Visiting the beach..

[katyringo]

Our flight will land 8-9am and before we go to Disneyland we are going to go to the beach.

we decided on Newport pier area for the day. The goal is really just to take the kids to see the ocean.

what should I bring with us for the beach? Keep in mind we will be flying, but we never use all our allowed luggage so we could bring a small bag for the beach.

we are from Iowa springs not a lot of beach experience.. thanks in advance!

 

[China Expat]

Bring towels if swimming, otherwise just your valuables if walking around. THis is important....one of my colleagues had her purse stolen from her car at a different beach parking lot last Friday. By the time she got back to her car, they had charged $7500 to her cards. Can you cover the luggage somehow?

 

[Brandonius]

The magic thing to bring is baby powder! If you get all wet and sandy and you are kind of dry but sand is still sticking all over your legs or feet, sprinkle some baby powder on it and the sand will brush right off. This has saved my family MANY a whiny car ride home. Trust me, the last thing you want is tired kiddos in the back after a long day of traveling whining about itchy sand in their pants.

 

[DLgal]

Definitely secure ALL your bags in the trunk of your rental car. Do not leave ANYTHING visible. Although, if you park in the main lot at the pier, your stuff will be pretty safe.

If your kids might swim, change them into swimsuits at the airport bathroom. Have everyone switch to sandals or flip flops at the airport as well. I'd recommend a carry on suitcase with the following:
Swimwear
2 towels
Beach shoes
Hats
Sunglasses
Sunblock
Bottles for water
Wet ones wipes
A couple nylon string backpacks


I'd recommend carrying the nylon string backpack/sling bag with the following:

Sunblock
Hats
Sunglasses
Water bottle
Wipes
Towels
Wallet/keys
Phones

Having backpacks keeps your hands free, but allows you to have the stuff you need to dry off, clean up if the kids want to walk into the water or splash around.

There are showers (outdoor) at the beach near the parking lot and dotted around about every 1/4 mile on the path. There are both overhead and low foot spouts for rinsing off, so you can do that right before you get back in the car, without having to walk through sand afterwards. Soap is not readily available, though, thus the recommendation to bring hand wipes.

 

[oakleycat]

Agree with everything said above, especially parking in the pier lot and covering luggage if you don't want your car broken into. If the kids are little, bring or pick up some sand toys so they can dig holes/build castles (every little ones' favorite thing do to at the beach). There are plenty of shops on the pier selling/renting things too big to travel with like chairs/toys/boogie boards. Mine are now teenagers and still have to get corndogs and shakes/floats from the Pipeline food stand next to the pier every time we go.