7 Essentials for the Best Beach Day With Kids: Lover's Point, Pacific Grove, CA

Who doesn't love those perfect days when the fog stays off the coast long enough to sit on the beach, watch the sunset and look for the elusive green flash as your kids frolic happily in the water? For most parents taking kids to the beach sounds like a great idea in theory, but after packing, setting up, breaking down, and all the kid drama in-between it is no wonder that many costal parents only visit the sandy shores a few times a year.

Let's face it, taking your wild little friends to a place where you turn into a pack mule, literally set up and then take down camp in a matter of hours and have to feed and hydrate them, all while making sure they don't get sucked unto Sharklandia does not sound like anyone's idea of a good time right? With the right spot and the right gear, you and your little friends can actually enjoy a day at the beach together and once you get home, they will turn into exhausted wide-eyed zombies giving you a peaceful night.

We spend a lot of time at the beach with the kids because it's easy, free, and allows the kids to expend that extra energy we wish we had. Here on the Central Coast, the best beach with kids by FAR is Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. It is a small, protected cove with gentle water and is perfect for kids of all ages. There are bathrooms, on-site food and very little wind. Kids can beach comb, tide pool, jump off the sun platform and even rent kayaks right there on the beach. We love it because it's easy; parking is close, the kids have a great time and we don't have to spend the whole day hovering over them, ready at the drop of a hat to save them.

I am a strong believer that good times come from good planning and when it comes to a beach day this is especially important. To make sure your day in paradise doesn’t become your worst nightmare, here are some tips that will help you to enjoy your family's trip to the shore.

Bring CASH. Usually, the little eateries near popular beaches are cash only, and the burger stand at Lover's Point is no exception. It is also right at the entrance so there is no hiding the burgers and other goodies from your kids. It is pretty convenient to be able to feed tired and hangry kids without having to deal with de-sanding and redressing first. You can bring snacks but, my kids still beg me to buy food and even with snacks I always end up buying something anyway. On the bright side, it is easier than planning a lunch nobody other than seagulls is going to eat.

Bring WATER, both to drink and to rinse off. There are no showers here and your kids will be caked in sand by the time they get back to the car. Unless you want to bring most of the beach home with you, and stay with you for the rest of your car’s life, I recommend using 2 empty milk jugs filled with tap water to rinse off. Let them sit in the sun while you’re at the beach so the water is warm when you get back. For drinking water, please use a reusable bottle to keep down waste and preserve the beach for future generations to enjoy.

Bring BIG BEACH TOWELS. This one is for 3 reasons, of course to dry and warm kids after being in the water but also to serve as a cover when they change. Most importantly though, the beach can get really cold very quickly and for parents, who are at an age where they can feel cold, a big thick beach towel will keep you warm. Your cold-immune children will likely play until you force them to go home so you might as well be comfortable.

Water on the Central Coast is cold and so WETSUITS are a must. It is very hard for your littles to enjoy the water for very long if they can’t feel their fingers and toes. Even the most cold-immune child will easy become grouchy, numb and whiny in a short time without a wetsuit. You can rent or buy them locally. Buying a new one may give you sticker shock so a used one is fine since they will only use it for a few months. If you choose to go new, most surf shops will let you upgrade with a pretty reasonable discount when your kids outgrow them.

SUNSCREEN is necessary anytime you are outside, but especially at the beach. Because you are being double exposed (the water reflects the sunlight on you) so it is really important to protect your and your children’s skin. I like using a cream or spray sunscreen for the body and a mineral stick for the face. The cream or spray has to be reapplied every few hours, the mineral stick is thick and pretty good at staying on even in the water. I like Sun Bum because it smells so good, the kids don't complain about putting it on.

A LIFE JACKET for small children and weak swimmers. The ocean is a dangerous place, even in the heavenly waters of Lover’s Point, so I play it safe and have my 4 year old wear a life jacket anytime he wants to swim in the ocean. Also, how are you going to enjoy yourself if you're constantly worried about your kid drowning. Make sure that the life jacket fits properly and that it is an approved personal flotation device so if your little is surprised by a wave they won't see their life flash before their eyes and be traumatized for life.

Everyone needs a good beach BACKPACK, not a beach bag. I don’t know why on earth someone thought a beach bag was a good idea. How are you supposed to hold little hands while you cross the street or in a parking lot with a bag sliding down your arm?!? Also, who thought carrying tons of weight on one side of your body was healthy. I use a mesh scuba-diving bag I keep because it is big enough to hold all our stuff, it's breathable so wet things don't mold, and the mesh doesn't trap sand. I keep ours packed with the essentials (after they are all clean and dry) so that next time we go to the beach I don’t have to do a scavenger hunt for our stuff.

Just because you now roll with the most wild entourage of your life does not mean you cannot have a relaxing day at the beach.