Beach trips should have the simplest of packing experiences. Nothing crazy. It’s a beach. You’re going to get sand everywhere and wearing a swimsuit is your outfit.
BAG
The key component is a bag. What bag are you using?
I could put a bunch of links here and try to guide you towards a specific bag off Amazon or whatever, but truthfully I use an old duffel bag I have that really doesn’t fit a beach vibe but carries everything I need effortlessly. I’m not going to advise you to spend money when you don’t actually need to. Keep in mind that everything you bring to the beach is going to end up ridiculously sandy.
SUNGLASSES
I used to wear glasses for years and years, and contacts never worked with my eyes. They would make my eyes red and people would ask if I was high all the time, but I hated my glasses for the sole fact that I couldn’t wear sunglasses. Sunglasses are an absolute must-have accessory for any fun summer event, and I couldn’t wear them!
I got Lasik a while back and my sunglasses collection is insane. I pick them based off vibes and what I want to wear, because if there’s anything I learned from all the time I spent enviously watching people wear sunglasses, it’s that the people around you don’t care what they look like. If they look cool, that’s what they’re staring at.
BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT. When I did wear glasses and I went to the beach, where do you put your glasses? On your towel or in your bag, right? Mine still got sandy over the course of the trips and I was doomed to a fate of the screws separating. Make sure you’re not bringing super expensive glasses with you. Bring ones you’re prepared to lose.
COFFEE
I’m a little insane, and road trips must start at 4am. It’s why no one ever comes on the trips with me. When I did bring my sister, I’d have to drag her out of bed and I did all of the driving in exchange for that start time. This is mostly important for turn and burns since you don’t have a lot of time, but regardless, seeing the sunrise on the shore is an elite experience that you need to achieve complete and total nirvana.
Also because you get primo parking if you arrive at 8am, when no one is around.
WATER (ONE BOTTLE)
This might be a niche thing but I don’t drink any water at the beach. For some reason I’m just not thirsty, even though I know logically that the saltwater I ingest when I tumble is going to dehydrate me. Still, I bring one bottle in case I get stranded and have to tough it out for a little bit. This is up to you and how much water you drink.
COVER UP
I have exactly one beach cover up that makes me look like a quest giver on WoW, but it’s my only beach cover up because why am I leaving the beach? The secret is never leaving the beach. If you leave, you lose your parking spot too.
TOWELS
Multiple towels. One to dry off, one to rub sand off. Face it, you’re going to get sand in your car anyway. So the only way to mitigate it is by having two towels. I use my second one as a blanket if I get there too early in the morning and want to take a nap but the sun hasn’t risen yet. Towel underneath me and towel above me. Blanket. Sandy.
PET PEEVES
This is going to be super niche. I’ve been told this is for the truly insane, but I say it’s for the people who truly love the ocean and understand what she’s about.
No coolers. What the hell are you lugging that on the beach for? That’s why you only bring one bottle of water.
No chairs. Dude, the sand is right there. Lay down on top of your towel and experience the beach. What’s the point of going if you just try to make it like home?
No umbrellas. You get an exception for this if you’re super fair-skinned and sunburn easily. But you’re on thin ice for it, because just slather sunscreen on. Does that work? I tan, not burn, so this is up to you.
No “I don’t want to get wet!” I have been to beaches with people who refuse to get in the water and nothing sends me more than someone who goes to the beach only to ignore the beach??? GET IN THE WATER!!!!
Those are the main, not super shallow but maybe super niche, ones. They’re not that weird.
Maybe they are. Who knows? Who cares?