Living on Anna Maria Island means beach days aren’t just reserved for vacation. Sometimes it’s a planned day in the sun, and sometimes I decide at the last minute that the water looks too good to pass up.
Over time, I’ve figured out exactly what earns a permanent spot in my beach bag. These are the things I actually reach for—simple, useful favorites that make spending a few hours by the Gulf a whole lot easier.
Whether you’re heading to the beach for vacation or lucky enough to call the coast home, here are 10 beach bag essentials worth packing.
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The Little Things I Always Bring
Some things just permanently live in my beach bag. My COOLA reef-friendly sunscreen is a must, my Ray-Bans go pretty much everywhere with me, and there’s usually an ice-cold drink in my Stanley. Nothing fancy—just three things I grab without even thinking about it before heading to the beach.
1. Reef-Safe Sunscreen
Living by the Gulf means sunscreen is non-negotiable. I like one that feels lightweight, doesn’t leave a heavy white cast, and is easy enough to reapply throughout the day. I also look for reef-conscious options when I’m spending time near the water.
2. An Insulated Water Bottle
Florida heat will humble you quickly. 😂 A big insulated water bottle is always in my bag so I can keep cold water with me for a few hours without it turning lukewarm in the sun.
3. An Oversized Beach Towel
Give me a big, soft towel that I can actually stretch out on. An oversized towel is worth the extra room in the bag—especially when the sand is hot.
4. Polarized Sunglasses
Good polarized sunglasses make such a difference around the water. They cut down the glare, protect your eyes, and are one beach accessory I’ll happily spend a little more on.
5. A Wide-Brim Hat
Cute and practical. A lightweight wide-brim hat gives my face a little extra sun protection and instantly makes a simple swimsuit and cover-up feel put together.
6. A Lightweight Cover-Up
My favorite beach cover-ups are loose, breathable and easy enough to throw over a swimsuit when I’m heading to grab lunch or make a quick stop on the way home.
7. My Shibumi Shade
If I’m settling in for a real beach day, bringing shade is non-negotiable. A Shibumi Shade is one of my favorites because it’s lightweight, easy to carry, and I don’t have to wrestle with a heavy beach umbrella. It uses the ocean breeze to stay open, which makes it perfect for breezy Gulf Coast days.
It’s definitely one of those beach purchases that makes you wonder why you waited so long to get one.
This is the one I love https://amzn.to/3SQU3Kb
8. Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
A little music makes a beach day even better. I always like having a small waterproof Bluetooth speaker that’s easy to toss in my bag and doesn’t make me nervous around sand or splashes.
I keep the volume reasonable—because nobody came to the beach to hear my entire playlist 😂—but having some music playing while we’re relaxing by the water is one of my favorite parts of a beach day.
Shop my favorite waterproof Bluetooth speaker →
Link it to the perfect one: https://amzn.to/4gtYsdM
9. My Favorite Beach Chair
A good beach chair makes all the difference, and this is the one I actually use. It reclines, has a footrest, a cup holder and even a face opening for lying on your stomach—which is one of those features I didn’t know I needed until I had it.
I also love that it has a cooler bag built in, so I can keep a drink or snack nearby without constantly digging through everything. For a full beach day, having a comfortable chair is absolutely worth carrying one more thing down to the sand.
🏖️ The Beach Chair That Lives in My Trunk
Shop my beach favorite beach chair https://amzn.to/4gMUAG5 →
10. A Cooler Backpack
A cooler backpack is one of my favorite beach-day upgrades. It keeps water, fruit, snacks, and lunch cold without having to drag a bulky cooler across the sand. And because it goes on your back, your hands are still free for chairs, towels, and everything else that somehow comes along with a beach day.
And let’s be serious—a cooler backpack isn’t just for water. 😉 If it’s an adults-only beach day, there may be a few cold beverages tucked in there too. Nothing says “Live Sunny” quite like a cold drink, your toes in the sand, and nowhere you need to be. Just keep it beach-legal, pack out what you bring in, and enjoy responsibly.
Need something good to pack in it? Check out my 7 Easy Healthy Beach Lunches That Actually Taste Good. 7 Easy Healthy Beach Lunches That Actually Taste Good
Shop my favorite cooler backpack →https://amzn.to/4qAMgN62
Always Ready for a Beach Day
One of the best parts about living on “the island” as locals call it, is that a beach day doesn’t always have to be planned. If the weather is beautiful and I suddenly decide I want to spend a couple of hours by the water, I want to be able to just go.
That’s why I keep most of these beach essentials right in the trunk of my car. My chair, Shibumi, cooler backpack, speaker and the other basics pretty much live back there. It might look like I’m permanently packed for vacation—but around here, you never know when a regular afternoon might turn into a beach afternoon.
All I really have to do is grab some cold drinks, pack something good to eat, and head for the sand.
And honestly, that’s exactly how I like it.
See you by the water. 🌊☀️
Eat well. Live sunny.