I’ve put together some staple summer essentials for the family that will help you be prepared for any activity. We use them for beach/lake trips, family outings, hikes, bbq’s, & hanging around the house.
Some key items that I’ve included will help you and the whole family stay comfortable & protected this summer from the heat, sun, & bugs. A lot of these items I keep in my car for the whole summer which makes packing up for outings a lot faster. Yes, my husband complains that my trunk is full of crap for the whole summer but let me hear him complain when he is relaxing under the beach umbrella in a chair with a beer. Am I right?! Saving that extra time packing and unpacking the car is well worth it for me.
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Links For Summer Essentials For The Family
- Wagon
- Beach Umbrella
- Non-toxic Sunscreen
- Travel Cooler
- Travel Chairs
- Non-toxic Bug Repellent
- Water Bottles
- Picnic Blanket
- Popsicle Mold
- Small Kids Pool , Sprinkler, or Galvanized Stock Tank
- Smores Sticks
- Ipad & Cell Phone Car Mount For Seat
Outdoor Items For Around The House
Here are a few more items we have purchased that I love having around our house that aren’t so much an essential but a “nice to have.”
- Big Patio/Yard Umbrella (we got ours on clearance so keep your eye out!)
- Collapsible Patio Table
- BBQ Cover
- Fire Pit Chairs
I don’t know why I resisted for so long to not invest and get some of these items like a wagon and good beach umbrella. They have already come in handy and the summer has just begun. Being pregnant, I wasn’t about to carry my toddler & as many beach items I needed for the day while sweating to death walking from the car to the beach. This way I can have my toddler sit safely in the wagon with the cooler and it will be manageable carrying the other items like my chair & umbrella on my back.
This umbrella also tilts so you don’t have to push it over to block the sun. It comes with an additional anchor that you fill up with sand to help hold it down. This gives me some relief knowing my umbrella won’t fly out of the sand and possibly impale someone. I also won’t have to sit in my chair with one arm holding a corner of the umbrella if it’s windy.
One of the kiddie pools I linked is collapsable which will be nice in the cooler months when you want to store it. We just picked up a small stock tank for us to dip into to cool off. They are galvanized and can withstand all the seasons. In the winter we will just turn it upside down & next summer we’ll clean it and fill it up again.
We originally wanted to get an 8ft round & 2ft deep stock tank but the prices have skyrocketed due to covid so maybe that will be a goal a few years down the road. Either way, any way we can cool off keeps us happy.
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Thanks for reading and I hope you gathered some good ideas & go into this summer fully prepared for whatever comes your way!
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Until next time,
Ellen
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