<p>I know it sounds weird to say groceries are cheaper at the beach, but in our case it’s usually true! Depends on where you’re going and what you’re buying. We’re pretty minimalist about food at the beach. Someone mentioned the washer and dryer: We try not to take too many clothes because we always have a w/d. It’s not a whole lot of work to toss in a load.</p>
<p>This is making me miss the Outer Banks I’ll just focus on how crowded they’ve gotten since we started going there in the early 1990s.</p>
<p>Get a beach tent like this for some relief from sun, it is easier to carry around than an umbrella and packs up into a compact bag the size of a large purse you carry on shoulder. You can also use it as a carport for your iced up wheeled cooler with handy drinks.</p>
<p>Have fun! The lists above seem comprehensive, but I’d add Burt’s Bees ResQ the one in the green tin. Best thing we have found for sunburn. Dd is very fair, and one of her friends is the fairest person I have ever seen—Burt’s Bees ResQ is amazing when they get a sunburn. Smear on a generous amount. Pop on an old tee shirt, you’ll be fine in the am.</p>
<p>We all use Banana Boat Sport SPF 55 or better. It stays on even in the water. Reapply frequently, as well as chapstick with spf 15 or better. I just have that in my purse all the time.</p>
<p>Please do not get the beach tent as described above. They are obnoxious and kind of rude to the other people on the beach. We live about 10 min. from the ocean (year round). Whenever a tourist pops open one of those tents, it blocks the water view for everyone sitting near them. Use a simple beach umbrella. Make sure you get one with the vent so the wind doesn’t pick it up and send it down the beach like a weapon ready to spear whoever happens to be in its path.</p>
<p>I never head out without a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt (or jeans and a sweatshirt) because the nights are cooler by the water. Beach towels are a must and can double as extra bath towels if needed. I make everyone bring one casual outfit for the restaurant night or two that we don’t feel like eating in and doing dishes. Don’t forget your bathing suit! We keep “spares” and believe me, many friends have arrived without their bathing suit! After that, moisturizer for the sunburn you’re bound to get, my personal fav is good old Noxema. Finally, sunglasses. If you aren’t the driver - don’t forget your sunglasses. Extra camera batteries, matches are handy for beach bonfires and you’re probably good to go. We like watermelon, too, and I always bring one if we go for the week. We cut it up in chunks, put it is a ziplock and it goes to the beach or is just “there” in the fridge for nibbling. They last a good long time, don’t bruise easily and quench thirst better than more “tender” fruit.</p>
<p>^^^The beach shade is a cool idea if the beach were semi secluded but if it is a crowded beach it could be considered “rude”, since it would block so many people’s view of the water. We go to the Jersey Shore (yes, we fly up from Florida) every summer to rent a beach house for a week or two. They come with outdoor showers (fabulous and have much better water pressure than the inside shower), beach chairs, beach badges, umbrellas (though some in questionable condition) pots/pans and not much else. We always pack a duffle full of our bed linens, beach towels, bath towels and whatever non perishable stuff (like coffee filters, TP, paper towels, soap etc) that we can fit (and keep the bag under 50 lbs). I love it. I would not bother w/a cooler. We purchase water bottles and keep some in the freezer to bring to the beach daily. The evening mosquitos can be brutal (and I am guessing they will be worse this year due to all the rain) so bring bug repellant, after bite or benadryl cream/ointment and liquid benadryl. I find that I bring minimal clothing ( enough for 4 or 5 days) since I do laundry every evening.</p>
<p>Oh, another thing…ziplock bags!!! Put your cellphone in a ziplock bag in your beachbag when you go to the beach…it will keep out the sand and the surf (you could get surprised by an errant wave and your cellphone, if unprotected, will DIE…trust me on this).</p>
<p>And don’t forget money for the ice cream truck!</p>
<p>Don’t get a beach tent like this if you go to the beach near nysmile’s place, or any other crowded beach. I’m used to going to nontourist, uncrowded beaches or barrier islands in Florida that usually only have a few other people within sight. We have to bring a cooler because there are no vendors at the beach. I like tourists visiting Florida but I don’t like hanging out on overcrowded beaches with them.</p>
<p>Just to add my 2 cents – answers to OP’s questions depends a lot on where the beach house is. In the past we have rented out our RI beach house and the expectation was that renters brought all their own bed linens (except blankets) and towels. (That meant I had to pack up and put away all our stuff, which was a hassle, but all that’s another story.) Also, we have 2 “super” grocery stores near us, so food doesn’t cost any more than at home. OP should be provided with a list of all the equipment provided in the house, like washer/dryer. microwave, coffee maker, DVD player, gas grill, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Yes, the weather in RI through June was the pits – but this past weekend, over the 4th, was spectacular. Let’s hope it lasts for the rest of the summer!</p>
<p>A kite
Board games
Sand toys
Benadryl for bug bites
We have very rocky beaches here so you need sneakers you don’t care if they get trashed.
Whole foods also has some unfrozen popsicles that I think are meant for kids but the coconut/pineapple ones were pretty good.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the great input. I’m busy assembling my list. Coffee filters! For sure I wouldn’t have thought of those and without my morning cuppa joe… Yes we do need to provide our own bed linens. Grills are not allowed (township ordinance) so we won’t be eating dinners at the house. (No way am I cooking indoors; it’s my vacation too.) That’s why I mentioned bringing breakfast and lunch staples. Thanks for the endorsement of the Burts Bees ResQ-- haven’t heard of it but will definitely pick up some. Also like the idea of bringing a watermelon. Just hope I remember a big strong knife.</p>
<p>Personally, I do not think Speedo wearers are displaying “bad behavior”, unless they are smoking, peeing in the water, or hogging a whole bunch of beach chairs ;)</p>
<p>If you are a man wearing a speedo, have the body to do so. Same goes for women and bikinis. Peeing in the ocean, what the heck, peeing in the pool, gross!</p>
<p>It’s similar at the two grocery stores on Nantucket. I go to Costco to stock up on supplies like toilet paper and detergent as well as flour, sugar, salt–stuff that will last for the season.</p>
<p>I’d second bookiemom’s comment on knives–bring your own, if you want one that’s sharp. Also, if you are a coffee person-- bring your own coffee pot and coffee.</p>
I’ll just focus on how crowded they’ve gotten since we started going there in the early 1990s.</p>
Where are you going?</p>