11 Unique Gift Ideas for the Beach Lover in Your Life

There's no vacation quite like a beach vacation! From the beaches of Cape Cod to the shores of sunny Florida to the Pacific surf in SoCal or the Hawaiian islands, many of us dream of those days when we can take a seat on the sand and breathe in that lovely salt air. Of course, there are inland beaches, too, at the thousands of lakes around this great country of ours. If you're looking for gifts for travelers who love the beach, we're here to help! Here are more than a dozen gifts for beach vacations that those who frequent the beach are sure to love.

Beach vacations can be quite memorable and relaxing. And yet, they can be a little overwhelming as we try to figure out what to take to the beach. In order to make a beach vacation less stressful, there are numerous gifts to consider for the beach lovers in your life. So, put a smile on someone's face with one of these fun and helpful gifts for beach vacations. From beach towels to beach blankets, from sunshades to coolers, here are some of the best gifts for beach lovers:

1. Beach Blanket

If you're headed to the beach, both a good beach towel and a beach blanket are necessities. Our Staff Pick for a beach blanket is the Packable Microfiber Towels from Sand Cloud. A travel team editor shared, “I LOVE these beach towels. They pack well, are a breeze to wash, and perform as advertised – they repel sand while also being incredibly soft! They also work well as car blankets or makeshift sarongs! 10/10.” Not only are they functional and soft, but they also come in a variety of colors and patterns, making them fun beach gifts for her or him.

2. Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler

When heading to the beach, we need a way to keep our drinks and food cool, right? A good cooler is an absolute must. As far as hand-held coolers go, you can't go wrong with the YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. With its sleek design and handle to make carrying a breeze, this cooler is one of the best gifts for the beach lover in your life.

For something a bit more portable, the REI Co-op Cool Trail Pack Cooler is an awesome backpack cooler that will leave a beach lover hands-free to carry either other gear or nothing at all!

3. REI Flexlite Air Chair

For those who don't like to sit on a blanket or towel on the sand, a beach chair is ideal. We love the REI Flexlite Air Chair because, not only is it feather-light at just one pound, but it's comfortable too. Or, for something that you and your travel partner will love, check out this low loveseat. It's relaxed and low-profile, providing minimum set-up and maximum comfort on the beach or in the backcountry.

4. The Original Shibumi Shade® Wind-Powered® Beach Canopy

Give your favorite beach lover the gift of sun protection with a Shibumi Shade®. An absolute favorite of our travel team, his canopy provides 150 square feet of sun protection and can be set up within just a few minutes. It's also lightweight and easy to carry!

5. Stoic Essentials Quad Fold All Terrain Wagon

For those who have children and/or lots of stuff to bring to the beach, a wagon is an absolute necessity. The Stoic Essentials Quad Fold All Terrain Wagon is a Staff Pick and, with its big wheels, it makes trudging through the sand a piece of cake. It also folds up nicely to be stowed away in the car.

6. Kavu See Ya There Tote Bag

Spending hours upon hours at the beach requires quite a bit of stuff. A good beach bag or beach tote is needed in order to carry everything from one's keys and wallet to sunscreen, beach toys, towels, sun hat, and more. The KAVU Beach Tote Bag is a good option and can convert from a large tote into a sling bag. Another excellent option is the 25-liter Patagonia Black Hole Tote with its durable water-repellent finish.

7. Beach Games

How about a little fun at the beach? There are so many incredible beach games that families and friends alike love playing when out on the sand. A frisbee is an obvious classic, but then there are games like corn hole and Ladder Ball that are popular at the beach as well. Check out the game selections on both REI and Walmart.

8. Beach Shoes

We all need to have some sort of footwear on as we trudge through the hot sand to find the perfect spot to put down our stuff. Whether you like to wear flip flops or a pair of water shoes, there are so many choices out there. Consider finding a pair of flip-flops for the beach lover in your life from REI, which offers a variety of durable brands like Sanuk, OluKai, and Freewaters. For waterproof sandals, you can't go wrong with Teva. Can't find the perfect pair or don't know what to get as a gift? Get a gift card instead!

9. Sun Protection

We all know how incredibly important sun protection is. And sunscreen is always top of mind whenever I hit the beach. REI offers a wide selection of sunscreens that will protect the skin no matter what age. A good lip balm with SPF is also a necessity when spending hours at the beach. The Sun Bum Mineral SPF 30 Sunscreen Lip Balm will make an excellent little surprise for someone who frequents the beach.

10. L.L. Bean Sunday Afternoons Sol Seeker Hat

A beautiful, comfortable sun hat is one of the best beach gifts for her. They keep the sun out of the face and the eyes. One of our favorites is the L.L. Bean Sunday Afternoons Sol Seeker Hat. This lovely hat provides a UPF 50+ and is also conveniently foldable.

11. Goodr Circle Gs Polarized Sunglasses

Not only do you have to protect your skin and your head, but your eyes as well. Sunglasses are an awesome gift, not only because they're stylish, but also because they serve a very practical purpose. A pair of these goodr Circle Gs Polarized Sunglasses not only protects the eyes, but looks pretty darn cool at the beach, too!

Life at the beach can be so fun and relaxing, but a lot of gear is required to make time by the sea comfortable. What other gifts for beach lovers would you add to this list? Looking for ideas for other types of travelers in your life? Check out these 75 gifts for travelers.

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