How to Plan the Perfect Beach Day

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If I had to choose to spend a day at the beach or an afternoon hiking nearby mountains, I'd choose the beach hands-down.

Even though I love exploring the great outdoors, I'm a much bigger fan of grabbing my favorite read, laying out on a soft towel {under an umbrella, of course, since I burn pretty easily!}, and listening to the waves as I lose myself in a riveting fiction novel. It's the perfect way to relax, and can be a great pick-me-up before getting back into the routine of the real world, whether you're a yearly vacationer or coastal resident.

Although I'm sure you'll have fun at the beach no matter what, I find that I have an even more enjoyable time when I plan accordingly. Well, most of the time. We've all forgotten something, right?

Anyway, here is a list of my absolute favorite tips to guarantee you plan the perfect beach day!

Choose the Right Time to Go

The time of the year, time of the week, and time of the day can totally make or break your beach experience.

November through January are some of the coldest months out of the year with temps reaching into the high 60's or low 70's. The water is pretty chilly too…..not that Northerners seem to care as much, but us Floridians find that downright cold!

February thru April are probably your best options to plan the perfect beach day if you don't want it to be too hot, but watch out for crazy college students on Spring Break, and choose a more obscure beach if you'd like a quiet place to relax. And lastly, May through October is rainy season here in Florida, so be prepared to leave your carefully planned out spot and make way for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Oh, and if you can visit the beach on a weekday, definitely do it. Saturdays and Sundays can be terrible to find parking, or even a spot to spread out on the beach itself!

Know Your Beach

Spend some time deciding what you want out of your beach before you plan your trip. Whether it's a quiet place to relax, or big waves to surf and body board, each beach will have different characteristics you should consider before you book your flight.

The Atlantic Ocean has colder waters, but better waves. The Gulf is much warmer and more calm, and can be really fun to wade in or snorkel. Barrier islands will have much stronger currents and areas for shelling and watching wildlife, while manmade beaches will have super soft sand that might be preferable for families with kids.

Don't forget to check the amenities too. Some beaches have nice public restrooms with showers, while others have only portajohns or nothing at all. Parking can also be hit or miss, so bring some cash to park in a private lot if all the public parking is completely full.

Plan Your Meal

Sandwiches are easiest to pack for a beachside picnic, but if you'd like to cook out, make sure there is a grill available, then gather all the necessary supplies to make that happen.

When packing a cooler or meal tote, smaller IS better. {Here is one similar to what we use.} If you decide you need something bigger, keep in mind that wheeled coolers are fine for hard packed sand, but fluffier, softer sand will be a struggle that is just not worth it – trust me on that one!

And always take lots of clean, fresh water, as the sun and salt water can dehydrate you pretty quickly. Plus, you don't want to rely on outrageous water bottle prices at the snack shop!

Pack Your Bag with All the Essentials

When you plan the perfect beach day you must know that a beach day is certainly not complete without the perfect beach bag. From the actual tote, to sunscreen, beach reads, extra towels and more, you want to make sure you have everything accessible and organized to enjoy your day.

I actually wrote an entire post on Organizing Junkie about what essentials you should include in your bag, and how to pack it in the most efficient way. You can read that here.

Keep Beach Toys to a Minimum

I know it's super tempting to bring all your snorkel gear, umbrellas, beach chairs, body boards, shovels and buckets, but the more you bring, the more you have to cart back, and the more potential you have to lose your stuff.

Work beach rentals into your budget if you're an out-of-towner, or invest in a few select pieces if you're a local resident. Also, you may want to encourage children to only bring a few toys to the beach at a time. Extra playthings tend to get lost, left, or stolen by other kids – not always intentionally, but just because more toys equals more “sharing” to go around.

Be Courteous About Your Habits

I have two major pet peeves when I go to the beach, but maybe it's just me – music and smoking.

I honestly don't think a public beach is the place to bring your stereo, speakers, or playlists and blare them super loud so everyone at the beach can hear your favorite songs.If you can't live without a sound track, please be considerate of those around you and play it softly or use headphones.

While some beaches will allow smoking, please be conscious of which way the wind is blowing as you stake out your spot. We want the beach to be a pleasant experience for everyone!

Now these are my six personal ways to make sure I enjoy my beach day to the fullest, but I'm sure there are even more ideas and tips from your own trips to the beach. Please share your stories in the comments so I and other readers can benefit!

And one last thought….

I know that for me, it can be really easy to get frustrated if I've forgotten something important, especially since I pride myself in my planning, but you know what? As long as you have fun, and enjoy your time with friends and family, that's seriously all that matters.

Your perfect beach day is truly how YOU make it!

How do you plan the perfect beach day?

Tweetables:

• Plan your perfect beach vacay with these 6 essential tips. Great for knowing WHEN to go and WHAT to bring! <– {Click to Tweet}
• From picking the perfect beach, to meal time essentials, here's how to plan for an awesome day in the sun and sand! <– {Click to Tweet}

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