“To escape and sit quietly on the beach – that's my idea of paradise.”

Emilia Wickstead

California Living

Living most of my life near the California coast, I am grateful for having access to a beach in any direction. I recently found another gem in Dana Point, California, where my friends and family spent a beautiful day at Salt Creek Beach. I had 24 hours to plan this, but I wanted to keep it simple. After all, who wants to give themselves an anxiety attack before catching some rays by the Pacific? So I've put a list together that should help you just as much as it helped me.

My friend and long-time music collaborator Mike Sonata Shy Foster, helped out with some images this week. Yes, he was the friend that came for a visit! We met in Boston many moons ago through a music program at Berklee and we've been vibing ever since. Our friend Sean Mike also joined in on the beach fun.

Enjoy!

xo

Beach Day Essentials Checklist

• Swimsuit/swim trunks – make sure you’re comfortable. I opt for a one-piece and some shorts because that’s how I feel comfortable. 
• Sunscreen – because you need it and you shouldn’t leave home without it. Don’t forget to reapply. My favorites are SUN BUM SPF 70 and the Trader Joe's: Nourish Spray Sunscreen SPF 50.
• Aloe Vera/Cooling Gel – sometimes it happens, and you want to treat sunburn ASAP. I love the Burt's Bees Aloe and Coconut Oil After Sun Soother.
• Beach blanket (chairs or both) – this works when you have a group of folks who don’t need chairs. I have two, one of which is always in the car. 
• Beach towel – it can double as a sarong!
• Beach umbrella/canopy – some of us can't stay in the sun long!
• Flip-flops – I love walking barefoot on the beach sand, but once I get to the parking lot, I don’t want to be weighed down by clunky sneakers. Also great when you are using the outdoor shower. 
• Hair clips/scrunchies – a must if you don’t want your hair smacking you every 10 seconds.
• Sunglasses – cheap or designer as long as they have UV protection.
• Beach bag or backpack – big enough to toss all of your stuff in there. You might have something around the house. In a pinch, use one of your reusable grocery bags. Bring an extra one for all of your soiled items.
• Rolling cooler/cooler bag – fill it up with soda, water, and non-perishable foods.  We opted to grab ready-made sub sandwiches for everyone and stopped by the market to fill up the cooler with ice and drinks. This way, you don’t worry about plates and cups. Points, if you use reusable water bottles!
• Cloth napkins/towels – everyone forgets these! Don’t get caught without them. Cloth napkins and towels can get hand washed or tossed into the washing machine. Bandanas are awesome for this!
• Wet Wipes  – oh dear, do I really have to explain this one? 
• Bluetooth speaker/boombox/music thingamajig – entirely optional as there will be plenty of sounds at sea. When we weren’t getting tossed around like rag dolls by the Pacific Ocean, we were conversing. It's quite lovely if you ask me. If you're looking for a compact Bluetooth speaker, the EnerPlex AC-SPEAK-BL Tooth Speaker packs a punch for a small cube. Another one I like is the a.m.p. SP1 Portable Bluetooth Speaker. I've used both on trips and have been happy.
• CAMERA! – A waterproof camera like a GoPro is perfect for this. You don't need to worry about it getting wet. Take lots of pics and vids, but save the posting to social media until later.  Enjoy your time offline and have fun!

Need this checklist? Download it here.

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