Organized Bag
Beach Bag Tips

Having an organized bag really helps for going to the beach. Going to the beach was always a pain. I never knew what to take. I'd either not bring something that was needed, or have so much that carrying all the stuff was a huge ordeal. Fun things become a drag when you're not ready for them.

I like to go swimming with my kids at the beach or the pool. I also like to go boating with friends. It’s a lot of fun but getting ready can be a real hassle if you are not organized.

A real handy item if you go swimming at all is to have is a fairly large organized bag for your stuff that you take to the beach or the pool. I call it the beach bag. Ideally this should be a large washable bag with carrying handles and possibly a shoulder strap.

I’d look for one with at least 3 zippered pouches on the inside. One pocket would hold your important pocket items such as your keys, and cell phone. The second pocket would hold sunscreen. The third pocket would be for hand wipes/sanitizers. The following list is the things I bring to the beach in the organized bag:

1. Big Beach towel.

2. Collapsible broad brimmed hat.

3. Sunscreen.

4. Water shoes.

5. Frisbee.

6. Nerf football.

7. Water bottle.

8. Hand wipes or hand sanitizer individually packaged.

9. Small microfiber cloth.

10. Garbage bag.

11. Clothes pin for pinning the garbage bag to your beach bag so it doesn’t blow away.

12. Container with individually wrapped snack bars. Try to have some kind that won’t melt.

13. Container with snacks such as pretzels or corn chips. I like something that doesn’t leave a mess on your fingers.

14. Something to read.

When I bring my kids to the beach they would each have their own beach towel and water bottle. I like to have everything in one large bag, so I would have three large beach towels and three water bottles. I just put all their stuff in the one organized bag. Then I just carry it all. I like to let the kids have fun and not carry heavy stuff.

You could go crazy and bring a big umbrella, lawn chairs, cooler with cold drinks and sandwiches, but that goes against my idea of making life easy. How often do go to the beach to eat? Isn’t the point of going to the beach to be in the sun, so why would you bring an umbrella? Maybe if you have very small children or are very sensitive to the sun an umbrella would be handy.

Some beaches have concessions stands where you could buy a cold drink and something to eat. Carrying a little extra money is a lot easier than lugging around a heavy cooler full of food. The things in my organized bag are the necessities for a really enjoyable time at the beach whether I go by myself, with a friend or with my kids. I can just go for a half hour or I can spend the day, I’m ready.

When I go to the beach I have my swimming suit on. I wear a large pair of shorts that fit well over my suit. I’ll have my normal pocket stuff in my pockets and have a belt on. I’ll wear a larger comfortable t-shirt, comfortable shoes and socks for walking to the beach. Some beaches are a long way from the car.

Once I get to a nice spot I lay out my big beach towel. Put my pocket stuff in the zippered bag in the beach bag, take off my shoes, socks, shorts and t-shirt and put all that stuff in the bottom of the bag.

I take out the water bottles, snack containers and balls and either go swimming or sit down on my towel. When it’s time to go I just reverse the process. I don’t mind if my clothes get a little wet from the swimming suit, I wash the clothes when I get home. The small cloth works well for getting the sand off your feet before putting your shoes back on.

I have noticed that the beach bag works great for getting ready to go the beach, for traveling, for getting to the beach and for your time at the beach. When you are ready to go you will still be wet and full of sand and there is nothing your beach bag will do for you.

You’ll have the work of cleaning up after wards. Since the beach bag helps so much before and during your time at the beach you will still thank me for telling you about it.

You can always modify the contents of your organized bag based on the circumstances. For example when I take my kids swimming in the evenings I don’t bring snacks because we are only going to be swimming a short time, maybe an hour or so. Then we would get something to eat right after.

If you’re going to be swimming for a few hours the snacks will be really appreciated especially if you have kids. That would change if you know there is a concession stand nearby.

If you don’t like water shoes, don’t include them. I find that I really don’t enjoy the swimming at all without water shoes. My feet hurt too much. Everything else on the list is important.

A backpack type bag would work better for walking a long way or riding a bike or motorcycle. I like my bag concept because it works great in the trunk of my car and opens up better. I also use this same bag and packing scheme when I go boating withmy friend’s on their boats or if I rent a boat.

Boating normally involves swimming if you are boating in warm weather. All these organized bag ideas work for boating as well.

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