Beach trips were a staple of my childhood, and I’m thankful that I married a man who loves them just as much as I do. It helps that our kids love them, too! Corpus Christi beaches are just a quick 2.5 hour drive for us, which is short enough to make it a day trip. For more Corpus-specific beach info, check out my previous article here!
Packing for the beach can be a different challenge, though. What do you actually need, and what can you do without? What do you do if you step in tar, or your car gets stuck? The list of “what if’s” goes on. But fear not! Between knowledge that has been passed down to me through my parents, and the knowledge I’ve amassed as an adult, I’ve put together a list of packing tips and tricks to ensure you get to enjoy the perfect beach getaway.
First things first: be sure to check the beach conditions before you go. If you want to surf or boogie board, check out Surfline for information about waves and swells. For more passive beach goers, I like Sea Temperature for wind and sea state (how calm or rough it is). Checking the conditions in advance can help you avoid a miserable or dangerous beach trip, whether it’s due to high windspeed, choppy surf or a strong riptide.
Essentials
- Shade: Between the heat and potential for sunburn, you won’t last long without shade. Pack a popup tent or canopy to maximize your day on the water. Amazon or Academy have lots of options at various price points.
- Sunscreen: Pack plenty of sunscreen and reapply it often. Rash guards or t-shirts are great for backup sun protection. Bonus tip — we like to scan our sunscreen with the Yuka app to find low-toxin options!
- Towels: enough for everyone to have their own; extras are a bonus.
- Chairs or outdoor blankets for a place to sit.
- Jugs of water: If you really can’t stand the sand, bring a few jugs of water to rinse off before you load up. This can really help negate that sticky, sandy feeling, which can get annoying on the drive home.
- Large trash bags: These are perfect for storing trash while at the beach, but you can also use them to throw all the sandy things in a bag at the end of the day — useful, especially if you’re traveling in a car or SUV rather than a truck.
Food
- Drinks: Be sure and bring plenty of water and drinks containing electrolytes. Steer clear of sugary drinks or soda to avoid dehydration; we love coconut water as a natural option.
- Snacks: We pack plenty of fruit, crackers, and chips. Be sure and bring a clip for any chip or cracker bags, as they will get soggy very quickly without them!
- Lunch: Sandwiches are an easy option and can be made in advance, or easily on-site. If you have a portable grill, brats or sausage are very beach-friendly. If you don’t, we actually grilled them in advance and packed them (we also packed a small cutting board and knife to cut them for the kids). They also go great wrapped in a slice of bread!
For the Kids
- Sand toys, toy trucks, balls, etc. — really anything that makes tracks or moves sand around!
- Puddle jumpers or life vests
- Boogie boards and skim boards. We loved boogie boarding or skim boarding when I was a kid. It’s the perfect way to keep preteens and teenagers busy!
- Small kiddie pool. This one is for the babies! Pack a blow up kiddie pool and fill it with a little bit of water and toys. It also doubles as a raft for the older kiddos. Take it out into the water, hop in, and float back! It was also one of my favorite things to do as a kid.
Late Night Stay
- Go sand crab hunting! You’ll need flashlights or headlamps, nets, and buckets. When it gets dark, walk the beach and hunt for crabs. Shine your light to find them, and use your net to catch them. I’m pretty sure we had to catch them by hand as a kid! Be sure and release the crabs when you’re done.
- Bring the s’mores! Graham crackers, marshmallows, chocolate bars, and don’t forget the roasting sticks! You can get cute but practical caddies to hold these now.
Navigating Mishaps
- Tar: It has recently popped up on the beach due to storms, and it is impossible to get off! Can you guess my 90’s hack to remove it? Baby oil! Tar was way more common when I was a kid, and my parents always packed baby oil to easily take it off. I’ve heard that Dawn power wash works well too — in fact, that’s what they use to remove tar and oil from seabirds.
- Sand: Did you know that baby powder removes sand? We spent so many nights camping on the beach, and that’s how my parents removed the sand before bed. Be sure to find a talc free option!
- First Aid Kit: You never know what’s going to wash up on shore or be buried in the sand. Stray fishing hook, glass, etc. It’s always a good idea to have a small first-aid kit on hand with bandaids, alcohol wipes, etc.
- Stuck vehicle: Beach conditions are constantly changing, and some beach access roads have deep, dry sand that’s extremely easy to get stuck in. It doesn’t hurt to pack a tow strap or a couple of boards to help get you out. The good news is that people are very friendly and always willing to help!
- It’s always a good idea to let someone know where you’re going and what mile marker you’re at. You never know when an emergency could arise, and cell service can be spotty out there.
No matter what beach you visit or when you go, I hope these packing tips and tricks help you achieve the perfect beach getaway! Don’t stress too much about packing, as forgotten things can always be bought there. Have fun, stay safe, and enjoy your summer vacation!
