This post has been sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s crazy that Rob and I have lived in Destin for almost 8 months now. Time seriously flies! If someone had told me a few years ago that I’d be living in Florida just a short bike ride away from this white sand and turquoise water I would have thought they were crazy. Every time I see these beaches I think “how am I lucky enough to call this home?!” People dream about their vacation to the Emerald Coast all year and I get to live here! I will never get used to these views or take this beach town lifestyle for granted. Since we won’t live here forever (#AirForceLife), my husband and I take advantage of this location and go to the beach every chance we get! If it’s a sunny weekend you’ll find us in our matching beach chairs soaking up some sun. This isn’t our first rodeo anymore—we have our beach day packing routine down pat. We joined Sam’s Club when we moved here, so that’s where we stock up on a lot of our warm-weather essentials, like water, snacks, towels and coolers. It’s convenient to stock up on the basics, plus their in-club pick up is a game changer! I can order what we need online and then Rob picks it up on his way home from work. Although I still love going into the store to check out all of the new, seasonal items and try some samples. I stopped in a couple weeks ago to pick up our beach day essentials, which you can read more about below!
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10 Summer Beach Day Essentials
An oversized beach towel. Large or round towels are my favorite for the beach because they give you plenty of space to spread out your things and avoid having to place them in the sand. I don’t really mind going home with sand everywhere (you’re at a beach, it’s gonna happen), but Rob tries to keep everything as sand-free as possible. This one is a great size and comes in a ton of cute patterns!
Chairs. We bought some backpack beach chairs when we first moved to Destin and they have been a lifesaver! They leave your hands free for riding a bike or carrying a beach bag and they have a couple pouches for storing smaller items.
vitaminwater®. Staying hydrated is key! There’s nothing worse than going home with a headache and feeling super lethargic after being at the beach. I always bring vitaminwater® because it has electrolytes and vitamins, plus the flavors are delicious. The variety pack from Sam’s Club has a great assortment of flavors. XXX (acai-blueberry-pomegranate) has been my go-to since college!
Snacks. I pretty much bring food with me everywhere I go to avoid getting hangry and the beach is no exception. Trail mix is a great snack to bring to the beach, but I try to stay away from mixes that have chocolate because they will melt. Instead, I look for fruity flavors like this Member’s Mark Tropical Trail Mix from Sam’s Club.
Sunscreen. NEVER EVER EVER forget sunscreen! Rob likes to think he’s immune to sunburns and that they will just tan over, but after a full day at the beach I always get to hear those three glorious words: “You were right.” I wear sunscreen almost daily since we are outside often, so I like to stock up on a few bottles of SPF 30 at the beginning of summer.
Cooler. A cooler that is easy to tote around is ideal. I love this insulated bag from Sam’s Club because it is easy to carry and has plenty of room for food and drinks. Plus the striped pattern is so cute! Clearly I have a stripe obsessions, which you can also see from my shirt ;)
Makeup remover wipes. I learned this trick last summer from a friend who brought a pack when we went boating. You know how you can feel sweaty, sticky and sandy at the end of a long day? Using makeup remover wipes to clean your face before heading home feels SO good because you instantly feel refreshed!
Hat. There is no escaping the sun unless you bring or rent an umbrella, so you’ll want a hat for added protection and shade. I was never a hat person until I moved to Florida, but now I can’t live without them! This straw one with pom poms is one of my favorite finds from last year!
Sunglasses. This is pretty obvious, and I wear mine basically anytime I’m outside the house. I really like my polarized pair, which helps with the glare on the water. Just be careful you don’t lose them in the ocean!
Headphones. Although sitting in the sun should be relaxing I get pretty antsy after a while. I feel like I should be doing something more productive, so I love listening to podcasts at the beach. Typically I pick ones about entrepreneurship or blogging.
What are your beach day essentials?
