Summer Day at the Lake

It's summer! It's hot! What better way to cool off and have fun than to load up the kids and head to the beach! For us here in Minnesota, the "beach" means the sandy shore of a lake, not an ocean. But these tips could certainly be applied to spending time at the ocean too. Following these helpful hints will certainly make your time by the water as fun, safe, and stress-free as possible.

First off, pick a good day to go. Hot and sunny days are in abundance, but if at all possible, I would recommend choosing a day that is not quite so hot and humid. You don't want to be miserable the whole time just because of the heat. The water of course will help keep you cool though, so I wouldn't worry about that too much. If you have children, you will want to pick a day when they are in a good mood and ready for an adventure. Try not to have anything else planned on your "lake day" also. You don't want to have to rush home when everyone is having a good old time.

Bring the biggest towels you can find! This may seem like a simple thing to remember, but really it will be a good one. Your towels are more important than you might think. You may be using them to lay out on the sand to sun bathe on, to lay a few together to have a picnic on, to dry off many wet children and adults, to cuddle in if you are cold and wet, to lay over the seats in the car to keep the seats from getting wet on the ride home, or other things. Bring lots of towels, and make sure they are big!

Pack a large cooler full of food for lunch, snacks, and cold beverages. Everyone is going to wind up getting really hungry with all that water play. You might as well have lots of food ready to go. Sandwiches are a very good choice and easy to pack. Peanut butter and jelly, turkey and cheese, chicken salad, or egg salad are some good options. Cut up fruits and veggies are also good to have, especially for snacking on. Apple slices, carrot sticks, celery sticks, sliced bell peppers, strawberries, grapes, or any of your favorite fruits and veggies. Yogurt, apple sauce and granola bars are good for kids. Also some crackers with sliced cheese and maybe some salami or summer sausage might be a good choice. Don't forget lots of water and lemonade or iced tea!

It is very important to have sun protection and safety gear as well. Bring a good sunblock for everyone. I especially like the kind that you can spray on, because it's easy to cover your whole body very quickly. Kids like to get sprayed, and are much more willing to get their sunblock on that way rather than having to rub it all in. Also, a beach umbrella is not a bad idea to give everyone a little shade and refuge from the hot sun. Young children will need some type of life jacket or floating device. They might also want some goggles to keep water out of their eyes and allow them to see underwater.

Toys are a must! The options are endless with water/beach toys. From the simplest beach ball to an elaborate inflatable floating trampoline, toys can really add some joy to your day. Younger children might love to have a shovel and pail, along with whatever kind of sand digging toys you might have. Water guns are always a hit, too. since you will be wet anyway, and the lake has an endless supply of refilling water, the kids (especially boys) can be amused for hours on end with some water guns.

Finally, take your time and soak it all in. Summer goes by way to fast, and you will really long for these days when winter rolls around and you are surrounded by snow. Enjoy your family and the time you can spend together at the beach. Don't rush or have any agenda. Just savor the moments!