Packing List for a Beach Day in Florida
Whether you’re a Florida resident, headed to your favorite beach for the millionth time, or whether you’re from out of town, finally getting to lay eyes on the ocean you’ve been dreaming about for months, packing the right things for a beach day is absolutely essential. The beach is all fun and games, but if you forget some of the important stuff, you’ll have to deal with more than you bargained for. The best way to enjoy the beach is by allowing yourself to relax and enjoy - set yourself up for the least amount of work possible! If you’re planning to spend time on the sand and surf, these are all the essentials you’ll need to make sure you enjoy your time there to the max!
Sunscreen, Sunglasses and Bug Spray
#1 priority on the beach - and in Florida in general - is protection from the sun. The sun’s harmful UV rays can really cause some serious skin damage! The sun’s rays and the heat are just merciless. You really can’t hide, even in the shade - due to all the reflective surfaces on the ground that can bounce sunlight right back up at you.
Make sure you bring plenty of sunscreen, preferably waterproof - even if you don’t get in the water, you will sweat! Sunglasses with UV ray protection are also a must.
Once the sun sets, you’ll be glad you brought bug spray, too. The Florida mosquitoes are no joke and without bug spray, you might just get eaten alive.
Bathing Suits, Towels, Beach Cover Ups & Sandals
When packing bathing suits, make sure you’re bringing all your most comfortable, all your most colorful and all your most glamorous bathing suits! The beach is an opportunity to feel amazing and when you love how you look, you’ll love how you feel. Choose fun prints and bold colors for some photo opps on the sand, by the lifeguard houses or posed up next to the palm trees. Think tropical, floral or splashy, like glitter-printed bathing suits, pineapple print one-piece, lemon-printed bikinis and other fun prints.
Don’t forget the essential accessories - sandals to protect those feet from hot sand and pavement, cover-ups for quick runs to the parking lot and of course, towels to dry off!
Cute, Colorful Activewear
If you’re spending time at the beach, there’s almost always a broad walk or an area to stroll about, enjoy ocean views at restaurants, go rollerblading or jogging. For this area, the dress code is always vibrant chic! No boring activewear allowed! Get into the beachy mood with some cute, fun printed biker shorts and sports bra sets. Rock some tropical styles like fruit-printed leggings and sports bras, or solid color leggings with bright colors like yellow, pink, purple or red activewear sets. This is a great option for you to change into once you’re done swimming and want to change into dry clothes.
Coolers, Beach Chairs & Umbrellas
Your beach set-up is SUPER important. This dictates your experience! If you don’t want to bake in the sun the entire time, an umbrella is very necessary. This will also be a great marker for you to identify where you’ve left your stuff. When you’re in the ocean, it’s easy to get carried off in a different direction with the tide. When you look back at the shoreline, you might not remember where your stuff is if you don’t have an umbrella or something recognizable to find it. Keep the sand out of your underwear with a nice beach chair and keep those drinks ice-cold in a cooler while you’re soaking in the sun!
Portable Chargers
When you’re on the beach and you run out of battery because the hot temperatures drain that battery fast, you’ll be thanking us for this pro-tip.
Water and Snacks!
The heat in Florida is aggressive, so make sure you stay hydrated. Water is best of course, but some other electrolyte and potassium replacing drinks work great, too, like unsweetened coconut water. And, of course, don’t forget the snacks! And watch out for the seagulls - they’re always on the hunt for a good potato chip bag to snatch and fly off with!
