Essentials: 10 Things I Always Take To The Beach
When I go to the beach, I always try to think of everything I could possibly need so that I don’t have to return to my car or my hotel. I tend to overpack for the beach, but when I focus only on the essentials, these are my must have items.
1. Beach Bag
A spacious and sturdy beach bag is a must-have to carry all your essentials. Look for a bag with compartments to keep your items organized and easily accessible.
2. Sunscreen
For some reason, there’s a myth among the Black community that we don’t need sunscreen, and that is simply not true. Not only do you need it, but it should be reapplied after a certain amount of time in the sun. Sunscreen protects our beautiful melanin from harmful UV rays and prevents skin damage, so you’ll want to go with one that has high SPF. My personal favorite is by Black Girl Sunscreen.
3. Book or Journal
I love to read, and if I can find a nice quiet spot by the water to do so, I’ll engross myself in a book, which I always, always, always travel with. I love different genres for different settings, so when I’m on vacation, I love to read contemporary romance novels by Black, female authors. A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams or Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan are personal favorites.
4. Sunglasses
They’re not just for style—they are actually for protection. At the beach, there’s usually no hiding from the sun, and it can be hard to see with a glare. Sunglasses help with this.
5. Hat or Hair Scarf
I love a hat, and just like books, I almost always have a hat with me. Hats are good for shade and scarves are just good for chic photos.
6. Hand Sanitizer
There’s nowhere to wash your hands at the beach, and even if there is, it’s normally quite a walk from where you’ve already found your spot. If you sometimes bring food and snacks to the beach like I do, then I always at least have a travel-sized hand sanitizer.
7. Reusable Water Bottle
Being in the heat for a long time always causes me to dehydrate, and I seem to never have enough water on beach days. With a reusable water bottle, I’m at least able to find a water fountain to refill without having to pay. For international travel, it’s also good to have an insulated water bottle with a filter. This way, you’ll have clean and cool water throughout the day.
8. Towel
I don’t know if I ever dry off with a towel at the beach anymore, because I’ll just air dry on the trek back to the car or hotel, but a large towel is essential for lounging.
9. First Aid Kit
Accidents happen, even at the beach, and I like to be prepared. If it’s a sting or bite, a paper cut, or I step on a rock or seashell, I want to have something to at least temporarily clean it and patch it up. The travel section of most stores will have compact versions of a first aid kit with essentials like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers.
10. Battery Pack
When I’m traveling solo, I can’t be worried about my phone's battery life. I always have two, sometimes three, portable battery packs to make sure my phone doesn’t die.
