If you are anything like me, you love a good beach day!  However, I have very fair, sensitive skin, so a good beach day, doesn’t always love me.  So planning ahead and packing your beach bag with some essentials in a must.

If you’re planning on spending any amount of time on one of our gorgeous beaches here in the Sunshine State, then there are a  few this that you will want to make sure you have!   Sometimes we make unplanned trips to the beach and we take the easy route and rent chairs and an umbrella.  Easy? Yes.  Expensive? Also yes!   The last time we went and rented chairs and umbrellas it was around $40 for the afternoon.  Which is not bad, but it adds up over time.  We decided to invest in our own beach gear since we travel to Florida beaches regularly. 

From a solid umbrella to high-quality sunscreen, check out my top picks to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy a full-filled day in (or shaded from) the sun! 

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I just recently discovered these beach cabanas, and they are AMAZING!    We’ve always used a traditional umbrella, and they were great, but once we tried the cabana, we were hooked!

This is the exact one I just bought, and it’s perfect for 2 people.  It’s lightweight, easy to carry, and sets up in just a few minutes.  Once you dig a small hole to bury the main pole, you’ll fill the attached sandbags at the end of each leg for stability.   So easy!  It is perfect to keep all of your beach supplies and yourself in the shade.

Measuring at 6.2′ x6.2′, it was just right for the 2 of us, but if you have a larger group, I would highly recommend one that’s a little larger, like this one that measures 8′ x 8′

This little octopus looking towel hanger is a must have!  You slip it on the pole before you set up your cabana and its perfect for hanging up your towels, hats, sunglasses or beach cover up!

And for under $5, you can’t not have it!

This beach umbrella tray table is the perfect size to hold your beverage or sunscreen!   Like the towel holder, it slide right on the umbrella rod.  Super easy and practical!

These Tommy Bahama beach chairs are my favorite!  Light wieght, comfortable and easy to store.  These chairs are backpacks which makes for easy carrying.  The also have a large zippered pouch on the back, so if you are taking a quick beach trip, you can throw all your essentials in the pouch and be hands free! 

Beach towels are essential for your beach bag, and Sand Cloud beach towels are the BEST!  These towels are made from 100% organic Turkish cotton yard, are sand free and quick drying.  They make amazing towels for the beach or pool, beach blankets, picnic blankets and throw blankets.  

They also donate 10% of their profits to saving marine life.

I am not a big fan of the ever-so-popular Bogg Bags… I know, crazy right? I personally find them heavy and bulky, and I much prefer a bag that is a little more versatile (and cheaper!). 

This beach bag is my absolute favorite!  It’s so versatile and also makes for a great overnight bag!  This bag has traveled with me throughout Florida this past year and is my beach go-to!

Sun bum Sunscreen.  This should probably be #1 on this list. The Florida sun is brutal, so protecting your skin is imperative, esspecially if you are fair skinned like I am.  Sun Bum sunscreens are octinoxate and oxybenzone free which make them safe for your skin, as well as reef safe. 

I own just about every product they make and love them all. 

Keep your head and eyes protected!  These hats are perfect for men or women for keeping the sun off your face while protecting you head.  They fold up nicely to tuck away into your beach bag!

Ladies, if your looking for something a little more fashion forward, these straw hats pair perfectly with that messy bun!  They also roll up and tuck away into your beach bag!

The Florida heat is no joke, so staying hydrated is super important.  You’ll want to bring a small cooler like this one to bring some waters and snacks, or hey, margaritas work too!  This cooler is also a backpack, which is really convienent.

Pro Tip:  Electrolyte packets are a great way to make sure you are staying hydrated in the heat.  They’re small and easy to toss in your bag to disovle into a bottle or cup of water, espessialy if you are on a beach that doens’t allow coolers.

This brand is my absolute favorite!

Last but not least, this beach cart is perfect to haul all of the above items to your spot on the beach!   This cart is heavy duty, and collapses nicely to fit in your back seat or trunk.  Side note, its a life saver when your moving, or just bringing in a lot groceries!