We’re fortunate to be able to spend lots of time at the beach. Kevin’s parents have a place in Oak Island, North Carolina, and so we log as much time there as possible — especially during the summer months. Thanks to all the beach time we’ve been able to have over the past decade, I feel like we have a pretty good handle on beach accessories. With that in mind, I thought I’d put together a post to share some of those with you in case it’s helpful!
Bathing Suits:
This is kind of the MOST essential of beach essentials, so I thought I’d start here.
After grabbing suits from Target year after year, I stepped up my game recently and added a few Albion Fit bathing suits to my collection. They are SO MUCH BETTER! The quality and fit are incredible, making the increased price tag so worth it. (Bonus: They have kids’ suits, too, so Maggie and I have matching suits — this one for me and this one for her — this year. It’s sooo much fun!)
Another suit I have and adore is a reversible two-piece I grabbed from LOFT last year. While they don’t have the same print available this year, it looks like this is the same one but in a different fabric (top here and bottoms here). I love the striped side in particular!
For Maggie, in addition to her Albion Fit kids’ suit, my favorite bathing suit brands include Boden and Tea Collection.
Cover-Ups:
Continuing the beach clothing theme, let’s move on to cover-up options. My two favorites are from Amazon (you can find them in my Amazon Store). They’re cute and affordable, too!
For Maggie: I got her an Old Navy terry cloth cover up last summer, and it still fits her great this year! Her yellow and white striped version is no longer available, but this one is similar and comes in four colors.
Beach Bag:
I grabbed this one just before Kevin and I went to Hawaii a couple of years ago after doing a good bit of research, and I have LOVED it. It has this huge insulated pocket in the bottom that I use for things like snacks, accessories (hats, hair ties, etc.), lip gloss, and more, and I also love that it’s mesh, which keeps it from getting too full of sand. (And did I mention it’s just $17? Yay!)
Flip Flops:
I’ve had these waterproof Birkenstocks for a couple of years now, and they’re perfect for the beach and pool! Plus, the color is so much fun, isn’t it? They’re so easy to hose off after a fun day at the beach to rid them of all sand.
For Maggie: These Old Navy “summer shoes,” as we call them at our house, are perfect for the beach — as are these cute Target flip flops.
Sunscreen:
I’ve been so impressed with Beautycounter’s sunscreen. (Oh, and a sunscreen tip: The best way to apply is BEFORE you put on your bathing suit to avoid missing those pesky spots along bathing suit lines. We like to use the lotion before the beach and then the mist to touch up at the beach! The stick is SO handy for faces — especially kids!) Oh, and in addition to being free of questionable chemicals to keep us humans safe, it’s also reef safe.
For my face, I prefer using Beautycounter’s Dew Skin Tinted Moisturizer. It has SPF and helps even skin tone, and it gives you a gorgeous glow. I wear this most every day, and DEFINITELY at the beach or pool!
Sunglasses:
My Warby Parker sunnies have been with me for a few years now, and I couldn’t love them any more! The particular style I have is no longer available, but Warby has tons of other cute styles to choose from. (I especially love the look of these and these.)
For Maggie: These Amazon toddler shades are oh-so cute! Kevin got them for Maggie last summer, and we all love them. They come in tons of colors, too.
Miscellaneous:
Other things we love having on hand for a day at the beach include:
- Hats: I always have a baseball cap or two on hand to throw into my beach bag for when the sun gets a little intense. For Maggie, we have loved this same Flap Happy eyelet hat since she was born. It was a hand-me-down, and has been so incredible.
- Hydration: For us, a Yeti tumbler is perfect for the beach. We either fill them with sparkling water and freshly squeezed lime, or we can use them to take a tasty cocktail along with us to the beach and later refill the cup with “sparkle water,” as Maggie likes to call it. For Maggie, her kids’ HydroFlask is perfect for a day at the beach! (Speaking of “sparkle water,” Waterloo is the besssst!)
- Snacks: Go-tos include apples, GoMacro bars, trail mix, boiled peanuts, and almonds.
- Books: Duh! You can find some of my faves here.
- Beach Towels: My favorites have always come from TJMaxx.
