7 Ways to Enjoy your Beach Vacation with Kids

The beach is my happy place. Funny story — My family and I went on vacation to the beach a few years ago and never left. We extended our one week vacation for 6 months and finally gave in and found a rental. It was something we did on a whim but 6 years later we are still here.

It goes without saying that I think a beach vacation should be on everyone’s summer bucket list (come to San Diego and hit me up for some of the best places to go with kids!). Vacationing with kids can be tricky though and it definitely requires a bit of planning.

Before we settled permanently near the beach, we made sure that we made it to the beach at least once a year so we have plenty of experience packing all the kids up for a beach vacation.

Don’t get sunburned. A sunburn, especially if it happens towards the beginning of your trip, can spoil all your fun. If you are going to be out in the sun for more than a few hours, definitely apply a thick layer of sunscreen (and reapply often if you are spending any time in the water). Younger kids, babies especially, need to be kept out of the sun as much as possible. Byron Bay Beach Shades are a serious step up from most of the shade options out there. I never want to carry around bulky things at the beach so I love how light and compact this is.

We visited our local beach on a very windy day (and kind of a gloomy one. Where is my sun?) I thought for sure the Byron Bay Beach Shade was going to be blown over but it held steady the while time we were there. My kids loved playing under this beach shade. It provided a lot more shade than our regular beach umbrella and had great air circulation.

Get plenty of rest. Being out in the sun all day can drain you so if you are spending long days at the beach, be sure and get plenty of sleep at night. My kids are always great sleepers after a day on the beach so it makes bedtime super easy. Take advantage of that and make sure and get some extra sleep yourself. You’ll need it to keep up with the kids at the beach the next day!

Carry in everything you need. Sure, some beaches have a few little stores within walking distance but it’s usually best to bring everything you need (or might need) during the day with you. I like to bring a cooler with lunch and plenty of drinks and snacks for the day. Make sure you have a mini-first aid kit with your or in your car if you are able to park nearby. We’ve had more than a few sliced feet on trips to the beach. It’s a good idea to have a few extras like a change of clothes for younger kids if they need to get out of their sandy clothes or an extra towel if your kids track sand all over yours. Honestly, for a full day at the beach I usually find that I’m carrying so much stuff anyway that a few extra things aren’t that big of a deal. If you are traveling to the beach, I recommend buying cheap beach toys once you get there and then just planning on leaving them there. Beach toys take up so much space in the car and honestly half of them end up getting lost in the sand anyway.

Sit near the lifeguard tower. Since the close call I had with my daughter last year, I’m extra cautious around water. Even kids who are strong swimmers can be swept out in a riptide or be overwhelmed by the waves and need a little help. When I’m swimming at the beach with kids, I always try and be as close to the lifeguard tower as I can. Hopefully we never need rescuing but I like having the extra set of eyes and it’s handy being right there to hear any warnings about jellyfish or strong tides.

Bring a second set of hands, if you can. When I’m spending a full day at the beach, I love having an extra set of hands. If you have the option to have a family member or older teen join you at the beach, jump on that. There are always times when kids need to go opposite directions and it is so helpful to be able to do both at once. And then there’s all the stuff! It’s so helpful to be prepared but carrying all that in is a serious workout.

Pay attention to the swim and surf zones. Many beaches designate areas for swimmers and others for surfers. This is so swimmers don’t get knocked in the head by a fast moving surfboard. Look for signs telling you where these zones are before you park your stuff down for the day. My kids really like sitting within eyesight of the surf area because they can watch the surfers without getting in the way.

Have a place to take a break for a while. The beach is awesome, but it can wear you out fast. If you’ll be there for a full day make sure you have a place for some downtime. Ideally this would be out of the sun. The Byron Bay Beach Shade is perfect for this. Set your chair up in the shade, have a nice big bottle of water and take a break until you are ready to get back to the fun. I make my kids take a break every few hours so they aren’t too tired while they are in the water. My kids love playing in the sand under the beach shade. It lets them keep having fun while still getting a bit of a rest.