Going to the shore in the summer is a fun time, especially if you love spending time near the ocean. I'm not a beach person and have had issues with sun poisoning in the past, so I have to watch how much sun I get exposed to in the summer. However, we recently decided to take a shore vacation. It's something we wanted to do while the kids were still under our roof. This post will cover everything you need to get your stuff ready for the shore. No one wants to worry about what to bring a few weeks before, so I created a comprehensive list for you to take with you. I'm going back to my roots in this post. This week, I will share a complete checklist (affiliate) to help you organize your stuff for a week or two at the shore.
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Key Takeaways
- Prepare for your shore vacation by creating a comprehensive packing list that includes essentials like linens, towels, and cash.
- Consider the items you need for work if you're self-employed, and ensure you have electronic devices such as a camera and a laptop.
- Bring casual food supplies and paper products to minimize dishwashing during your shore vacation.
- Include important documents and cleaning supplies for a hassle-free stay at the shore house.
- Customize your packing checklist (affiliate) using the provided resources to ensure nothing gets overlooked for your shore vacation.
What to bring to the shore house?
There are many things you can bring to the shore house. But are they the right things? We will explore the items that need to go and what can stay home for the week or two you are away.
Light Work Stuff if You are Self-Employed
Since we were there for a week, we didn't need much. But since I am self-employed, work doesn't necessarily stop, so I needed to bring some work with me. I reduced the workload and the amount of time I worked, which was great for our morning bike rides and dinner with the family. So, I did bring my laptop and other essentials so I could reconnect when possible.
Camera and Electronic Devices
One other thing we could not forget was our professional camera. I wanted to take many pictures to use on future blog posts and social media backgrounds. We also remembered to take the chargers for all the electronic devices we were taking, as well as batteries and a flashlight. You never know when you will need these items. We also brought board games and card games. Only a few so as not to take up too much space in the car. Something that helped us was taking our Chromecast and HDMI cable to hook up our laptop to the TV and watch movies with the kids.
Cash for the kids
I found that bringing cash to the shore was much easier than using a credit card. I decided that I would only use the credit card for dinners with the family. And, since my daughter's 16th birthday was going to be at the shore, we wanted to go out and enjoy a delicious Italian meal. For those early-morning runs to get fresh donuts and coffee (affiliate), it was nice to just grab the cash and go. It was also easier for me to let my teenagers go where they wanted since I could give them money to spend.
Linens and Towels
Bringing my linens and bedding made the house feel more like our home, even though the homeowner provided them. We rented a house that had pretty much everything we needed except food, but we didn't know that before we arrived. Tip: If you can, find out what the house will have for you to use, like pots, pans, plates, etc... This tip will help you not feel like you need to bring everything.
What do I need to bring for my family's shore vacation house?
If you plan to do water activities and lie on the beach, you may want to bring a beach bag, a cart to hold all your beach stuff, and maybe even a sun umbrella. Beach towels are handy. We also brought items like a mini first-aid kit, sunscreen, insect repellent, water shoes (affiliate), and sunburn ointment. And make sure you have beach passes. Some beaches have a fee to use their space. So, ask your realtor if the homeowner provides them. It was a pleasant surprise when we got to the beach house.
Clothing and Essentials
Clothing and other essential items are also important. But remember, you don't need too much if your shore house has a washer and dryer. I loved that our place had this because the day before we left, we washed all the clothes and linens and brought everything home clean and folded. Yay! It was a much easier transition to real life than when we returned.
Documents
Documentation is important to bring ashore. We made sure we had our driver's licenses, insurance documents, rental reservations, and vehicle registration, all of which were useful to have with us. Use an accordion folder (affiliate) to hold all your papers and label (affiliate) each paper for easy access as needed. And if you rent a house again, you can also use it.
Accordion File Organizer, 13 Pockets File Folders, Letter Size
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Accordion File Organizer, 13 Pockets File Folders, Letter Size with Colored Tabs
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Cleaning Supplies
Then, when you leave the house at the end of the week, you will need to clean it up a little. We took a Swiffer mop (affiliate) with wet and dry Swiffer pads (affiliate) and then found out they had one, so that worked for us. We also brought wipes, Windex (affiliate), soap, and other cleaning products specifically for the rental.
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Morning Routine Items
We brought items to make our morning routine a little easier, like shampoo (affiliate), conditioner, a razor, and hair products. If you can share these products with other family members, it will eliminate many duplicates and most definitely a lot of space needed in the vehicles.
Favorite Things
And, we couldn't leave without our water kettle to make French press coffee (affiliate) or tea. It was beneficial to have it there with us. It is probably not necessary, but it made the house feel more like our home.
If your kids love playing in the ocean or a lake, you may want to bring these items as well.
The links below are Amazon (affiliate) affiliate links - if you click and buy something on Amazon (affiliate), I will receive a small commission. Happy shopping!
Storage Bags
We also knew we would have leftovers, so we brought gallon storage bags and plastic wrap in case we needed to store something.
What do I plan to cook or eat at the shore house?
We didn't like washing dishes often, so we brought paper products to use primarily for lunch. It was helpful to have the option to use something other than washing dishes all the time.
I talked with my family and decided we wanted to make breakfast and lunch easy, so we stuck with cereal, oatmeal, hot dogs, lunch meat, hamburgers, pasta, tomato sauce (affiliate), soups, and veggies/salads. There was a farmers market every Saturday and Sunday in town, so we visited it to get some fresh food to cook that week. It was lovely, and we enjoyed the walk.
Below are some of my easy homemade recipes you can make for your shore vacation.
GRILLED ASIAN CHICKEN THIGHS RECIPE
QUICK EASY TOMATO SAUCE RECIPE
Visit our 30+ EASY AND DELICIOUS VACATION RENTAL RECIPES for easy recipes for the shore!
30+ Easy and Delicious Beach Vacation Recipes
If you are like most people, this summer, you will likely spend a week or two at the shore or beach with family members. While renting a home and preparing meals at home is more affordable than staying in a hotel and eating out every night, planning dinners for the week can also be a
Printable Shore Home Packing Checklist
Below are sample packing checklists (affiliate) to inspire you in making your customized packing checklist. It includes everything I discussed above and includes space for you to write in your food necessities.
FAQs for Packing for a Shore Vacation
Before you pack anything, contact the realtor or homeowner to find out what's already at the house - things like pots, pans, plates, linens, and beach passes. Knowing this ahead of time keeps you from over-packing items the house already has.
Most rentals provide linens, but bringing your own bedding and towels can make the house feel more like home. It's optional, but worth it if you have the trunk space, especially for beach towels the family already prefers.
Pack your driver's license, insurance documents, rental reservation confirmation, and vehicle registration. Keeping these together in one folder or bag makes them easy to grab if you need them during the trip.
A Swiffer mop with wet and dry pads, wipes, Windex, and dish soap make end-of-week cleanup faster. Bringing your own supplies means you're not relying on whatever the rental has on hand or scrambling at the last minute before checkout.
Cash tends to be easier for everyday things like morning coffee runs, beach passes, and giving teenagers spending money for the day. Save the credit card for bigger expenses, like a nice family dinner out.
Well, there you have it. I hope this inspires you to create your own packing list for your next shore vacation. If you want a copy of my shore home packing list, please fill out the form below, and I will send you my version.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (affiliate), and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Kim says
Hi Sabrina,
There is a lot to think about when planning to go away for a week. Especially for mom it seems. I have been visiting cabins on the beach for years now and I know what things are supplied in the cabins. I cannot believe the amount of things we need for 2 nights of a stay. Usually, the car is full. I love the chicken recipe and pinned it to try at home. Looks yummy!!
Lee @ BaldThoughts says
Usually I stay at hotels, so I wouldn’t have thought to bring many of the items that you’ve mentioned in your packing list. This list will come in handy for when we visit the shore this summer.