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Happy August! It’s the heart of summer vacation and if you’re like us, one day it feels just like summertime kid bliss and the next day you’re in full on survival mode. One thing we quickly learned in parenthood is when you have a cranky kid, JUST ADD WATER! And the saying is still true with one teen and two tweens. So we’ve been spending a ton of time at our local Colorado State Parks this summer. From reservoirs to rivers, the kids can cool off, have some fun, and we can catch a break from the chaos.

Summer is the perfect time to make memories with your kids at the beach. Not only is it a fun and relaxing way to spend time together, but it also offers plenty of opportunities for learning and exploration. One of the most important things to remember when taking kids to the beach is to stay hydrated, which is where Puffin Drinkwear comes in. These innovative and durable drinkware options allow you to keep drinks cold for hours, so you can spend more time enjoying the beach and less time worrying about keeping drinks at the right temperature.

In addition to staying hydrated, it's also important to consider safety when taking kids to the beach. This includes things like applying sunscreen, staying in designated swimming areas, and keeping an eye on children while they're in the water.

With Puffin Drinkware in hand, you can keep kids hydrated and happy while they're building sandcastles, swimming, and playing in the waves. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can ensure a safe and memorable day at the beach for the whole family.

Because I’d like to relax and also despise carrying all.the.things. down to the shoreline, we have gone minimalist on our schlepping and figured out exactly what’s necessary for a day at the beach. One trip to/from the car is the most important thing to me and since I have three kids, plus me (and sometimes Dad) we can have no more than five things to carry! So these are my top five staples for a great day by the water.

1.One large beach bag

I love bags, I buy way too many on vacations, but really, they always come in handy.

I have a nice large canvas bag I picked up in Maui. It holds our towels, simple first aid kit, sunscreen, and my book. We love Turkish towels because they work just as well as your typical towels, but they take up way less room, don’t hold on to the beach sand, and each kid has their own color. We’ve had this set for years and would never go back to regular towels. Plus, the best sunscreen ever.

2. Picnic

Today’s coolers and ice chests are modern marvels - they keep ice frozen for a week and weigh 20 pounds. This is just not necessary for a simple lunch though! A perfect picnic is just a few sandwiches, some fruit, and a couple of drinks. So we opt for our much lighter Coleman can cooler. It’s easy to throw over a shoulder and keep your hands free. With the right ice pack, you’re set for the day - this one is my favorite because it keeps things cold and doesn’t take up a lot of room.

And because the kids are running around for hours, don’t forget extra snacks! They will always want more snacks! Kettle corn, granola bars, and peaches are what my kids are always asking for.

3. Puffin Drinkwear and my favorite sparkling water

Nothing says summer to me like ice-cold pineapple coconut sparkling water, but my twins and I can’t stand how quickly the water heats up as soon as we take it out of the cooler. That’s why we love these adorable Puffin Drinkwear life vests! Puffin has two layers of thermal insulation to keep your cans cold and hands dry, working 20% better than normal koozies. They’re made for cans, but also work wonders for bottles. They’re super cute, do a great job keeping our drinks cold, and take up no room.

A few tips - I always keep the Puffins in our cooler, that way you never forget them, and bonus, when you add your ice pack they start getting cold ahead of time. Plus, when you buy several colors it helps everyone keep track of their own drink!

You can get your own Puffins online at puffindrinkwear.com and Amazon. Plus, they’re available in every R.E.I and over 3,000 retail stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. They start selling at $12.95 and are worth every penny!

4. Toys

Whether your kids are into building sand castles or digging giant holes (like mine) sand toys are a must! But don’t forget other classics like frisbees, footballs, Nerf balls, or our family's favorite tossing game. To get out the door faster every time we keep all our sand toys in the garage in a reusable polypropylene grocery bag. I never have to worry about sand in the car/house or the bag falling apart at the beach.

5. Umbrella

Just like modern coolers, there are some fantastic sun shades these days, however, in keeping with my minimalistic setup, I stick with just a plain old beach umbrella, like this one. If the wind picks up I can fold down the umbrella in a flash, while other beachgoers are holding onto their easy-ups for dear life. It’s not perfect, but it’s no fuss and that makes me a happy mama.

Tips for taking toddlers to the beach -

Obviously, we no longer worry about swim diapers or bottles or extra changes of clothes, but even when we did, we always made sure to use a backpack for those things, keeping our hands free. If you need an extra helping hand, I highly suggest a wagon built for sand and terrain - this wagon is a favorite of many friends of mine.

That’s it! We aren’t fussy overpackers and it only took us a couple of years to narrow down the necessities. We keep things easy by making lunch ahead of time, always keeping our two bags packed and ready to go, and most importantly getting out the door early in the morning and ahead of the crowd.

Happy Summer!

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