Getting ready for the beach is a lesson learned the hard way.  Years of taking the wrong stuff can make for rough trips.  Sorry if this is going to sound a bit like product promotion, but I am receiving no compensation.   

Let us consider, for instance, the need for shade.  If you have kids this is not an optional item but a necessity.  If you check the Port Aransas Weather you'll see that summer averages are mostly in the 80's.  Please don't let this fool you.  Temperatures can, and have, reached 100 degrees and even 88 (the average high in June) can feel unbearable.  Kids need plenty of sunscreen and shade breaks.  These are good times to hydrate and grab a snack.

My favorite "instant" canopy is the Quick Shade Summit series.  Here's a picture of it at the beach.  You will see these all the way down the beach.  Port A is great because you can park your car/truck so close to where you'll be setting up.

Features from their website:

• Heavy duty, commercial grade powder coated steel frame with patented extra-large push/pull leg extenders and sliders

• Durable 300D top with 99% UV protection and our Aluminex™ backed fabric for cooler shade

• 2 Super Vents provide superior airflow for a more comfortable shade

• Three height adjustments and nylon feet protect patio and deck surfaces

• Extra strong polyester wheeled bag so you can easily take it anywhere

• 4 sturdy ground stakes to anchor to grass if needed

I'm going to expand upon some of these features because they matter.  The companies website really does a poor job of promoting their product their website.  You can find it on sale at other websites (and here) which will make it $70 ~ $110 cheaper than on their own.  

The powder coated frame resists rusting and at the salty beach that's critical.  We've had ours for years and have lent it to family members for all sorts of events. Before this canopy, we would just buy a new one every season.

The Aluminex backing really helps reduce the heat and works much better than others when it comes to UV protection.

The real kicker is the "Super Vents".  They claim it provides superior air flow for comfort, but its real value is in preventing your canopy from becoming a parachute and rolling down the beach.  You can see in the picture above that a strong inbound coastal wind is pressing against the top of the canopy.  Without the vents, this wind will destroy other cheaper canopies.  I've seen many canopies in the dumpsters when leaving the beach.

*Helpful Hint: Pack some bungee cords with hooks so that you can strap these canopies to your beach buggy.

Here's a handy list of some other things to consider bringing (I like bullet lists):

• Spray on sunscreen
• Folding chairs (I have one that has a foot rest and reclines) sweet
• An ice chest or "cooler".  I prefer one with wheels and a long handle.
• Music makes everything better and Bluetooth makes it easier.  We love this one.  Dancing on the beach can lead to some pretty awesome moments and pics.
• Big soft beach towels. If you're a member, I like the ones at Costco
• Drinks (We just buy a case of water) and snacks (fruit, chips, sandwiches, and dips)
• Sunglasses with UV protection. Kids too.
• Ice or freeze water in a couple of 2-quart milk bottles and your snacks won't get wet.

*Helpful Hint:  Make sure to leave a little space at the top of the milk bottles when you freeze the water for expansion.

Things to give you some relax time at the beach.  Here are some suggestions, but be warned that taking too much can be a real pain as well:

That's my son skimboarding.  If you've never seen it done here's a video.  You can pick them up pretty cheap and they're good for keeping the kids busy and some good laughs when they wipeout.  DANGER, not for older folks who are out of shape.

 Kites!

There is a steady wind coming off the water.  Don't be surprised if doesn't entertain for long.  We have a bi-plane kite that once we get up in the air, we just tie to a chair.  But the little ones can really get a kick from holding them.

Boogie Boards!

Boogie boarding can be fun for everyone in the family.  Light life vests for little ones can add a level of safety when they want to join in.  There are even swimsuits with life vests built right in.

Now, just for the giggles, I gotta show you what my son built and the amazing things that happened because of it.  I'm just going to call it the "Josh" pit.  My daughter and I thought it was crazy when he spent hours building it.

But... some amazing things started happening.  Everyone kept coming by and asking what he was doing.  That led us to meet some really nice families, that we invited back for smores. We made smores, had a sing-a-long, and chatted like old friends late into the night. I know. Corny.  But it really was a memorable evening.
The second night we came back after doing some shopping and found a group of twenty-somethings using "our" fire pit and they apologized for taking over our spot.  I told them that no one owned the beach and we would be happy to share it with them.  They shared their beer and we shared our sausage and pineapple skewers.  They were awesome people.