12 Ways You Can Take Your Beach Day To The Next Level

Kick your summer up a notch. Banana Boat® SunComfort® Lotion Sunscreen allows sand to easily brush off, making it easy to truly have the best beach day ever.

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1. Make sure your money is safe and dry by storing it in an empty chapstick tube.

Courtesy of Megan K.

You can also hide money in an old sunscreen bottle or unused diaper — nobody wants to mess with those. ;)

2. Keep your keys afloat by attaching a wine cork.

Courtesy of Megan K.

You can make this by twisting a screw hook into one end of the cork and sticking it on your keychain. In a pinch? Pushing a bobby pin through the cork will also do the trick!

3. Stick your phone in a sandwich bag.

Courtesy of Megan K.

This is an inexpensive way to keep all your electronics water-resistant. And you can still use the touch screen through the plastic!

4. Put glowsticks in your leftover water bottles.

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This is a cord-free way to light up your area as the sun sets.

5. Pack a few baking cups.

Courtesy of Megan K.

They will catch drips as the popsicle melts, keeping your kids (and their clothes) less sticky.

6. Play color balloon volleyball.

befuddledsenses (CC BY 2.0) / Via Flickr: befuddledsenses

Things you'll need:

- Water balloons

- Beach towels

- Volleyball net

(You can pack up your car with a bucket of water balloons or fill them at the shower stations when you arrive)

How to play:

Each team must have an even number of players. Partners will grab the ends of their beach towels and use it as a net to catch and toss water balloons. One at a time, teams will toss their balloon over the net, and the opposing team will try to catch it in their towel. If they drop the balloon and it pops, the opposing team gets a point. First team to 21 points wins!

7. Start a game of sand pictionary.

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How to play:

Forget the pens and paper at home! You've got your very own dry-erase board in the sand! Set a timer for one minute per person and see how many beach-themed pictures you can guess. The player with the highest number of correct guesses wins.

8. Go "beach bowling."

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Stuff you'll need:

- Sand shovels for digging

- Tennis balls for bowling

How to play:

Dig three or four different-size holes in the ground — the smaller the hole, the higher the amount of points you receive. Step about 10 feet away and one by one try to roll your tennis balls into the holes.

9. Make some sun-baked s'mores.

Courtesy of Megan K.

Courtesy of Megan K.

Here's what you need:

- Aluminum foil

- A shoe box

- Graham crackers

- Chocolate bars

- Giant marshmallows

Directions:

Start by covering the inside of your box and the lid with aluminum foil. After that's done, let your "oven" warm up in the sun for about 30 minutes. Once it's nice and toasty, put the crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows inside! Make sure to keep the lid propped open at a 45-degree angle so the light reflects onto the s'mores. Wait for an hour and then eat 'em up!

10. Take the sandman challenge.

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How to:

If you've built one in the snow, then you can build one in the sand. Pack your bags with santa hats, sunglasses, and carrots, and collect seashells for the buttons. Voilà! You've got yourself a sandy snowman.

11. Keep a magnetic activity tray in the car.

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How to make it:

- Cookie sheet

- Chalkboard paint

How to use it:

- Chalk

- Magnets

- Your imagination: Ask your kiddos to draw the best part of the day with the chalk or play hangman or tic-tac-toe with letter magnets!

12. Give your kids mermaid fin blankets.

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They can pretend to be magical sea creatures all the way home!

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And don't forget sunscreen! Banana Boat® Sunscreens make it easier to protect your skin in seven real-life conditions* like ocean water, wind, sweat, and sand so everyone can play more and worry less.

*Seven Conditions does not apply to tanning or oil products, SPF 100 lotions, lip balms, Kids FREE, and Zinc Faces

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