Beach Vacation Must Haves
We love a beach vacation over here. We spend part of our year at the beach in Nicaragua so I’ve gotten pretty good at packing for beach specific vacations. These are my beach vacation must haves that come with me to all the beaches.
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My Beach Vacation Must Haves:
Beach bag: My new favorite beach bag is this simple modern bag. It’s like the Bogg bag but a little cheaper. I recently got this and used it as my carry-on for the plane. It’s so easy to get the sand off and clean. I have the large size and it fits everything I need it to.
Sunscreen: I always pack this sunscreen for myself. It’s non-negotiable. It took me a while to find a good mineral spray sunscreen but I like this babo botanicals one. I also pack this Surfer’s Salve because it is a cure-all for our family. Mosquito bites, sunburn, heat rash/chafing - it does it all.
Beach towel: Yes, I pack my own beach towel and I won’t apologize for it. I love this Sand Cloud towel. I’m all about minimizing the amount of sand that comes back with us from the beach and this towel holds less sand than others. Plus, they have lots of fun prints! I also found this Simone Georges brand on a recent trip to Mallorca and grabbed one - it’s quickly becoming one of my favs!
Sunglasses: My beach sunglasses are a lot different from my daily sunglasses. I stick to affordable glasses that I won’t mind losing or breaking. Polarized is a MUST for me. These Quay sunglasses have been my favorite so far. They’re super cute on and good quality.
Swimsuit: I have what feels like 1 million swimsuits. I love my Cupshe suits, they’re affordable, have such a huge variety and you can always find something you like. If it’s a girls trip or a trip with my hubby, I’m bringing out the LSPACE One-Piece.
Cover-up: This shirt dress is my absolute favorite. I have it in a couple of colors (they have so many) and it’s my go to. Just don’t shrink it like I did. :)
Water bottle: I pack my own water bottle for all my trips. I love these Owala bottles. I have the 24 oz and the 40 oz with the handle/straw. The colors are so cute and they keep your drink cold for a long period of time. Don’t forget your cleaning supplies!
Wet bags: These wet bags are my favorrittteee. The designs are so cute and they work perfectly for throwing in a wet swimsuit at the end of the beach day.
Sun Hat: I recently purchased this Brixton straw hat during the Nordstrom Anniversary sale and I am so excited to wear it on my next trip.
What to know what’s in my beach bag? Find out here!
Toddler Beach Vacation Must Haves:
Sunscreen: I have been using ThinkBaby on Mason since he was old enough to wear sunscreen. I always bring the lotion version and the stick for his face. You can buy them as a bundle too.
Sun hat: Mason won’t always wear a sun hat, but I bring this one just in case he surprises me. It protects his neck and forehead - nothing fancy, just practical.
Life Jacket: We started bringing this Speedo life jacket for Mason to wear in the ocean or when he’s “surfing” with dad. We really love it. It’s brightly colored and fits him well.
Sunglasses: Toddler sunglasses are the cutest. We snagged these polarized glasses before our last beach trip and so far, so good. The stay on strap is perfect for an active kiddo.
Water bottle: Just like mine, I pack Mason’s Owala kids bottle so he stays hydrated.
Swim outfit: I used to gravitate towards shades of blue but now always pick bright colors after reading an article about the visibility. Amazon is the best for toddler swim. These trunks are our favorite. He also wears a rash guard almost ever time. We like this long sleeve and this short sleeve.
If I have room in our suitcase, I also throw in these packable beach toys. I hate constantly buying sand toys so this is a nice solution.
