My Beach Essentials

This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home.

This time of year, we spend so much time at the beach that it’s practically our home away from home.   I love the beach, and it’s always been a big part of my life.  In order to fully enjoy a day of sand and sun, there are certain essentials that I always have on hand for beach days.  Here’s my list of must-have items for lazy hours at the beach!

1.  A big, floppy hat!  This Scarf Top Floppy Hat from San Diego Hat Company is perfect.

scarf top floppy hat

2.  Sunscreen is always a staple.  I stick with the basics, like Hawaiian Tropic‘s SPF 30 Sheer Touch Lotion.

hawaiian tropic spf 30

3.  I can’t live without my Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses!

ray ban aviator

4.  A big, big beach towel like this one from Hermes.

hermes beach towel

5.  An amazing beach blanket.  I love this one from Steven Allen.  It’s great for both the beach and the home!

steven alan beach blanket

6.  Letarte is my first stop when hunting for the perfect bathing suit, like this Adjustable Bikini in Navy.

letarte bikini

7.  A great bag!  Mine is from Ralph Lauren‘s Rugby store, which sadly no longer exists.  This bag has traveled with me for years.

ralph lauren rugby bag

8.  We got these beach chairs from a local hardware store and they are perfect, with a mesh storage pocket and straps so you can carry them on your back.

beach chair9.  Blistex Deep Renewal:  A must before and after the sun.

deep renewal blistex

10.  Crinkle Shorts.  When you’ve had enough sun, throw these on with a white t-shirt and call it a day!

crinkle shorts

11.  Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask, to rejuvenate your hair after a day in the sun.

moroccanoil intense hydrating mask12.  Tory Burch Flip Flops — another must!

tory burch flip flops13.  A cooler for snacks and drinks, preferably something light and portable like this one from LL Bean.

ll bean cooler

14.  A beach wagon is perfect for toting everything from your cooler and towels to the kids’ toys.  This Foldable Beach Wagon is easy to pull across the soft sand and carries up to 100 pounds.

beach wagon

What are your favorite beach essentials?