Last week we enjoyed a week of gorgeous weather, sunshine, laughter and relaxation in Avalon, New Jersey. Even though Bo was born and raised in Savannah, he grew up spending at least a few weeks in Avalon, New Jersey each summer. His grandparents always rented a summer home where the children and grandchildren could relax and experience beach life together. We were able to visit Avalon two years ago with his family but opted out last year since Katie was so young.
Being able to drive to a beach vacation versus fly made things so much easier! We were able to bring some of Katie’s favorite things without stressing about squeezing everything into a checked bag. Driving also allowed us to bring our bikes and have flexibility in the time we headed down and returned from the beach.
I wanted to share a few highlights from our week as well as the items that made a beach trip with a one-year-old easier and so fun.
The weather was truly incredible – unseasonably cool but warm enough for beach days and swimming in the bay. The low was 65 and high was around 80 each day. We only had rain once and it was during the evening hours.
Katie loved riding around Stone Harbor and Avalon in her bike seat! She smiled as she felt the breeze and constantly pointed at things as we passed them. I was surprised that neither the seat or helmet annoyed her!
Bo’s dad purchased a giant family-size float which held five adults and allowed us to leisurely relax in the bay. Katie hung out on the float with us when wearing one of her life vests and loved playing in the small amount of water around her. I am still amazed that it could hold so many of us!
We cooked or grilled dinner each night, falling into a rhythm of Bo and his dad grilling while his mom was in charge of the sides. While they cooked, I gave Katie a bath and did the bedtime routine so we were able to sit down to dinner each night around 7:30.
Bo has become quite the mixologist the past few months, studying and perfecting a different cocktail every few weeks. The cocktail of this vacation was definitely frose aka frozen rose! Did you know you can make frose using an ice cream maker?
Before our trip, I was pretty anxious about how Katie would react to the beach. I’ve heard so many nightmares that I think I just assumed she’d hate it. Well, luckily it was the complete opposite. Now, that doesn’t mean that every second was easy but with some preparation she enjoyed it and by the last day, we spent almost the entire day at the beach.
I was able to disconnect during the trip, only checking work emails and social media a few times per day and only opening my computer two times during the entire trip. This was such a wonderful way to ensure I fully relaxed and engaged with everyone around me instead of falling down the social media or email rabbit hole.
I loved running and working out in Avalon and was able to log miles either bright and early, before Katie woke up, or while she was napping since Bo’s parents were able to watch the monitor. The workouts were sweaty and humid but it was so nice to enjoy a little beach breeze, admire the gorgeous homes and have miles of sidewalks and bike lanes. I even had two blog readers stop and say hello!
Our beach essentials:
- Rufflebutts Swimsuit for Katie – This adorable swimsuit is not only cute but it is also comfortable and built-in sun protection for Katie’s sensitive skin. Slathering sunscreen on an infant isn’t easy so I’m thankful that the UPF 50+ material meant that I didn’t need to do her arms or chest/stomach area. The snaps and zippers made it easy to change diapers and remove when it was wet and sandy. We have ordered 3 of these so far and love the brand!
- Summersalt Swimsuit for Me – This swimsuit gave me the confidence to go without a cover-up for 90% of the trip. The flattering cut was also comfortable and it stayed in place even when I chased Katie around the beach or dove into the waves.
- Mini blowup swimming pool – Neighbors let us borrow their tiny blow-up swimming pool for the trip after they said it made their trip so much easier. We filled the pool with ocean water and carried it back to our beach area. Katie was able to play in the water, splash and stay cool all while under the shade of the umbrella. This was such a great idea!
- Baby powder – So many people told us to take baby powder to the beach and sprinkle it on Katie’s body to get rid of the sand. I was very skeptical but WOW it worked wonders!
- Gallons of clean water – We carried a gallon of water with us to use for rinsing Katie’s face, hands and refilling her sippy cup while we were down at the beach.
- Bob Running Stroller – As you all know, we bought this a few months ago to use as a running stroller but never realized that it would also make an amazing vacation stroller when we’re at the beach. It easily tackled the soft sand and sandy paths each day while also providing a TON of storage room for sandy toys. One day, Katie even took a nap in the stroller when it was pushed under the tent since the stroller seat reclines!
- Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain wagon – My father-in-law bought this amazing wagon for the beach trip and it was a game changer. It held SO much stuff and navigated the sand and walk from the house to the beach with ease.
- Wet Dry Bag – We used two of these daily to store everything from snacks and milk to dry diapers and wet swimsuits. The clip made it easy to hang on the stroller for easy access.
- Sport-Brella XL Portable All-Weather and Sun Umbrella – None of us could believe that this HUGE and easy-to-use umbrella was less than $50! It provided a 9-foot canopy and held up wonderfully even on the windy beach days. This is especially wonderful if you visit a beach which doesn’t allow tents any longer as it gives you the 3 side protection with an open front which allows for a great breeze. Four adults were able to comfortably sit under the tent and it’s shade canopy in beach chairs.
