Who’s ready for some summer fun and sun?! For the best beach trip ever, check out these Beach Hacks, Tips, Tricks, and DIYs for your next beach vacation. Wondering what to bring to the beach? We’ve got a beach checklist just for you, too! Follow some of these crafts, tips, tricks and ideas for the beach to make your next day on the sand the most memorable one yet.
Since we lived in Florida, we have figured out some of these beach hacks for fun in the sun (and sand) just from experience! For all of you who are less experienced with beach hacks, you are definitely going to want to consider these before you take off for the beach on your next vacation.
How can I make a beach day more fun?
The heat of the sand and the grit of the dirt can cause a lot of chaos on the shore. It’s easy to get grumpy when you are not prepared for the adventure ahead. Make a beach day more fun by having a few activities, hack and tips in your back pocket. These ideas for the beach will allow you to be prepared making the beach fun for everyone.
Did you know there’s one simple ingredient that will easily wipe off sand? Did you ever think to freeze aloe into ice cubes to make sunburns less painful? Are you looking for exactly what to bring to the beach? Have you ever thought about putting a twist on your favorite childhood beverage with an adult Capri Sun?
Try out some of these FREEBIES, Beach Hacks, Tips, Tricks, DIYs, and more to make your summer vacation extra fun for the entire family!
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our Beach Life Hacks! Plus, if you and your family are snackers like mine, you’ll want to save these beach-friendly food recipes: Strawberry Salsa Recipe and Seasoned Oyster Cracker Recipe.
Beach Games for Kids
The first idea for fun at the beach is having activities the family will enjoy. These Seventeen Family Friendly Beach Games can be played with kids, adults, youth, teens, families and more. These games include directions as well as a supply list. No need to purchase expensive games online. Access your beach towels, beach balls, cups, water bottles and more.
Download and print these fun activities for the beach. Laminate them to keep them from getting wet and use over and over again. These beach games are perfect for you next beach vacation!
The Best Beach Hacks
Enjoy a family vacation, time with friends, and the sun and surf! Relax on your next beach vacation by being prepared with some tip and tricks. Having a few beach ideas in your back pocket will allow you to enjoy the sound of the waves, sand castles and other fun things.
Pull up a beach chair and follow along for some of the best ideas for the beach.
Beach Packing List
1.) I would hate to let you forget any of the essentials before you leave for the beach! If you need reminders about what to bring to the beach, grab this FREE Beach Packing List from Frugal Coupon Living.
Sunscreen Tattoo
2.) Have some fun with your sunscreen! Make your own custom shape with this Sunscreen Tattoo from While I’m Still Young Tumblr.
DIY Beach Waves for Your Hair
3.) Tired of straight hair? Sea salt water is the perfect beach hack for effortless, beautiful curls! Make a DIY Sea Salt Spray for Beach Waves from Naturally Curly.
Aloe Ice Cubes
4.) Sunburn sucks, and the aftercare can get messy. Solve the “goo” problem by freezing your aloe vera! You can thank me later for the soothing cooling sensation. Get this Aloe Vera Cubes beach hack from The Dumbbelle.
Baby Powder Sand Trick
5.) Plot twist: it’s actually incredibly easy to remove sand from your skin. Just make sure you add baby powder to your list of “what to bring to the beach” must-haves! Remove Sand with Baby Powder from I Dream of Clean.
DIY Drink Holder Craft
6.) Sand on the bottom of my cold beverage is a major pet peeve of mine. When you pick it up, the sand falls all over your towel, chair, everywhere! Here’s the solution: make a DIY Drink Holder beach hack from Positively Splendid.
Baby Pool Trick
7.) A Kids Beach Pool is a great beach hack to keep the little ones busy while you sit back and relax in the sun. Fill yours with water, toys, or both! It’s also great for a nap from Baton Rough Moms. Get yours HERE.
DIY Lip Stain
8.) Who has time to reapply lip color while they’re at the beach? Not me! Make this fun The Kool-Aid Lip Stain from The Beauty Department for a beautiful lip color that lasts all day.
Popsicle Cupcake Holder
9.) This Ultimate Popsicle Beach Hack uses a cupcake holder from Ziploc to prevent drippy messes when you’re enjoying a sweet treat at the beach.
DIY Beach Dress
10.) You don’t need to buy a fancy cover-up to look cute on the beach! Use a scarf to make a DIY Beach Dress for the same look, or recreate this cover-up from Lily Girlfriends they shared in a YouTube Tutorial.
DIY Face Mist
11.) Cool off and treat your skin! This Green Tea Face Mist can be chilled for a refreshing beach hack during a hot day at the beach. Green tea is great for your skin, too! If you’re a fan of skincare and health, don’t forget our other Essential Oil Recipes.
Beach Activities
12.) Looking for activities to keep the kids occupied and stave away boredom? Check out Beach Games from Mom Me. Print our beach activities and take them along with you!
DIY Beach Bag
13.) Figured out what to bring to the beach? Once you have your essentials together, don’t bring them in your favorite tote just for it to get it soaked! You need to make this DIY Duck Tape Beach Bag from Fiskars.
Shaving Hack
14.) Freshly shaved legs plus salt water are painful, but not anymore with this beach hack! Shave and layer with Baby Oil from Munchkin and Military.
DIY Towel Holder
15.) You can never have enough pockets, and now your beach towel can have them too! The fold in the towels create storage for sunglasses, your phone, flip flops and more. Try this Simple Beach Hack Towel Tutorial from Making it with Danielle (link unavailable.)
Beach Day Trip Organizer
16.) Organize your ride to the beach! I’m loving these Car Organizational Tips from The Castro Family.
17.) Here’s a fun alternative to regular old ice packs. Fill water balloons and use them to cool food in the cooler from Brit Co. The kids will have tons of laughs with them later!
Water Balloon Cooler Hack
DIY Snack Traps
18.) Reuse Coffee Mate Containers to make these beach hack Snack Bottles from Mrs Happy Homemade. No one goes hungry, and you’re doing the planet a favor, too!
Bagged Ice Cream Recipe
19.) Want a cold dessert for your beach picnic? You can have ice cream at the beach without it melting with Ice Cream in a Bag! You can safely keep ice cream in your cooler with this beach hack, or make it at the beach! Idea from Growing a Jeweled Rose.
Adult Capri Suns Recipe
20.) You know your kids love Capri Suns, but just wait for this adult version. Make these Adult Capri Suns with this recipe from She Knows. Cheers!
Hair Scarf Directions
21.) This beach hack is a beautiful way to style your hair and looks effortless, too. Try this Beach Hair Scarf Tutorial from Hair Romance.
DIY Beach Kit
22.) Have everything you need in one place! Make your own Beach Vacation Kit from The Tip Toe Fairy. I’d definitely include these essential oils including Carrot Oil (for sunscreen) and Citronella (for bug protection).
Nap Idea for Babies
23.) Were the sandcastles exhausting? The beach is a great backdrop for babies to nap. All you need is a shovel, hole in the sand and some towels to create this beach hack nap spot for babies (or adults) from Kelly’s Korner Blog. A kiddie pool with towels for a pillow also works great.
Fruit Salad Bento Box
24.) This one’s great for all the kids (and adults) that love snacks! Take finger snacks to the beach. We love to sort ours into compartments and use a toothpick (or plastic fork) for picking-up (shop here). Idea from The Creative Food.
Dollar Store Sand Toys
25.) There’s no need to buy a bunch of beach toys when you can make your own! Idea on Sandy Toes and Popsicles. Before your next adventure, head to the dollar store or pull together things you already have.
Money Holder
26.) Protect your cash at the beach. You can make a money holder using a medicine bottle with this easy beach hack! This DIY Medicine Bottle Cash Holder comes from Inspiration Realisation.
Hide Your Money
27.) Looking for an even more discreet money holder? This Chapstick or Marker Money Stash is the solution for you. This DIY comes from Instructables.
Keychain Float
28.) This DIY Cork Key Chain allows your keys to float, and it’s especially useful for boaters. This beach hack will save you from a lot of trouble later on! Idea on Green Moxie.
Waterproof Phone Case
30.) Keep your electronics safe and dry with this waterproof case for your phone, iPod, and more!
Update: Hold on, we also ran into this cell phone case tip! You’ve got to see this!
DIY Beach Tent
31.) Ready to watch the sunset or enjoy and evening bonfire? Make a beach tent to act as your family’s home base using just sticks, a blanket, and other supplies from home. Idea from Apartment Therapy.
Simple Beach Tent
32.) Make your own reusable tend with this DIY Easy Beach Hack Tent Tutorial from Getaway Today!
Waterproof Safety Tattoos for Kids
33.) These are amazing for keeping your kids safe on the beach. Try these Waterproof Safety Tats for easy ID, in case something should happen!
DIY Sewing Beach Bag
34.) More space for goodies = more fun on the sand! Create an Oversized Beach Bag from I Heart Naptime.
Sand Handprint Craft
35.) Take a lasting piece of the ocean home with you. Did you know you can make casts of handprints and footprints with sand? Make a Sand Hand or Footprint Cast from Crafting a Green World. These handprint decorations could make cute mementos and memories from the trip.
Tarp Beach Pool for Kids
36.) Easily make a beach pool so kids can still enjoy the water on days where there are rough waves or strong tides. Idea from In Lieu of Preschool.
Beach Bathtub for Kids
37.) This works best at a public beach that is not too crowded. Store your beach toys in a large Rubbermaid container. When you get to the beach, remove the toys and fill a large plastic bin with water at the closest shower. Keep the bin filled while you play during the day. The water will warm up in the sun. When you are ready to go, grab a bar of soap and bathe the kids in your Rubbermaid container. Fill back up with toys and drive home. This is great for getting the kids clean before they climb back into your car!
No Mess Beach Toys Holder
38.) A Mesh Basket for Beach Toys also works great for preventing mess. This shakes the sand off immediately to keep the bag and your toys sand-free. Idea from the Idea Room. Grab yours HERE.
Sand Play-Doh
39.) Take the beach home with you and make your own DIY Beach-themed playdoh! The kids will love this Sand Play Dough Tutorial beach hack from Mama Papa Bubba.
Seashell Craft
40.) If your family is anything like mine, you leave the beach with more shells than you know what to do with. Instead of letting them sit around, try this Melted Shell Crayon Art from Artful Parent. You can store them all in a glass jar or vase for beautiful, colorful room décor at home.
What are some of your favorite beach hacks and tips? Have any advice on what to bring to the beach? Please share in the comments below!
No more moans of “I’m bored mom” when you prepare for your summer with these Summer Boredom Busters and Activities for Kids! Pin to Pinterest.
Headed to the beach? Also take a look at these Pool Noodle Ideas and Hacks – Pin to Pinterest.
Next, enjoy our Beach Inspired Party Ideas. Pin to Pinterest.
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