There’s nothing like a day at the beach with your family. The warmth of the sunshine, the sound of the waves crashing on the shoreline, and the sound of children laughing. A great day relaxing by the ocean can make you wish summer would never end. But as a parent, a day at the beach isn’t as simple as jumping in the car and taking a quick road trip. There’s an entire list of things that you need to bring to ensure your beach fun day goes smoothly.

Family at the Beach

This is what the team at Hawaiian Shaved Ice recommends to pack for a family fun day at the beach:
  • Towels
  • Cooler with bottles of water, juice, or other drinks
  • Food (chips, crackers, fruit, vegetables, sandwiches -- although they might get soggy, salads, lunchables, etc.)
  • Napkins
  • Plastic eating utensils
  • Trash bag
  • Sunscreen (a MUST - and don’t forget lip balm with SPF)
  • Hats
  • Sunglasses
  • Umbrella
  • Beach chairs (or a blanket/sheet to sit on)
  • Mini first aid kit (be sure it’s stocked with band-aids and antiseptic in case you cut your foot on a shell)
  • Entertainment (beach toys - check out the dollar store selection, book/kindle/iPad - but watch out for sand, magazines, etc.)
  • Flip flops (or other beach-friendly shoes)
  • A beach bag (how else are you going to haul all this?!)
Here are some additional items you might want to consider, but definitely aren’t necessary:
  • Binoculars (great for watching wildlife and boats - as well as for looking for lost children!)
  • Color-coordinated shirts or bathing suits to easily locate your family members
  • A jug of water in the car in case there are no feet washing stations -- or baby powder works well
  • Quarters for parking meters
  • A dry change of clothes (and a plastic bag for wet clothes)
  • Bug spray
  • Flotation devices
  • Small baggies for storing items like phones and watches so they don’t get sandy
Don’t forget -- when you get home from a hot, sun-filled day on the beach, nothing is more refreshing than an icy cool treat like a snow cone or shaved ice. With your own machine and syrups, it’s fast and easy to prepare them once you return from your family fun day!