I’ve been living in Southwest Florida for almost 20 years now (does that make me a native yet?) and have vacationed at the beach most of my life. One of the most frequent questions that people ask while they’re packing and heading off for their Florida vacation is: What on earth should I pack? Here are some practical – and some not-so-common – tips from this beach bum:
The absolute-most-important item to pack is sunscreen. SPF 30 is what I recommend for the Florida sun and make sure it’s waterproof. If you want to be super-savy, then make it an insect repellent with sunscreen, waterproof, and SPF 30.
Of course you’ll remember to bring your bathing suit to the beach. But you really should consider bringing two. Late night swims in the pool are great but putting on a cold, damp suit that you wore earlier on the beach, is well, just plain icky.
Like you would forget to bring your sunglasses to Florida and then have to stop off at the local beach shack and pay a fortune for a cheap pair of sunglasses because you forgot yours at home? Of course you wouldn’t do that . . . right?
A t-shirt is great for the guys and the girls can choose from a sundress, t-shirt and shorts or a wrap. The cool thing about Florida is that you can go most anywhere in casual clothes. You can literally walk off the beach, put on a wrap and flip flops and you’re ready to go out for a scrumptious dinner under the stars.
The girls usually remember to pack flip flops for the beach but I know most of the guys who don’t normally wear flip flops might end up forgetting to bring a pair. Also, make sure the kiddies have beach friendly footwear – I recommend Crocs™.
Make sure that everyone brings some type of hat to wear. The Florida sun is warm and it’s constant. I promise you that there will be a time when you want and/or need to take a break.
Let’s face it, you’re going to have lots of stuff to take to the beach. Bring a bag that can be easily cleaned when it gets filled with sand. Yes, it will get filled with sand. I promise.
Southwest Florida is the shelling mecca of the world. (Okay, maybe it’s the shelling capital of the world). Either way, remember to bring a large ziplock bag or a plastic container to keep your treasures safe for your trip back home.
It’s a good idea to stop by the local grocery store when you get into town and pick up some snacks and water. Sitting in the sun all day long is draining and it’s especially important to stay hydrated.
The good news is that ALL SunStream hotels and resorts provide complimentary beach and/or pool towels to use for all guests. Cool! More room in your suitcase for more stuff.
Just in case you might get some quiet time to yourself on the beach, it’s always nice to have an mp3 player and headphones close by. And I always love to curl up with a good book and relax on the beach under a cabana.
It’s perfectly acceptable to “play tourist” while you’re vacationing in Southwest Florida. Hey, even the locals do it from time to time. And all of the SunStream hotels and resorts offer guests free Wifi so you can post your pics online or email them to family and friends back home.
Now that you’ve loaded up several suitcases with your beach gear, remember that there’s a lot more to do here than wiggle your toes in the sand. Bring something that you can go out to eat in and make sure everyone has options available in case you decide to do something away from the beach one day (like shopping, sightseeing, boat cruises, dolphin tours, Everglades excursion, etc.)
When you stop at the local grocery store for those snacks and water, remember to pick up a bottle opener or a corkscrew. I cannot emphasize how often these will come in handy during your vacation. By the way, you can purchase beer and wine in the grocery stores here in Florida. I told you it was pretty laid-back and casual didn’t I?
Above all, enjoy your Southwest Florida vacation! And as we say around here: JAPDIP. That’s “Just another perfect day in paradise!”
Tags: Florida Beach Vacation, Florida Travel, Fort Myers Beach Resorts, Naples Resorts, Southwest Florida, Southwest Florida Travel, SunStream Hotels and Resorts, Travel Tips, What to pack for the beach
Wish I was at the beach right now
Even though we bring sunscreen, we always miss some spots and get sunburned. The best thing for sunburn (and it’s easy and inexpensive) is to get a spray bottle and put plain original Listerine in it. Yes, Listerine mouthwash. We’ve been using it for over 20 years and it really works. Sometimes the guys go fishing and from leaning over the boat (or pier) they get burned at the waist and then when they go to put on shorts and/or a belt, they can’t stand the sunburn. It feels cool and the burn disappears immediately. No applying with hands so no more hurting yourself applying it either.