Memorial Day is HERE which means the kickoff to all things summer! Beaches, boating, sun and fireworks are here and we are ready! How about you? It is very easy for beach days to become hot, sweaty, and frustrating ordeals. Summers are short, time off from work is rare, and there is no time to waste on a failed beach day - your time is valuable! Check out our ingredients for a successful day at the beach.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
Get there EARLY! To ensure a great day at the beach, you want good parking, and an ideal spot to set up. In our experience, arriving around 10am is a good time. Much later, it will start to get crowded, you will have to park farther away, tote your things farther in the sun, and arrive at the beach already frustrated. Getting an early start can be tough, but starting the day off with a good parking spot will make a big difference!
All of the Snacks
When people get hangry your beach day will start to go downhill! To avoid this be sure to have plenty of snacks on hand. Chips, popcorn, Takis, veggies and ranch, protein bars - whatever your favorites are, bring them! Having your favorite snacks on hand makes the day so much more enjoyable. There are usually food stands or food trucks at the beach for hotdogs, fries, ice cream, etc., but it is nice to enjoy those as a treat, not as a necessity. Whether you pack snacks and buy lunch or visa versa, planning ahead makes a big difference. Of course, don't forget you favorite beverages too!
Throw Some Shade
Make sure to bring along a canopy or umbrella to take a break from the sun! When you're on the beach all day it is important to provide some relief to avoid anyone overheating, getting sun-poisoning, or burning.
Ready, Set, Hike!
Games are a great way to enjoy the sand with your friends. Games are also easy to throw in and don't take up much room. It is as simple as throwing a frizbee, football, volleyball or soccer ball in the car. There's also things like skim boards, Nerf footballs, and rafts to enjoy the water. Note: If you bring rafts, make sure to bring an electric air pump to save time and your lungs! Obviously, you don't want to be weighed down by tons of stuff - pick your favorite item that will make the day special for you and go from there.
Who Wore it Best
How you carry your equipment makes a BIG difference. We love our Tommy Bahama beach chairs from Costco. They have backpack style straps that make them easy to carry, pockets that fit large beach towels and a book, or sunscreen, etc., and an insulated pocket to fit snacks and/or drinks. See more details on the chairs here. For a an all-day beach day we usually need an additional bag. We like large, soft coolers with strong, quality handles, to fill up with any extra snacks, drinks, towels, and activities. Anything that helps condense your supplies and is easy to carry will do the trick.
Last, but not Least, Location!
Make sure you pick a beach that fits your needs. Beaches come in all shapes and sizes. Some you have to hike to, some are huge, some are so small you can only swim, inland lake beaches, secluded beaches, Great Lake beaches, and ocean beaches! Make sure you plan ahead for your day and choose the beach that will meet your needs. For long beach days with friends, we like to choose large beaches with plenty of space, parking lots, and hopefully ice cream near by.
If you're in West Michigan, some of our favorites are South Haven's North Beach, The Holland State Park, Grand Haven State Park, and P.J. Hoffmaster.
If you're in Southern California, our current favorite is Corona Del Mar, but we have a lot more exploring to do!
We hope all this information helps you make the MOST of your beach days this summer! Your time is so valuable and we want to make it easy for you to enjoy the outdoors without wasting a moment of that time.
Happy Beaching! Sincerely - The Muñozes
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