Beach Trip Tips

There are few places on earth that match the beauty and tranquility of the beach.  Whether you are at the ocean, a lake, or a river side beach, make the most of your time at the beach while taking time to reflect on God’s goodness.

Psalm 139: 17-18   How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!  Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

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What to Know Before You Go

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Choosing a Beach Destination

Are you looking for peace and quiet or fun, excitement, and shopping?  Are you traveling with spouse, friends, or family? Determine this up front and you’re a step closer to picking your destination.

Beaches, their sand and waters, vary around the continental United States.

• Gulf of Mexico sand is sugary white and soft, perfect for digging your toes into, building a sand castle, or diving for a volleyball.  Waters warm to the 70s from April through October with 80s from June through September.
• Atlantic Coast sand is usually grey and packed, great for a jog or bike ride, though the sand can be hard on the feet of some if not wearing beach shoes.  Water temperatures vary from north to south with Virginia waters hovering in the 70s at their warmest, North Carolina reaching the 80s usually in August only, South Carolina warming to the 80s from late June to early September, Georgia barrier island beaches are somewhat warmer than the Carolinas, while Florida’s southern most beaches are temperate year round.
• Pacific coast sand varies more by location while its waters are more consistently cool compared to the Atlantic and Gulf.  Northern coastal waters remain in the cool 50s year round, central Pacific coastal waters reach the 60s around August, and southern coast having waters in the 60s spring, summer, and fall.

Bottom line, if you ever find yourself thinking the water is cold, then your next trip to the beach may need to be on the Gulf Coast, south Florida, or Florida Keys. If they are an option for you, the Caribbean and Hawaii offer consistently warm waters, 80s and 70s respectively.

Travel Advisory!  Some beach communities strive to be the top destination for high school and college partiers by having more bars and tattoo parlors than others.  It may take more work to find, but instead of finding yourself in an unscrupulous traffic jam, search for accommodations off the beaten path.  A few miles down the road will minimize temptations without sacrificing the quality of sand or water.

Beach Accommodations

When it comes to beach accommodations, where you stay is often where you play.  While you can save a buck by not being beach front, we recommend that travelers find a way to budget for beach front property for their many advantages.

• Seeing, hearing, and smelling the ocean
• Easier commute with beach gear
• Access to bathrooms
• Ease of dining in, with a view – also a great way to save money to afford beachfront property

Whether to stay at a beach home or condominium is often a case of personal preference.  Well managed homes may include comparable levels of service and amenities, such as property management in the event of a problem and private beach or pool.  Condos tend to offer more amenities such as indoor and outdoor pools, tennis, golf, and beach equipment rentals.  For vacationers flying to their beach destination, having onsite beach chair, umbrella, bike, racquet, or club rentals available may just be the tipping point for selecting a condo over a beach home.

Best Time to Visit the Beach

When to visit is often a case of when you can visit, that is, when does school or work permit.  As with most vacation destinations, mid-week visits are less crowded as long as they don’t fall on a holiday, such as July 4^th.  In Gulf climates, spring and fall are wonderful times to visit the beach.  Air temperatures are warm during the day with refreshing water temperatures while evenings are cool and comfortable.  Note that states and cities vary when they take spring break and end their school year.  Don’t assume you’re going to the beach during an off season.  Do your homework, and check back here, for specific information on weeks to consider avoiding.

Packing for the Beach

Preparing for a trip to the beach is easier than for many other destinations because you can take a little bit of everything since you aren’t limited to a small pack like you can be with sight seeing, skiing, or theme parks.

For your day at the beach, most visitors can pack one bag with essentials and a second bag with beach gear.  The first should have some, but not much, cash or a credit card, medicines, cell phone, and camera.  Parents of young children may need a handful of additional items in this bag.  The second bag can have sunscreen, towels, beach toys, goggles, flippers, and other items you want to enjoy the beach.     Anything else should be left back at the hotel or safely locked in your vehicle, especially purses.  See below for specific tips and recommendations.

• Cash or Credit:  There are few costs once you are at the beach, but it is a good idea to have some money for incidentals.  While credit cards are more convenient at many destinations, on the beach, cash may be the only option.  If carrying cash, it is a good idea to keep cash in a zipper pocket or other fully enclosable pouch that is attached to your person.  The last thing you want to realize is that your money ha floated up and out of a pocket.  Some beaches don’t have anything to buy or rent.  Other beaches may have concessions, chair and umbrella rental, and bike or boat rental.
• Medicine:  Someone will eventually have a headache or tummy ache.  Plan ahead by bringing a few of each medicine your group may need.  We recommend that you have pain reliever (e.g. Tylenol, Advil, Motrin) for head and body aches.  For stomach issues, we prefer having Imodium on hand since treating diarrhea can be an urgent issue relative to minor stomach aches that may be related to hunger or your last greasy happy meal.  For children, we suggest having the chewable forms of pain relievers and stomach medicine to avoid having to lug bottles of medicine around.  Medicine is best carried in a tightly sealable container available from a pharmacy or Ziploc bag. Unlike other destinations where you need a small portable container to carry around with you, at the beach you generally have a home base where your essentials bag will have your medicine.  Do try to keep medicine in the shade since the efficacy of medicine can be diminished by heat.
• Sunscreen:  An essential item for a day at the beach, sunscreen should be applied before departing for the beach so that lotions or sprays are absorbed by the skin and not rubbing off on clothes, towels, car seats, or anything else you may rub up against.  We recommend spray sunscreen for reapplying sunscreen throughout a day at the beach, especially after any swim.  If you are at the beach on an overcast day, don’t assume you won’t get sun.  Always apply sunscreen or you’ll be out shopping for aloe and Aveeno and miserable the rest of your trip.
• Baby and Kid Care:  Babies and toddlers require a different level of packing.  Diapers and wipes are a must as are a change of clothes in the event of a blow-out.  Be sure to pack drinks to keep your little one hydrated and snacks to keep them from getting crabby.  We recommend snacks be prepared in small Ziploc bags rather than provided in original containers that are more susceptible to Murphy’s Law of Spills.  For younger kids, it may be a good idea to apply Desitin diaper rash ointment as a preventative measure to avoid painful chaffing from a day of walking and swimming around sand and salt water.
• What to Wear to the Beach:  Planning for what to wear depends greatly on where you are headed and at what time of year.  During summer months you’re likely to need a swim suit and not much more.  That being said, swim shirts, whether short or long sleeved, are increasingly common because they offer sun protection without sunscreen.  Swim shirts are a great option for kids who are in and out of the water a lot.   Check out the forecasted temperature, precipitation, and winds to determine what you’ll need during the cooler mornings and evenings, especially in spring and fall months.
• Cell Phone:  Unlike site seeing, skiing, and theme parks where cell phones can be indispensable for locating the rest of your party, a cell phone is less critical at the beach.  If you must have one, leave it in your essentials bag for emergencies only.  Don’t carry a phone in a pocket or in your hand unless it’s waterproof.  An alternative to cell phones is a pair of walkie talkies which work well on beaches because of the straight line of sight available.
• Beach Pictures:  A camera is a good idea to have on hand in your essentials bag to keep it safe from sand and sea spray but available to capture precious moments.  An inexpensive digital camera is a good choice if you’ll be taking pictures during a walk on the beach. Note that while many cell phones have camera capabilities they are not as robust as basic cameras and if your cell phone goes for a swim, it is much more expensive to replace than a cheap camera.
• Water:  You need to drink lots and lots of fluids, before, during, and after a day at the beach.  Kids often prefer Gatorade, Powerade, and other sports drinks but these contain high fructose and can result in stomach aches if that is the only source of fluids.  Encourage alternating sports drinks with good ol’ water.

Lastly, have FUN!

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Do you own or know of a reputable beach destination?  Let us know, leave a comment with their info and website, and we’ll contact them about being included on a list of recommended beaches or accommodations.

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