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It’s me! I’m back with more summer must-haves. If you missed them check out my other recs: pool toys, pool bags and outdoor entertaining staples. I’m realizing as I write this that so many people are probably going to the beach in July so hopefully this gets to you in time. Our family likes to go in early August, so I still have some time, but I am already shopping for some new beach staples for our yearly trip.
Setting up Camp on the Beach
For our family, the very first thing we need to make the most out of a long day at the beach, is a shade option. We love our Vitamin D, but we cannot be out in the sun from 10am-4pm without a break. When I tell you we’ve tried SO. MANY. beach tents … but they’ve all been a huge disappointment – flying away, breaking after only one season, etc. We finally broke down and did what everyone else in NC already seemed to have done. We bought a Shibumi. I cannot recommend these enough – they are absolutely perfect for NC beaches and easy to transport/set up/break down. Just do it.
Now, what to sit on underNEATH the shade? You need the perfect beach chair. I’ll admit that I’ve been mooching off my parents’ beach chairs for eons, but what can I say? They pick good ones. One of the best of theirs that I’ve stolen is the Tommy Bahama – it’s lightweight for transporting to the beach AND you can wear it as a backpack, so it doesn’t take up precious hand or arm space needed for carrying your drink or bag. It’s the perfect height from the ground for sitting in the surf and it has a cup holder!
How are you getting all this stuff to your spot on the beach? You need a beach cart, of course! We love this one because it’s roomy enough for all our toys, towels, goggles and any chairs not being worn as backpacks. The thick wheels make toting it a breeze, even through even squishy sand. It also has a cooler so you can keep drinks and snacks separate from all the rest of your beach hoopla.
Beach Toys!
Even though our kids have not outgrown your typical sand toys (they will make a sand castle or bury each other in the sand using a shovel, no problem!), we have found some slightly more unusual toys that have been winners for our family that I thought I’d share.
Have you ever seen those people on the beach using a metal detector to look for buried treasure? Our kids have, and they thought it would be a lot of fun to have one of their own and conduct their own search. This less expensive metal detector has been a big hit with our kids.
This seems odd at first, but trust me, it’s AMAZING. Our cousins shared this with us during a beach trip a few years ago, and now we always make sure to pack a big ‘ol box of chalk. First, you grind it into dust (this is, in itself, a fun activity that the kids like to do one of the first nights at the beach, so score a point right there). You put the colors in different baggies and then, on the beach, you carve outlines of designs, filling each one with chalk dust. It turns out really beautifully and is something the whole family can do together. Below, you can see a unicorn we all did together one year!
Shovels are for kids AND adults at the beach, aren’t they? This one is sized for sharing and robust enough to withstand either.
My kiddos love to ride the waves, but sometimes the littles aren’t ready for the full on Boogie Board. These inflatable rafts were PERFECT for pre-Boogie Board wave riding and honestly? They were pretty durable from year to year. Highly recommend!
There is no better activity on the beach than shell collecting. We usually come home with WAY too many (I always tell myself I’m going to do a fun craft with them, like painting them or SOMETHING), but this is a fun way that the kids occupy themselves during morning and evening beach walks (two of my favorite times of day while we are at the beach!), so it’s all fine in the end. They love to each have their own shell bag for their treasures and these have served us well.
Up until now, our kids haven’t really been old enough for this beach game sensation, but I am seriously considering getting it for this year. I’m pretty sure this game was on Shark Tank, which is why it’s so “famous” but it looks REALLY fun.
I’m not sure exactly how this tradition got started, but I do know that every year, my kids beg to fly a kite at the beach. We’ve had a lot of different ones with varying levels of success, but this one looks like a good entry level kite with beautiful colors to enjoy up in the beach sky!
Little Extras:
If you are serious about your beach beverages (hand raised over here!), you probably wouldn’t take too kindly to them getting all sandy. These handy dandy holders aren’t NECESSARY, but they sure are nice for keeping your can, bottle or cup out of the sand.
After a long day in the ocean and/or pool, my hair and my daughter’s hair feels pretty gross and tangly. We swear by this spray to help unmangle the mess. It makes me hate brushing her hair on vacation just a little less.
By the way, while we’re on the topic of hair at the beach, I use this on my dry ends EVERY day after my (dyed) blonde hair soaks up the sun and gets all brittle and gross. I’m not lying – it’s magic. It’s definitely postponed several split end trims for me while growing out my hair. Kind of pricey, but totally worth it.
Less & More: The WFH Mom Edit 
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