Because no beach day is complete without these absolute game-changers!

A summer beach trip is timeless, a rite of passage for us as kids and then as adults with our own kids. But while soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves hasn’t changed a bit, the beach gear now available for coastal getaways sure has! As lifelong locals in SoCal’s Newport Beach, we’ve found that these 5 upgraded gadgets take beach days to a whole new level! 

@tesalate

Supersize my Beach Towel 

It’s typical for beach-dwelling households, such as ours, to grow their supply of beach towels through sheer mystery. After a summer of endless beach days with friends and family in Newport Beach, it was typical for us to discover towels in our closet that didn’t belong to anyone. All of that to say, we didn’t put much thought or care into what towels we toted to the sand. Grab a small one? Prepare to endure a towel that’s never totally dry and never totally free of sand. Maybe that’s why we we’re totally thrilled to discover oversized beach blankets! (Why didn’t we think of these?!) These towels-cross-with-blankets are quick-drying, they magically repel sand, and they fold into a conveniently compact size for those who have to travel home. Absolute game-changers! We love these cute ones from Tesalate, but Amazon has tons of cheaper options filed under “oversized beach blankets.”

CHECK THIS ONE OUT AT TESALATE

@coolibar

Have Fun in the Sun Without Frying your Buns:

We love a good sunscreen moment. But we’re pretty terrible at reapplying throughout a gloriously long beach day. There’s just too many books to get wrapped up in. Too many naps in the sun to be had. That’s why we love our UV protective sun coverups from Coolibar. They are a bit pricey, but are worth it for their excellent sun coverage and breezy, cute fabrics. (A combination that’s hard to come by). We are also loving the bathing suits and rash guards from SlipIns, which just so happens to be a locally-based Newport Beach company. All of their products are UV protective and are perfect for the active beach and water-goer. Start shopping… https://www.coolibar.com or https://slipins.com

@spikeball – photo by @deliav94

A Little Competition Never Hurt Anyone:

Have you witnessed a game of Spike Ball? Trust us, you’ll know if you have. It has to be played with a gaggle of friends and will inevitably cause the players to leap and dive into the sand as they scramble to keep the ball in the air. This is the perfect game-on-the-go for folks with good knees and competitive personalities. For a more laid-back beach pastime, we recommend avoiding Spike Ball and opting for Ladder Ball, a riff on horse shoes without the clunky, heavy horseshoes. This too is an easy game to tote to the beach and is one that the whole family can play. 

FIND SPIKEBALL AT TARGET

FIND LADDER BALL ON AMAZON

This Beach Toy Will Blow You Away

Our home break in Newport Beach has small, 1-3 foot waves throughout the summer that are fun to catch with the typical boogie board and surfboard. However we’ve found that the toy that’s most fun to catch waves with is – get this – inner tubes! Don’t hate it til you try it! They make catching waves easy, especially for folks who are a bit intimidated by the ocean.

Slide into the center ring and keep your arms above the tube. Then, jump into any wave and let it carry you and your tube to shore. It’s that easy! If you want to catch waves with a buddy, blow up an inflatable raft or boat, like the one here, and suddenly these small waves will act as rapids for you and your inflatable vessel. At the beginning of your beach trip, you may be the only people using these pool toys, but trust us, we’re not blowing hot air. By the end of your vacation, you will have started a pool-toy-meets-ocean trend. 

SHOP FOR BEACH TOYS HERE

@colemanusa

,Stay Cool No Matter What

Even if you’re staying in a vacation home that’s right next to the beach, it’s often a hassle to have to walk back to the kitchen every time you want a snack. With the rise of Yeti and its competitors, there are so many great coolers on the market that will keep your food and drinks cool for hours on end, even on the hottest of summer days!

We find that the most convenient way to transport our cooled snacks is with a cooler backpack. Large enough to fit sandwiches along with a slew of canned drinks, these backpacks make for the perfect day tripper’s companion. We also love these stylish renditions from Business & Pleasure. 

And if you’re in the Newport Beach area, we recommend filling your cooler with sandwiches from TidePoole’s, experts in BLT’s, Reubens, and everything in between. 

The best beach gear is a beach house, and Beachview Realty can help you with that! Check out these sensational Newport Beach summer vacation homes:

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