Organizing a Day at the Beach

As most of you know my husband and I moved to San Diego about 5 months ago, we now live just 2.5 miles from the beach. We spent the first month unpacking and getting settled. We spent the next two months hosting family and friends who were willing to make the trip from Missouri, Ohio, Kansas, Florida and Maryland. It’s just been recently that we’ve had the time and energy to spend a day at the beach. Before a few weeks ago it was a quick walk on the beach for exercise or to watch the sunset. We made a quick trip to Wal-Mart and got beach chairs and an umbrella. After multiple trips to the beach now I’ve learned a few things about organizing a day at the beach.

1. Put sunscreen on at home. Putting sunscreen at home before leaving has many benefits including clean and dry skin, a mirror to ensure it’s all rubbed in, and time to let your skin absorb it.
2. Put all sunscreens and lotions in a sealable plastic bag. This prevents leakage on your favorite novel or beach towel.
3. A small cosmetic bag is great to hold keys, cell phone, ID, money or any other small personal items you may need. It’s easy to grab the cosmetic if you need to run to the restroom or the snack stand.
4. A carabiner hook is great for hooking your keys to your bag. This hook prevents the keys from falling out of the bag and makes the keys easy to find when your arms are loaded down and you’re returning to the car.
5. Bring an extra hand towel. It’s nice to have a small towel that you can use to wipe off your legs before climbing in the car. It is amazing how much sand will stick to your feet and calves – a small towel right before climbing in the car can take care of this.
6. Forget about a clean car. The beach can be a messy place. As a result your car can get messy too. Plastic floor mats help contain the sandy mess and make cleanup easier.
7. All hands on deck when it comes to carrying your beach items from the car to the beach and back. No hands (regardless of size) should be empty. There’s a ton to carry from chairs, umbrellas, bags, toys, and coolers.
8. Laundry baskets are great for transporting toys. The basket is easy to clean off or hose off before putting the basket in the car. Having a container such as a laundry basket also makes limiting the number of toys easier. Tell your kids they can take any beach toys they want but once the basket is full, that’s it! Containers like this are great for kids when setting rules and boundaries. The laundry basket will also fit neatly in the trunk of your car.

These tips are applicable whether you’re spending a full-day or a couple hours at the beach. Keep your outings simple and you will feel mentally and physically more organized and energized. Also, these tips work for a trip to the pool. Whether the beach or the pool, do not forget water and sunscreen – these are two must-haves when out in the sun. Enjoy the sun, sand and fun!