We are so excited to be going on a family vacation in less than 2 months! We went to Myrtle Beach in 2016, but didn’t travel last summer due to our tight budget after moving to a new city. Moving is so expensive. We are thrilled to have a family vacation this year, even if it’s just for a few days! Today I am sharing what is on our packing list as we travel to the Outer Banks this summer.

• Family luggage

• Insurance cards | Debit Card | Driver’s License

• Swimwear. My favorite part of the entire trip!

• Sunscreen. After researching the safest sunscreens for our children, this is the brand I chose.

• Sunglasses. When we’re on vacation I am constantly taking pictures. I learned early on that if I take pictures in the sun, my kids need sunglasses on or else their eyes are closed in every picture.

• Floats, goggles, and sand toys

• Water shoes. These are a must. Our 10 year old would do fine in sandals, but our 3 year old and our 8 year old autistic son couldn’t tolerate hot sand on their feet.

• Beach towels

• A beach blanket. We ordered this one from Amazon.

• A cooler | beach tote

• Sand coasters

• A first aid kit. Klara is in that stage where she wants a bandaid for everything.

• Beach chairs for the kiddos

• An umbrella to shade the babies while they have a snack

• A bag for shells

• Waterproof phone pouches | fanny pack

• A sun hat

• Cash and coins. Not every restaurant or shop accepts cards, so be sure to carry some cash. I love the idea of using an empty Chapstick tube for your cash or an empty sunscreen bottle to put your money, keys, or wallet inside of while you’re on vacation. Don’t forget your coins because quarters come in handy for drink machines!

• Camera | Tripod | SD card | Video Recorder

• Waterproof safety tats. I need these for our baseball practices and for late game nights, but when traveling to an unfamiliar place, these are a MUST for our two youngest kiddos.

• Misting fans

• Wagon

For the car ride

• Comfy clothes

• Tablets | Nintendo DS

• Portable DVD player | movies

• Pillows

• Headphones

• A backpack for each child. If Koby seems to get overwhelmed, having access to sensory toys would be soothing for him.

Klara’s bag

Sensory toys for Koby

• Snacks|Water bottles for each kid

• Wet Ones

• Lap trays for the kids so they can eat, hold the DVD player, draw, write, color, or do puzzles during the long ride.

• Boogie board. This thing has been worth every penny. Klara plays with it more than any of her toys. It has saved our lives at baseball games and at church when she gets bored.

• Travel journals and pens. I am a big journal lover and encourage our kiddos to document special occasions.

The must-have items

• Clothes
• Pull ups for night time
• Wipes
• Toothbrushes|toothpaste
• Shampoo|conditioner
• Body wash
• Deodorant
• Makeup|hair products
• Electric razor. This is a must for me. I just go over my legs each morning before putting on my swimsuit so I’m not dealing with cuts from my razor and shaving gel
• Chargers for cell phones, tablets, cameras, etc.
• Tylenol, Tums, Pepto

Snack ideas for the cooler

Uncrustables | chips | granola bars | pretzels | apples | sliced watermelon | grapes | Skinnypop popcorn | crackers | sunflower seeds | applesauce packets | Cutie oranges | sliced strawberries | carrot sticks

Don’t forget a trash bag for trash, spoons, forks, and wipes for sticky faces.

Have you guys heard of The Light Phone? We don’t own one but if it’s something you can afford, I think they are ideal for a family vacation!

What things are on your packing list for your next family vacation?