So, you're coming to Wrightsville Beach (or any beach!) for your summer vacation. You're uber excited, you packed the cutest swimsuits for you and your kids, all of your beach gear is loaded up, and it's looking like you're going to have the best vacation ever! You keep dreaming of an all day long beach day, getting some sun, splashing around with the kiddos, and having a great time... and that's where your fatal flaw is!Â
Thinking that you and your kids are going to have the best, most fun time all day long is a big mistake. If you think you can slowly, leisurely wake up late in the morning, take your time getting ready, and take out the kids, and have an easy, stress-free time, you've got a big storm coming. You get to the beach around 11:00, but by 1:00 everyone is sweaty, sandy, your toddler is screaming, and the sun is so hot it feels like you're being punished for something.Â
Locals know that the secret to a successful beach day is all about getting the right timing. Here's our guide on maximizing your time at the beach, having as much fun as possible, and keeping stress to a minimum. Here's our official guide!Â
Work the Morning Shift (8:00 until 11:00)
Beach town locals know the golden rule of a successful beach day is heading out the door early! Get up, have a hearty breakfast, and make sure you're hitting the beach around 8:00 AM. The hot sun isn't beating down too hard, the sea breeze feels perfect, it's nice and quiet, and the best part? You don't have to deal with the big beach crowds!
It's important that you still bring sun protection, even if it is an early morning when it's not too overwhelmingly hot. Sunscreen is an obvious must, but investing in sun-safe swimwear for your kids is another great way to add an extra layer of protection. Swimwear from Rylee + Cru, one of our favorite brands, helps keep your little one's sensitive skin safe from the sun. Finish off their look with a cute baby sunhat, and they'll be ready for hours of fun in the sand and sunshine.
Make sure you look at our collection of swimwear for women and children!
When the beach starts getting packed, the sun is at the top of the sky, and the heat begins bordering on unbearable, that's your cue to hit the road. That means you should aim to be off the beach by or before 11:00, maybe 11:30! Of course, if the kids are still having a blast and don't want to leave you can linger a teensy bit, but it's important you're on the road by noon at the latest, otherwise you can expect screaming toddlers and major meltdowns.Â
The Midday Retreat (11:00 until after lunch)
So, you went out, had a blast at the beach, and get back to the beach house before noon. So far, so good, but sheesh, you sure are getting tired! Before you and the kids are totally exhausted, rush them to the bath and get any leftover salt and sand rinsed off. Enjoy a little snack, get into a comfy change of clothes, sit back, relax, and enjoy the cool AC!Â
Kids are weird, though. In moments like this, when they should be worn out, they love to fight sleep. You, on the other hand, want nothing more than a nap! If your little one wants to keep the party rolling while you get some shut-eye, you'll need some quiet time toys for them.
Keep your kids engaged and out of the way with a few high-quality, screen-free toys. Set up their suitcase, a laundry basket, or a bin in the corner to store their toys. That way, you'll have a dedicated quiet corner! Your kid is engaged, having fun, staying quiet, and you get to soak in the air conditioning and kick your feet up for a cool nap!Â
Avoid bringing bright or loud toys, or anything that has multiple, easy-to-lose pieces. Pack high-quality, self-contained toys that encourage independent, imaginative play. Maileg mice are great toys that are as durable as they are adorable, and they're tons of fun. Cuddle & Kind Co. dolls are some of our favorites here at Wrightsville Ave. They're perfectly sized to be held and snuggled by little ones, and make amazing travel buddies. Plus, they have an amazing mission that we love!Â
Shop our collection of Maileg toys
Shop our Cuddle & Kind Co. toys
Shop all of our screen-free quiet toys
The Golden Hour Return (4:30 until dinnertime)Â
So you've beached it up, had fun, got home, ate, took a break, and now you're ready to get back to the action. You're going to want to wait until around 4:30 to go back down to the shore, so you can enjoy less heat and give the beach crowd ample time to clear out.Â
Golden hours on the beach make up some of the absolute best memories. The kids got their second wind, they're having a blast, the weather is nice, and the vibe is perfectly chill. There's no need to worry about getting changed and going out for a fancy dinner, either. Just order a pizza or prepare a picnic at the beach access, and have fun eating on the beach!Â
This is the perfect time for taking family photos on the beach, too. The lighting is exquisite, and you'll be able to snap some really phenomenal pictures, too, whether or not your kids decide to get wet and start splashing around again. It's the perfect, low-pressure way to end your day without worrying about sandy tantrums or overheating.
See You in the Sand!
We're all so excited that you're visiting our little beach town, you're going to have a blast! Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful, stunning destination, full of fun, with loads of charm, and you'll absolutely fall in love. If you adopt this "local's schedule," I know it'll help you have an amazing, unforgettable vacation full of great memories with the people you love the most.Â
Still stressing about your beach trip going wrong? Well, before I sign off, let me share a story of a beach trip I took with my family when I was a little kid: I believe it was Myrtle Beach (mistake) where my parents rented a cute beach house. My mom and dad, my big sister, my little brother, and all my aunts, uncles, and cousins were there, and everyone was so excited to have a big beach trip with the family.Â
As beach town locals, we knew the schedule, we took all the necessary precautions, and it was looking like we were about to enjoy a perfect beach day. That's when everything went horribly awry.Â
My sister was swimming in the ocean, living it up, having the time of her life, and then... pandemonium. A jellyfish in the water grazed by her, and got wrapped up all over her leg. She had to be rushed out to get medical attention!
My parents paid to go parasailing with my little brother. They were up in the sky, having a blast, and then... poof. The boat engine stalled and stopped, and suddenly the three of them were plummeting down into the ocean. Guess what they landed in? A giant school of jellyfish! They also had to be rushed out of the water, but luckily didn't get stung.Â
Then there's me. Sweet, innocent, 8 year old me. On the first day, I was walking through the beach house, and didn't know there was a sliding glass door. I ran straight into it and had a beautiful bruise for the rest of the trip.Â
The next day, I was out on the beach, but, whoopsie! I forgot sunscreen. I got a horrible sunburn, and it developed into this really thrilling (sarcasm) condition called "Hell's itch." Yes, it's as horrible as it sounds.
So, all of these abysmal daily occurrences should have made this trip a miserable one, right? Not at all! When my family and I think back to this vacation, I definitely think about the accidents and injuries, but then we laugh about it! We think back to all the fun we had on the beach in between accidents, the trip we took to the aquarium, and going fishing. The good and the bad, the nice and the crazy, they all make up fun family memories!Â
The point is, no matter what happens on your trip, it will all be okay! Like, my parents fell out of the sky, literally, and still had a good time! I got the itch from Hell and still have positive memories from the trip! Adopt this "Local's Schedule," and you'll remove loads and loads of unnecessary stress from your Wrightsville Beach getaway.
Have fun, and we can't wait to have you!
Make sure you're fully beach-ready with our sun-safe swimwear for you and your little ones
Check out our beach gear collection for all of your seashore essentials
And don't forget to pack alone some screen-free "quiet time" toys for your trip!