beach. I found these sunglasses last year and they are a very similar style to my fave Ray Bans. I worry way less about scratching them or losing them when a big wave comes.
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