Pack Like a Pro: Top Gear PICKS for Your Next Family Beach Trip
As an underwater photographer, it kind of goes without saying that we’re an ocean-dwelling family. We try to spend as much time at the beach as possible and over these past few years, we’ve learned a thing or two about how to make a day at the beach as least stressful as possible.
First things first, keep your expectations low and then lower them a little bit more. I’m terrible at this but there are so many things out of your control especially when there are young children involved so rolling with the punches is key. Now with that being said, the gear you bring on a trip is something you CAN control. are a few things you can control!
Safety is key when spending time outdoors so make sure you’re bringing water and sun protection.
You’re at the beach so don’t rock up with a pack of plastic water bottles! You’ll be judged. We keep this Owala water bottle and 1/2 gallon water jug handy!
As for sun protection, our family prefers to use Reef Safe sunscreen for multiple reasons. The application can be a bit of a pain but in my opinion, it’s worth avoiding the toxins that chemical-based sunscreen exposes you to. *Steps on soap box* Not to mention that chemical-based sunscreen is causing so much harm to the environment you’re there to enjoy *steps off*
I wrote this post to help you navigate the confusing world of reef-safe sunscreen.
We’ve had OUR LITTLE GIRL AT THE BEACH SINCE SHE WAS 5 DAYS OLD AND WE’RE EXCITED TO ADD ANOTHER LITTLE TO OUR ADVENTURES!!
FOOD. Because no one likes to be hungry (and also, you’re burning a lot of calories out in the sun!)
For longer beach days (my favorite) we bring loads of simple meals like sandwiches, chicken salad, crackers, literally any fruit, etc etc. This is the cooler we use when we’re packing heavy because…WHEELS.
Mini Snack Packs:
Individual packs of pretzels, crackers, or cookies
Cheese or peanut butter-filled crackers
Granola bars or cereal bars
Fresh Fruit (our personal favorite)
Sandwiches and Wraps:
Turkey and cheese sandwiches
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
Tuna or chicken salad sandwiches
For shorter days (my husband’s preference) we bring the same range of things to eat but obviously a smaller quantity. This is the cooler we use for shorter beach days.
Extras (not necessary to bring but nice to have!)
Trash Bags: This one is funny but there’s always trash at the beach and you’ll likely add to it so having a hub for your trash and others speaks to the Leave No Trace mentality we should all have in mind when spending time in the outdoors.
Foldable chairs: We often use blankets but it’s nice to not sit on the ground from time to time.
Veer Wagon: We actually use our wagon to it to lug all of our camera + beach gear, not our children 😅 - the wheels aren’t necessarily designed for the super fluffy sand but it is all-terrain and just takes a little bit of muscle to get rolling.
Beach Blankets: On the topic of blankets, this Sand Cloud blanket is our favorite because sand doesn’t stick to it!
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