Beach Chairs, Umbrellas, and Shade For the Family

A good beach chair will have a drink holder.  Otherwise your cup, or water bottle, will have to sit in the sand.  Usually the sand is hot, and there is always the chance that a wave will unexpectedly come up higher and knock the drink over.  For those reasons, a place for my drink, right next to the armrest, is perfect.

The chair should be easy to fold and carry.  Some chairs come with straps so it can be carried on your back - a backpack chair.  Some come with sleeves to stick the folded chair into and it can be carried that way.  Personally, I don't bother with a sleeve because it's usually too difficult to manage with a sandy, wet chair.

Beach chairs are terribly expensive these days, so plan to use yours for around the house too.  Or, if you go camping, buy a chair that works around the campfire.

Also, use for outdoor concerts, kids sporting events, and sitting around the Solo Stove.

For extended use, take good care of your chair and bring it inside when not being used.

Salt and sand is corrosive so picking the right type of beach chair is important if you want it to last.  If you can, buy a chair that has a powder coating.  It is a finish that will protect the metal underneath.  

Aluminum chairs are lightweight, and although aluminum doesn't rust, it can corrode.  I'm not sure that any type of chair can handle the salt without damage eventually.  It is very important to rinse all items when you get home from the ocean beach.

If your beach is on a freshwater lake, there is less to worry about.  

Some observations I'll share with you after using my beach chair for a while now.  It is a Tommy Bahama brand that I purchased at Amazon.  The hibiscus design on my chair doesn't seem to be available.

This chair is fine, but at my age, I really like the high seat better than the low seating option.  

Another thing I learned, the hard way, is that zippers - on those back of chair pouches - can corrode shut and then you can't open them!

If your beach trip is to the ocean, skip any chair that has a zipper enclosure!  Those two handy pouches on the back of my chair are pretty worthless.  The "cooler" will not keep anything cold enough on a Florida beach, and I always bring a big bag to hold all my stuff anyway.

Beaches are not known for their shade, but while we love the beach, we sometimes need to get out of that hot sun.  I know I do here in Florida.  

In the summer months the ocean water is not always enough to keep me cool.  Water temperature is in the mid to upper 80's and the heat index is often over 100 degrees.  Even the ocean breeze is warm.  I don't like to bake in the sun, but I love being at the ocean, and most people take along some sort of shade.

If you choose to take an umbrella, make sure it will be anchored well into the sand.  You will need a sand anchor, either built into the bottom of the umbrella, or one to dig a hole to stick the umbrella into.  No one wants to chase their umbrella across the beach on a windy day - I've seen it happen!

I've never used a beach tent, but they get good reviews and are supposedly set up quickly.  These little cabanas are perfect when you have children or babies who need to nap at the beach.  Little ones need to be protected from the sun even more so than us adults.

Sunscreen is your number one need when spending a day on a Florida beach, or any beach in summer.  Don't buy sunscreen online.  Around here, most stores sell sunscreen products year round.  You can look at the bottle to find an expiration date.

Our favorite brand of sunscreen is Coppertone.  For some reason the bottle has a very hard to read expiration date on the cap.  

Also consider hats, rash guards, and SPF clothing.

I don't know, but I suspect that anyone renting a house near the beach, that requires a good walk to get there, will be provided with a beach wagon of some kind.

If you need to buy your own beach wagon, here are some things to consider.

First of all, will it hold everything you need it to?  These wagons have weight limits, and some have mesh bottoms which would not be comfortable for kids or animals (Many beaches don't allow animals or booze).

Pulling a wagon will be easier if less heavy items are packed into it.  Beach chairs, towels, umbrella, and bag of necessities might fit.  Add a child or heavy cooler and you may be in trouble.

Upright carts may work better for your needs.  There are a lot to choose from so take the time to research and read reviews.

Although it is possible to drive onto the beach, and that is usually what I do, there are beaches in my area that require lots of walking to get to.

The Smyrna Dunes State Park has long boardwalks and dog trails that wind throughout a peninsula ending at Ponce Inlet.  Some secluded beaches can only be reached by taking these trails.

Now why would I want to walk a long way when I could simply drive and park right on the beach?  Because of crowds.  I like to avoid crowds of people, which can be difficult to do in the state of Florida.  I seldom go near any beaches on the weekend.  During the week the beach can be okay, but in summer the vacationers are here.  They are also here for holidays throughout the year, Bike Week, Spring Break, Biketoberfest, and who knows what.

There is always something going on that brings tourists.  And many condos and hotels are constantly being built to accommodate even more people.

So paying a fee and walking the boardwalk to get to a beach less crowded is sometimes what I prefer to do.