Wednesday, July 14, 2021

How Our Senior Editorial Director Perfected the Beach Day

"This beach gear keeps me hydrated, cool, and comfortable."
TRAVEL TODAY



Accessories
How Our Senior Editorial Director Perfected the Beach Day
Let's get this straight: I'm mostly a landlubber.

Growing up in Texas, the majority of my "beach" days involved swimming in friends' backyard swimming pools, until high school, when we moved and got our very own swimming pool—that I used approximately four times before I went off to college. I'm not a great swimmer, I don't like the heat, and my freckled skin means that I never end up with a bronze glow at the end of the day—more like steamed lobster. Meanwhile, my husband (a non-swimmer, ironically) simply can't get enough of the sun, surf, and sand.

So last year, we decided to find a New York City beach where we could enjoy being on the water without loads of people, and optimize our beach days with gear that keeps us hydrated, cool, and comfortable. We're pretty minimalistic people, so watching fellow beachgoers lug chairs, umbrellas, tents, and coolers didn't appeal much. Still, once we found our beach of choice (which, ahem, is a secret), we quickly realized that long days on the sand get very hot very quickly, and thus, it was perhaps time to invest in some manufactured shade. We'd already streamlined on the cooler front—the Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24 is worth every darn penny—but shopping for a beach shelter was overwhelming and complicated by the fact that we are not only minimalists, but also, as it turns out, somewhat vain.

Alas, we ultimately settled on a mid-range beach umbrella in a modest blue-and-white stripe. It's just enough of a pop of color to let us channel our dreams of the Amalfi Coast while being entirely functional for keeping the sand nice and cool and protecting us from the sun's harmful rays. And you know what? Most newer models of umbrellas come with handy shoulder bags and weigh in at less than five pounds, literally a small lift for a day of shade and comfort.

It was just one small purchase that's gone a long way toward our enjoyment during this unique summer of staying close to home and social distancing. What have you bought lately that's made you happy? I'd love to hear.


READ NOW



Laura Ratliff,
Senior Editorial Director


Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products and services; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Accessories
12 Beach Hats We'll Be Wearing All Summer Long
read more
Accessories
13 Beach Bags That Are Just As Cute As They Are Durable
read more
Gear
These Anchors Will Keep Your Beach Umbrella From Tipping Over or Blowing Away
read more
Gear
7 Small Coolers That Will Keep Your Drinks Ice Cold for Hours on End
read more
Health & Beauty
These Sunburn Treatments Will Soothe Even the Most Irritated Skin
read more
Gear
9 Beach Cruiser Bikes for Riding Around Town in Comfort and Style
read more
Accessories
Luxurious, Sand-Free, & Quick-Drying: The Best Beach Towels to Take to the Shore
read more
Gear
11 Beach Chairs for Kids, Those with Bad Backs, and Everyone In Between
read more
VACATION LIKE A PRO
You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Travel Today newsletter.
If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here
A DOTDASH BRAND
© 2021 Dotdash.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.

If you believe this has been sent to you in error, please safely unsubscribe.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Blog Archive