St Simons Island Beach Essentials
Going to a St Simons Island beach is fun, relaxing, and overall, a destination for a great vacation. That is, if you plan accordingly! An unprepared trip can turn into a not-so-fun time quickly. Something as simple as not remembering the sunscreen can cut your beach day short, so make sure you have all of your beach essentials so you’ll be well-prepared for fun in the sun!
Beach Essential #1: Sun Protection
An obvious must-have for the beach is sunscreen. You’ll be spending hours in the bright sun, playing and relaxing, and while that is fun, it can be dangerous if you’re not prepared. It can take as little as 15 minutes to start burning without any protection, so slather up the sunscreen, and don’t forget the ears, back of the neck, and top of your feet—these often overlooked areas burn quickly! A sunscreen needs at least 30 SPF to be effective, so make sure you’re reading the labels.
Other must-haves for a fun-filled day at the beach are sunglasses and a sunhat! Protecting your eyes from the harsh sun is essential. Make sure you get sunglasses that block out UV rays, not just ones that look cool! Your future self will thank you— and your eyes. A large sun hat will provide you some mobile shade on the go and also help to protect your head and face from the sun.
If you plan on staying on the beach for more than just a couple of hours, a canopy is a good idea. You can sit and play in the sand, relax in your chair, eat lunch, or even read a book while taking a break from the sun.
Beach Essential #2: Fun in the Sun
You want to have fun at the beach, young or old, and laughter is a priority! Make sure that your beach list includes buckets, shovels, and boogie boards. You’ll be missing half the fun without sand toys! You can make sandcastles, collect shells, make moats, or ride the incoming tide. If you’re more of a relaxing type of person, bring beach chairs and set them right on the water's edge!
Beach Essential #3: Fuel and Hydrate
Something else to remember on your must-bring list is snacks and drinks. You’ll get hungry after playing on the beach, but more importantly, you’re likely to get dehydrated if you’re not careful. Hydration is vital for many reasons. You risk heatstroke if you don’t hydrate, so drink plenty of water, Gatorade, or anything with electrolytes packed into it. Avoid sodas and extra sugary drinks. Chips, crackers, fruit, sandwiches, and cold fried chicken are all great beach foods, so stock up and enjoy a day on the beach with your favorite snacks!
Beach Essential #4: The Extras
Last but not least, vinegar spray. It's not an old wive’s tale, it works! Purchase a spray bottle and fill the bottle two thirds with vinegar and the rest with water, or if you’d prefer, grab a bottle of Windex and stick it in your beach bag. If stung by a jellyfish, simply spray the mixture or Windex to the area and experience almost instant relief.
When your next St Simons Island vacation calls, don’t forget these beach essentials! Sunscreen to protect you from the sun, sunglasses, and a hat to protect your eyes and face, sand toys to keep you busy, a canopy for shelter, snacks, and drinks to stay energized and hydrated, a cooler to keep everything fresh, and vinegar spray for stings! These items will all help you be careful and prepared so that you can have fun at the beach for even longer.
