Maybe you’re finally starting to thaw after a winter that threatened never to end. Perhaps you’re still in the thick of it, but dreaming of making your escape to sunnier territory. Or, maybe you’re among the lucky few who live where summer never seems to end. Whatever it is that’s calling you to the beach, you’ll want to make sure you bring with you all the right ingredients for a carefree day of sand, sun, and fun. Nothing disrupts your precious rest and relaxation time like the realization that you’ve left some essential item behind. How do you ensure that you have just the right beach accessories without compromising your spontaneity or weighing yourself down? Read on for useful tips for prioritizing your packing list.
Mentally Rehearse Your Day
Once you’ve decided on a vision for your getaway, run through the day’s events in your mind to help you anticipate what you’ll need – and what to leave behind. If you’re looking to shut out the rest of the world for a few hours, your packing should be focused on your own peace and comfort. You might consider bringing a comfy chair, a beach umbrella, an inflatable pillow, and some light summer reading. Use your favorite mobile device to create the perfect playlist of relaxing seaside tunes and hook it up to Monster’s BackFloat, a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Be sure to bring along a solar charger so your fun doesn’t end abruptly when your power runs out – and turn off the Internet!
If you’re looking for an action-packed day at the beach with a group of friends, you may want to bring a beach volleyball set. For a day with the kids, you’ll want some beach toys and possibly a tent for naps.
Pack Some Great Sunglasses
Everyone needs to shield their eyes and protect their vision when in full sunlight! Check out designer sunglasses and hit the beach in style!
The Must-Haves
Some items, such as food, water, and music, should be on your list regardless of your specific priorities. Safety is also always a concern; items like sunscreen, a first aid kit, and flotation devices for kids are absolute necessities. Taking these simple precautions gives you peace of mind, knowing that you’re prepared in the unlikely – but very real – event that something goes wrong.
Choose Your Theme
It may seem counter intuitive, but in an age when you can connect almost instantaneously from practically any location on the planet, you may have to impose some structure and advance planning if you want to achieve true leisure in your precious leisure time. If you had to sum up your day’s goals in just a few words, what would they be? Family fun? Games with friends? Total Zen? Ask yourself, when the day is over and I’m packing up to leave, what feelings and memories do I want to take away with me? Once you have a vision, start thinking about what you’ll need to bring with you to make that vision a reality.
Don’t Overdo It
Keep in mind that no matter what kind of day you’re going for, it’s about relaxation and fun. It’s not necessary to re-create your kids’ playroom or bring the whole kitchen with you. You chose the beach for a reason. You don’t want to – ahem – water down the experience by bringing so much stuff that you end up not noticing where you are. Bring only what you need to facilitate the kind of fun you want to have. At the end of the day, you’ll be left with a reasonable amount of cleanup and a lot of great memories.
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