10 Things I Always Keep in My Beach Bag
This holiday season, I was lucky enough to head home to Kaneohe, Hawaii. I was also lucky enough to be able to take some time off work.
This, of course, equated to a lot of time spent at the beach.
I no longer have a car in Hawaii, so I had to rely on friends and my parents to give me rides whenever I left the house. Not only did this made me feel fifteen years old again, but it also required me to pack the perfect beach bag (because who knows how long I’d end up having to stay at a beach until my ride came).
So, I thought I’d share the top ten items I made sure to carry with me in my beach bag this holiday season.
How to Pack the Perfect Beach Bag
Snacks - When you’re relying on other people for rides, you never know if or when you’ll be stopping for food. I made sure I had something hearty like a protein bar as well as fun snacks like puffed lotus seeds and chips with me for every outing.
Reef-Safe Sunscreen - If there’s one thing I know about being home in Hawaii, it may be raining one minute, but it can be sunny the next. Even though most days were cloudy or even raining when I arrived at the beach, they cleared up at some point and I did not want to get burned during my time here. When looking for reef-safe sunscreen, I always check ingredients for mineral UV-blocking ingredients. Oxide and titanium dioxide work great! I also make sure they’re Paraben, Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, and Peg free!
My vintage surf hat - Speaking of sun protection, there’s nothing I love more than a good hat. I found a vintage hat in my childhood bedroom and wore it for most of the trip. People at the beach loved it as much as I loved wearing it!
Meat tenderizer & vinegar - Stormy winter waves = man-o-war on the east side of Oahu. Having grown up spending most weekends at Sherwoods Beach in Waimanlo, I know how quickly a man-o-war sting can ruin a beach day. My mom taught me the trick of applying meat tenderizer and vinegar to a fresh sting to help it ease up sooner.
My Kindle (pre-loaded, of course!) - Is there anything better than reading a book on the beach? A book is especially useful when you may have to wait alone for your parents to pick you up haha! I usually have a silly paperback with me, but recently bought a Kindle and have to admit that I’m loving the fact that I have multiple options to read at all times!
Extra-Large Towel - An extra-large beach towel (mine is 6ft) is one of my favorite items for any beach day. It feels like a luxury as you spread it out on the sand and you can set up all of your items while laying down.
Cash/Credit Card - There were more than a few instances during this trip when the friends who were driving me to the beach also wanted to stop for lunch. We ate loaded salads and smoothies and veggie burgers and definitely hit up the Whole Foods bar for a drink. For these post-beach instances, it was essential that I had actual money to pay for the refreshments.
Water-resistant fanny pack - Like I mentioned earlier, it tends to rain most days on the east side of Oahu. I had a few things (like my phone) that I didn’t want to get wet. I always had my water-resistant fanny pack with me so that I could protect those items in the rain showers. On this trip, I used my Aloha brand bag.
Underwear - Never knowing where I’d end up, I always packed a pair of clean underwear in my beach bag because I wanted to make sure I could go from day to night and not have to worry about wearing a wet bathing suit out for drinks or dinner.
Water bottle - It’s official! I’m an Owala water bottle convert. You’ll never find me without my water bottle, especially now that I can choose to sip or gulp and have a handy little handle to carry this accessory around with me!
