Beachwear

• First things first, make sure you feel comfortable in your swim suit so that you won’t feel the need to hide under your umbrella all day. If wearing a coverup makes you feel more comfortable, find one that matches your swimsuit and that allows for plenty of movement.






• White colored clothing made out of breathable fabric is a good choice as it will help protect you from the sun’s rays, but it won’t keep you too hot as you are out in the sun.






• Beach hats are back in style and not only will they give you the sophisticated look you’re looking for, but it will help protect your face from the sun’s damaging rays.






• Always wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays – your eyelids and eyeballs are very sensitive to the sun.

Skin Protection

• The sun is most intense between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., so if you can help it, try and limit your sun exposure during those hours






• Make sure to apply a generous amount of sunscreen (at least SPF 15) at least 15-30 minutes prior to being out in the sun. Make sure to reapply if you go swimming or are outside for an extended period of time. Click ,,9xll,00.html" Here for Consumer Voted Top Ten Sunscreens
  






• Clouds can be deceiving, make sure to lather up the sunscreen even if the sun isn’t totally out, especially if you’re going to be outside for a long period of time.






• Keep infants and young children out of the sun as much as possible. (Sunscreen is not approved for infants younger than six months as their skin can burn in minutes) Limit your child’s sun exposure as severe burns when they are young can increase their chances of getting melanoma later on in life.






• Make sure to wear a lip balm with SPF as our lips can often be forgotten when we’re trying to protect our skin.






• Always try and set up your beach space near constructed shade… whether it’s an umbrella or a group of trees, the sun is more intense at the beach where its rays are magnified by the water and sand.

What to Eat Before Hittin’ the Beach

• Avoid salty foods as they will cause your body to retain more water.






• Always go for the lighter choices (i.e. a side salad with vinaigrette instead of a Caesar salad, fruit and yogurt instead of steamed vegetables, water instead of a specialty drink, gazpacho instead of chili, salmon instead of a hotdog).






• If you need an extra kick to get your day in motion, try an energy supplement like Zantrex energy pill to give you the added energy to make your beach day fun and full of excitement.

BestBeachGames: Although adults may be completely contempt reading their book on the beach all day, kids will easily get bored and want to play. The following are some games that seem to always be a hit in our house.

• Beach bowling- make 10 pins by filling a cup with most sand (and a little water to help it keep its shape) and then turning it over to make the bowling pin triangle. Draw a line in the sand about 6 feet away from the pins and take turns rolling the ball in attempts to knock the pins over. Keep track of how many you knock over.






• Sand tic-tac-toe- make a 3x3 square grid in the sand and use driftwood to make the x’s and o’s. You can even draw the squares extra large and have people stand in as markers






• Hopscotch- make an intricate hopscotch board and use shells as markers






• Darts- draw a dartboard in the sand and use shells, sea glass, driftwood, etc. as markers. Take turns tossing the markers and keeping score in the sand.