Best Beach Supplies: beach umbrella anchor, towels, beach carts

Going to the beach could be as simple as taking a towel, but for most of us it involves a bit more. Here are a few supplies to make your trip to the beach easier. Keep your umbrella in the sand with a beach umbrella anchor, bring your food and drinks in a cooler, keep items at hand with a simple clip.

Don't forget to bring a towel for drying off and a big beach blanket to lay out on. To make your life easier, load up a heavy duty beach cart to carry it all from the car in one trip!

When choosing a cooler there are a few things to consider before making the purchase. Probably the most important consideration for your beach cooler is size; how much will you need to put in the cooler, just a few sandwiches and a water, or plenty of cans and lots of food? Next consider how you will be transporting the cooler; a backpack cooler will free up your hands to carry the umbrella or chairs, a beach cooler on wheels will be easy to transport at lest across the parking lots, boardwalks and hard pack sand. Think about your needs before you choose your beach cooler.

• Bring an umbrella. We all enjoy the sun, but sun at the beach can be intense and it reflects off the water, making it stronger than elsewhere. Make sure the kids take a break in the shade periodically.
• Bring a hat. It will protect balding heads, and parts, and help keep sun off your face and eyes. A wide brimmed hat is even better since it will protect your ears too.
• Show your kids where you are. Before the kids run off to play, help them look around for landmarks to be able to find your spot on the beach. What does your umbrella look like, are you to the right or left of a lifeguard station etc.
• Lather on the suntan lotion. Help each other with hard to reach spots like the middle of your back or the back of your arms.
• Watch for dangerous conditions. If there is a lifeguard station take a minute to read the signs and flags for dangerous riptides or sealife like jelly fish in the area.
• Dig a hole for the kids when you arrive. Once you help them dig it, they will probably spend hours playing in it, around it, filling it with water etc.
• Be at the beach. Leave your technology behind, and just have fun.

How often have you been at the beach and everyone has their arms overloaded with beach towels, coolers, umbrellas etc? Inevitably you have to make a few trips back to the car to get everything you need to the beach. Save yourself the hassle by investing in a good beach cart. These carts can often hold over 60 pounds of beach supplies and can be easily pulled over sand with their wide wheel design. Remember to consider what supplies your have, and therefore what size and how they would fit on the beach cart to ensure you get one that will be practical to you.

Do you need a great beach umbrella?

Check out the latest styles and colors at

"The Best Beach Umbrellas"

When investing in a beach towel or blanket remember to keep the purpose in mind. Is the towel simply for drying off, or will it double as a surface to lay down on? Do you only really need a blanket for everyone to sit on? Each item has its' own purpose and pros and cons. A lightweight towel that will dry quickly in the wind might be good for drying off. A wider, longer heavier duty towel will make or a great place to lie down and soak up the sun. A true beach blanket with a smooth fabric on the bottom will minimize the amount of sand that adheres to it.

1. Manele Bay, Hawaii
2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
3. Nantucket, Massachusetts
4. Kauna'oa Bay, Hawaii
5. Clearwater Beach, Florida
6. Cape May, New Jersey
7. Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
8. East Hampton, New York
9. Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Keep your towel in place with these handy clips. Stop your towel from blowing off the sand, or off your chair. Hang small items you don't want in the sand on handy hooks.