How to plan a family trip to the beach
A day in the sun and on the sand is a great way to bond with the family, but do you have everything you need to make that beach trip memorable and stress free?
Trips to the beach can be enormous fun, with relaxation and recreational time something we all need. However, when you're not prepared, a beach trip can turn out to be a real downer. To avoid disaster and ensure your next sand and surf session is the best it can ever be, here are a few tips to note.
Go early
The early bird catches the worm? Well, in this case, the early riser gets the best spot on the sand. Avoid peak times. Major holidays and weekends are busy times for beach communities. If you can get the clan together by 8am you get to enjoy some quiet time with the waves. It also helps if the kids get tired and need a nap, you can at least go home feeling like you got a decent amount of time playing in the water and sand.
Have good coverage
Take a large beach umbrella or even a tent. While we all like a little sunshine, no one wants to turn into a prune baking in the sun all day long. Plus the shade offers a nice place to keep your food cool and creates a place to eat with limited sand exposure. If you have small kids, think about taking along a folding travel potty. Who wants to be standing in queues anyway?
Plan for hunger and thirst
A well-stocked cooler is a must. Take along big water bottles packed with ice and a little water (since everything melts so quickly). Fill your cooler bag with sliced up oranges, whole apples, cheese sticks, grapes, juice pops, chips, and yogurt. Pack lots of small lunch containers. When you bring lots of food in separate containers, if one sandwich falls onto the sand, you will only lose that sandwich and not the whole lot.
Be prepared. Take the first aid kit
Remember to bring along any medication you or your family need, such as asthma inhalers, etc. You don't want to have a medical emergency while you're away from home.
Don’t forget the obvious
Chairs for everyone, towels, lots of sunscreen, a beach umbrella, goggles, hats, sunglasses, a sand-free beach bag, bug spray in case the bugs are out, and plastic bags to collect your trash before you put it in the garbage.
Remember the entertainment
Have a variety of things to play with. Shovels are great for digging holes and remember the buckets for the sandcastles, tubes to relax in the water, and a big ball for the sand games.
Release your inner child and visit the Coca-Cola Taste Summer Beach Festival in association with East Coast Radio from 21st to 23rd December at uShaka Marine Beach. The festival promises fun, games, music, and entertainment for the whole family.