Going to the beach is the ultimate summer activity. There are few things as exciting than knowing you get to spend your entire day seaside, eating ice cream, listening to the ocean, and staring at scantily clad passersby.
However, unless you come prepared, you’re not going to enjoy your days as much as you could! So, in effort to help you make the most of your day by the sea, here are some tips for enjoying a day at the beach!
Hydrate!
While a beer on the beach always sounds fun, being dehydrated and baking in the sun is not only incredibly unhealthy, but it will make you feel like crap. Unless you’re in the shade and have been drinking water all day, chugging bottle after bottle of brewsky in the sunshine is not going to do you any favors.
Having a bottle of water kept in the shade, or in an insulated cup is a must when spending your day in the sun!
Pack Light
Nothing’s worse than heading to the beach and needing to struggle with bags of towels and food when you’re hot, sandy and sweaty. Your best bet is to put your essential items like your keys, wallet and mobile phone in small, sealed bag, and then have one big cavas/shopper bag with your towels and sun block in it. If you’re bringing food, just bring a small cooler with you. Don’t bring more than the bare essentials.
Dress Appropriately
A bikini under a sundress and flipflops is perfect beachwear. You have a light weight cover up, and your swimming suit, and sand-friendly shoes. Keep your clogs, wedges, and trainers the heck away from the beach. Sand gets everywhere, so forgo bringing your cutest outfit to the beach. There's a lot to be said for floppy, straw hats, as well, as they keep your precious face, ears, and sometimes shoulders out of the sun, as well!
Sand is the Devil
As I mentioned before, sand gets everywhere! Don’t bring anything to the beach, like a nice leather handbag or your laptop, that will be ruined if sand gets in it. In the past, I’ve always thought that I could bring something to the beach and just “not get sand on it” – this is not true. You will get sand, even if it’s just a small amount, on pretty much everything you bring with you. (This includes the inside of your car!)
SPF Infinity
Do NOT forget to bring sunscreen to the beach. The sun reflecting on the water makes it that much more likely you’ll get burnt, so load up on waterproof SPF. Of course we all want to get a bit of color, but opting for SPF 8 or SPF 15 just because you want some color isn’t gong to do you any favors. You will be pink and red, not brown. Apply a high SPF and apply it often – a sunburn isn’t sexy.
Image © BitchBuzz