How to Pack for the Perfect Day at an Outer Banks Beach

Even if you are not a frequent sun worshipper, there are few things sweeter on vacation than a day at the beach. The sound of the waves, the laughter of children and the calm ocean breezes are enough to melt your worries away. If you are looking at Outer Banks vacation rentals, you can literally roll out of bed and be on the beach in a matter of seconds. What could possibly be better than that? Before you head for the nearest dunes, be sure to bring along the following items.

Sun block

Even if your trip to the Outer Banks is all about getting some color, you do not want to get burned.The key is proper preparation. Sun screen comes in a wide range of protection levels. If you want to get a tan, put on some something lower like and 8 or 10 SPF. If want to keep your milky complexion and or have fair skin, you will want to go with a higher SPF. If you have kids with you, be sure to apply sun block 15 minutes before you head out and then again every 90 minutes or so if the kids are going back and forth from your blanket to the water. The threat of a sun burn should never deter you from spending the day outside on the beautiful Outer Banks beaches.

Food & Drink

While many of the best beaches in the Outer Banks come complete with a snack bar, or at the very least, a hot dog vendor, you don’t want to be caught out without food and drink of your own. The key here is portability. Things like granola bars, bottles of fruit juice and water work great. Anything that needs a fork or contains ingredients that could spoil, like a potato salad, are better left to picnics where you have the proper refrigeration and storage.

Toys for the kids

One problem that many parents have when it comes to packing for the beach is that they over-pack toys for the kids. Leave the video games at home and grab a pail, a shovel and a Frisbee instead. The beach is a wondrous place for young kids who have never had the pleasure of playing in the surf before. Before you settle down with your book, give the kids the lay of the land and set out parameters for how far they can go from the blanket. Exploring the beach environment can be the ultimate adventure for your kids but you also need to provide a few toys to keep them interested over the long haul.

A jacket

The winds are a trademark of the Outer Banks and can go from calm and nearly undetectable to windy in a matter of moments. Always bring a jacket along just in case.

Your Outer Banks vacation is sure to be an event to remember, so think ahead and pack like a pro. Everyone involved will have a better time and you’ll head home with a camera full of happy faces.