7 Things You Need To Do Before Your Next Beach Vacation

If you’re planning on hitting the beach this summer, then good for you. After the year we've had, it’s high time (not high tide…) we all started having some fun. At the moment, heading outside is one of the best ways to keep the Queen (reference here) at a distance! Now that I only 3 hours from the beach, Mr. Misadventures and I are keen on not just beach camping (with all the things you need for that) but also, just hanging out for a beach day or weekend. 

In this post, I am sharing some of the things that you need to do before your next beach vacation. Check them out below.

Go Swimwear Shopping

Don’t leave your choice of swimwear until the last minute. Instead, check out as many stores or websites as you can to find something that really works for you. Remember, picking the right swimwear is notoriously challenging. It’s a process that can often take weeks. So get ahead of the curve and make sure to choose items while everything is still in stock. Don’t wait until the end of the season. I often shop for swimwear in the off-season, I get great deals and there isn't the pressure of a “deadline.” I recently shared 2 of my favorite spots for bathing suits in my Frenchie Finds for June (Boden and Albion), but I also love the suits from J.Crew!

Get A Good Mineral Sunscreen

If you’re going to be spending a lot of time on the beach, treat yourself to mineral sunscreen. These work a little differently from the conventional variety. Instead of absorbing into your body (and doing goodness knows what inside), these sit on the surface and reflect UV light away from you. Many of them contain zinc. So if it doesn’t say “mineral” on the label, look for zinc in the ingredients list. I prefer eco-friendly products as well as sprays so I am a fan of Public Good's SPF 50 Spray Sunscreen. If I am going to use a cream, I go for Native's SPF 30 cream in pineapple/coconut cream (I love the smell!).  

Don't Forget the Hat and Sunglasses

Once you've purchased sunscreen you need to complete your sun protection ensemble with a good pair of sunglasses and a hat. For sunglasses, polarized lenses are a great way to reduce bright reflections and unwanted glare while also improving visual clarity in the sun! The most important thing when choosing sunglasses is looking for stickers that say they block 100% UV rays. When you're outside for long periods of time, it's important to protect your eyes! You can wear any hat to protect yourself, but I prefer to go the extra mile and protect my face and head with my lightweight UPF 50+ sun hat from Wallaroo. I have one in blue and one in red and they help reduce my skin’s exposure to the sun's damaging UV rays.

Sort Out Your Body Hair

If you’re the sort of woman who loves to have smooth skin for the beach, then it pays to start considering your body hair now. To make things easy, many clinics now offer whole body laser hair removal. So instead of spending lots of money waxing or having to shave in the shower every morning, you can just get rid of unwanted hairs long-term. Lasers work on the legs, underarms, and bikini line. I did laser hair removal on my legs and bikini line in 2008 and have always thanked myself for doing it! I highly recommend it! You do need to plan for this if you are thinking of going to the beach. After you have had laser hair removal done, you need to avoid the sun for about two weeks. This gives your skin time to heal and also reduces the chance of developing problems. 

Take Some Entertainment With You

There’s nothing quite like spending a long, lazy afternoon on the beach with a book in hand, soaking up the atmosphere. So find yourself a great read and download it onto your reader. I am a fan of e-readers, but the beach is one place I like to take a book as you don't have to worry about sand or water ruining your device. Here are some summer reading suggestions as well as the summer reading guide from Modern Mrs. Darcy, something I look forward to every year!

Get A Spacious Bag

I am all about having the proper equipment for any outing and that includes having the right bag. Before you go on a beach vacation, you’ll also want to make sure that you’ve got a spacious bag and something that works well with sand (and possibly water). You need enough room for everything you need for the day, including your sunscreen, water bottle, phone, money, and keys. Consider smaller pouches for those precious items so they don't get lost in the bag. I like the waterproof beach tote from Mark & Graham as well as (Re)sourced recycled material bag from Madewell.

Buy A Wind Shelter and/or Sunshade

Most beaches are unbelievably windy places. That’s because there isn’t any land to slow the movement of the air. So things can get a little gusty from time to time – something that can make it a little challenging to eat and drink. Fortunately, you can buy wind shelters. These work well. Mr. Misadventures and I use one for beach camping as well. You just hammer them into the sand and then sit behind them in the direction of the wind. Now you can enjoy a nice conversation without having to constantly shout all the time or enjoy a meal without eating sand!

Not all beaches come with ready-made shades you can just help yourself to. So you’ll want to pack your own. They can be quite bulky, but they’re also totally worth it. If you don’t want to carry so much (you might want a wagon), you can also get pitchable awnings that have built-in UV protection. We have a Kelty Big Shady as well as a Kelty Pop-up Sun Shade.

Summer is here! Many of us are thinking about our next beach vacation. The best way to ensure that you have a great time is by getting prepared for the beach ahead of time! I have shared some things that you need to do before the next trip that will allow you to enjoy the beach even more!

How about you? Do you have something to add to the things you need to do before your next beach vacation? Do share!

Like it? PIN it!