My Top Beach Bag Must Haves

To me, there’s no better way to spend a summer day than at the beach.

Long days filled with jumping in the water, playing in the sand, taking walks, and getting lost in time. Summer is my favorite season for so many reasons, but a great beach day is truly the top of them.

With July coming to a close (HOW?!), we still have a lot of beach days in our near future, and yet there’s this rapidly approaching reminder of fall in the air. We plan on soaking in every second that we can, because especially as Michiganders, summertime feels so sweet after the long winters we have. In fact, right now our family is at a lovely house on Lake Michigan for the week. Our extended family rents a house every summer, and it’s one of my most favorite times of the year because of – you guessed it – all the beach days!

With all the beaching going on in my life – and hopefully yours! – today’s post is dedicated to beach bag essentials. There’s been plenty of times when I’ve forgotten something, and through trial and error I’ve created a mental checklist of sorts to make sure we’ve got everything we need in my big bag of tricks. I hope this roundup comes in handy for you!

My Top Beach Bag Must Haves

Clean Beauty Sunscreen (Minimum SPF 30!)

A day in the sunshine without proper skin protection is a no-go. Lathering on SPF is the first thing I do to prepare for a beach day, and I will always keep re-applying at the top of mind throughout the day. Especially with my kids, who are always in and out of the water and running around, our sunscreen is definitely one of our top-grabbed items in the beach bag.

My favorite sunscreen is from Beautycounter! I love the Countersun Tinted Mineral Sunscreen mist because it gives me a nice, bronzed glow while providing SPF 30 protection. The light-medium color works best with my fair skin tone. Fair word of warning, though: As with any mineral sunscreen, the mist can rub off onto clothing, so definitely be mindful of that! (I’ve found it comes out super easy in the wash when this does happen, FYI!)

If I opt out of mineral sunscreen that day, I’ll use Supergoop Play SPF 50 for my face, and Supergoop Play Antioxidant Mist for my body.

For my kids, I also typically use a mineral sunscreen. We love Babyganics SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen – it rubs in really well and doesn’t make my kids tear up like other sunscreens do!

Turkish Towels

I’ve got to tell you — there’s no towel like a turkish towel for the beach, especially if you find one that is super thick and absorbant! They’re longer and thicker than normal beach towels, and typically made from super-soft cotton, so they are the best to lay in on the sand. I also love their timeless designs! (Double bonus: They made great bath towels, too!)

If you’re on the hunt for a great beach towel, check out the following options: Serena & Lily Capri Fouta Beach Towel + Pottery Barn Turkish Striped Beach Towel + West Elm Organic Turkish Bath Towel + I love all the options over at The Little Market!

If you’re into colorful, fun prints for your towels, check out the options over at Brooklinen + Missoni Home + Gray Malin (The “I AM BUSY” one is so fun!) + Hill House Mermaid Beach Towel + This Love Shack Fancy towel is sand-free and I love that it’s made from recycled polyester.

Beach Blanket

A great beach blanket is more than just something to lay on; it’s something to build memories with. My mom has had her same beach quilt since I was a little girl. It’s worn and soft and perfect; sometimes when I’m at her house, I’ll go find her beach blanket, smell it, and be transported to sunny days and listening to rolling waves.

Blankets are great options for families on the beach, or for those who simply want more space than what a towel can provide. For Christmas last year, Doug got me my first beach blanket – a beautiful blue and white floral design (similar here + here!) I’m currently really loving the Boll & Branch Signature Botanical Duvet Set, which is painted by hand and ethically crafted!

Eco-Friendly Swimsuit

With fast fashion being such a huge factor in environmental (and ethical!) issues, I’ve been focused on supporting swimwear brands that are eco-friendly. I’m proud to say that, this year, the suits I bought are all ethically and sustainably made! A few brands that I’ve been loving lately are Vitamin A + Kingdom & State + Summersalt. Also read: 4 Eco-Friendly Swimwear Brands

Swim Cover Up

A great swim cover up is so underrated. There’s something about the effortless nature of throwing on & off an effortless dress or shirt that’s made for lounging outdoors. I recently got the Lake Dreamknit Caftan in Sea Salt and am crazy about it. It’s buttery soft, the perfect color that goes with anything, and I love the loose flow. (I also love that it doubles as a nightgown!) There are also some great options over at PQ Swim + Summersalt!

If you’re a shorts-and-t kind of girl, my favorite combination are a classic Levi’s or Agolde jean shorts and a white t-shirt!

Sandals

Right now, I’ve got Birkenstock’s on repeat! They’re great because, even when sand gets everywhere, they’re easy to clean. Not to mention they’re crazy comfortable! Other beach sandals I’ve been loving this summer include my Tory Burch flip flops.

See also: 10 Of The Best Summer Sandals

Snacks + Hydration

Snacks and drinks are a must, especially when the kids are in tow! For a quick trip, I’ll throw a Hyrdo Flask for each person at the beach. If we’re headed to the beach for a long day, we’ll back a backpack cooler and fill it with things like added drinks, sandwiches, etc. This backpack cooler fits a ton, and this one has an adorable design! Pro tip: Be sure to bring along a garbage bag so that any wrappers aren’t accidentally littering the beach.

Sun Hat

Especially as I get older, hats have become one of the mandatories of a day in the sun. I love a nice tan…but I love even more smooth skin with minimal wrinkles! This summer, I splurged on a Hat Attack wide brim, chin strap hat and absolutely love it. It’s chic and the coverage it provides is second to none. But, honestly, I also love a good ‘ol baseball hat, especially when I’m going to be active while playing with the kids all day.

A Great Book

My ideal beach day always includes a great book. Truth be told, when we take our kids to the beach, I don’t often get the chance to indulge in some reading. (Ha – Mom life!) But, there’s sometimes that little moment where the stars align and I can sneak in a half hour of reading and it’s so niiiiiice.

Sunglasses

me when I say that Le Specs are a must for everyone! They’re stylish yet sturdy, and the best price point for the quality. I currently have the Air Heart sunglasses, and on the docket for the future are the Weekend Riots or the Resumptions.

Family Essentials

This section is broad because it’s always evolving! Right now, our family essentials include things like wipes, swim & normal diapers for Beau, toys, their sun gear, etc. The girls will always throw in little things they want to play with, like their waterproof camera!

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The great thing about the above list is that these items are simply good to have on the top of mind for any outdoor adventure during the summer. From camping to picnics, there’s not much that a well-prepared bag can’t handle. Cheers to long days in the sunshine, my friends!

What are your beach bag essentials/must haves? I’d love to hear in the comments!