One of my favorite things about living in Charleston is being right down the road from the beach. If we’re in town and the forecast calls for sunny skies over the weekend, we love packing up a bag and heading to nearby Sullivan’s Island, Folly Beach, or Isle of Palms. There are few things more rejuvenating than spending time by the ocean, and having a well-stocked beach bag means we can stay all day long if we want to.

When it comes to the bag itself, the bigger, the better–this straw tote is one of my favorite styles with a wide opening and lining for holding everything. Nothing ruins a beach day faster than sunburn, so along with my go-to sunscreen, setting spray, and lip balm with SPF, I never go to the beach without packing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, and I always carry hair ties (love this seersucker scrunchie to hold a quick bun in place). While it doesn’t literally go into my bag, we’ll sometimes bring along a beach umbrella that we can set up for some shade, especially on the hottest summer days. I’m loving our thick, roomy beach towels (on sale now!) and teak folding chairs to lay out on. I also make sure to bring a large water bottle with me and refill it often in order to stay extra hydrated, as well as a healthy snack like almonds.

Once on the beach, we love to take walks or simply relax and chat. In case we need something else to do, though, I often bring along a fun game that’s easy to transport, like bocce ball or cards, and whatever book I’m currently reading. We’ve already made many sweet memories by the water this summer, and I’m so grateful we get to enjoy it all year round! Whether you live near the beach like we do or you’re headed on an annual beach vacation soon, take a look through a few more of my beach bag must-haves to get inspired for packing your own.