What you need for a Valentine’s Day beach date

Go down to the beach the coming Sunday and it won’t just be salt and moisture in the air!

If you’re short on date ideas, then we’ve got just the thing for you: what about a romantic day (or night) at the beach?

After all, unlike most places, you don’t need to make a booking to go down to the beach - something that we’re certain that you’re happy to hear, given that Valentine’s Day is fast approaching.

Of course, just like any family trip to the beach, it’s crucial that your beach date is just as meticulously planned.

Cute date ideas: is the beach a good date?

Absolutely - provided that it’s planned properly, that is.

And make no mistake, if you’re thinking of a beach date this Valentine’s Day, you’re going to need to plan.

That means different activities and beach gear.

Not only that, but if you don’t plan things you might find your romantic beach date resulting in nobody really having a good time at all. After all, beaches are humid, bright, windy and sandy - all of which can turn your romantic date into something else entirely.

So, what do you need to do to ensure that your cute beach date idea actually goes according to plan?

How can I be romantic at the beach?

The beach isn’t just a great place for a family day trip - it’s also a super romantic date idea.

Of course, you’ll need to make some changes to your tried-and-true family beach plans.

So, what can you do instead?

What couples can do at the beach

If you’re planning a romantic beach date specifically, there are a whole host of activities you can do:

• Romantic beachside walks
• Beach picnics
• Rent a boat
• Watch the sunset together

Whether you’re looking for something low-key or something straight out of a romantic movie, there are plenty of other things you can do at the beach this Valentine’s Day that don’t involve playing in the water or building castles.

How to prepare for a date at the beach - what else do you need to do?

For starters, begin by checking the forecast - unlike dinner at a restaurant or a movie, a beach date is highly weather dependent.

Thankfully, Valentine’s Day this year looks like it’s going to be pretty mild so you’re in the clear - still, it’s worth keeping an eye on the forecast given Melbourne’s somewhat unpredictable weather.

It’s also important that you think about what you wear - the beach simply isn’t the place to wear your Sunday best.

Of course, it’s still a date, so you can’t just wear whatever you want just because you aren’t planning any water-based activities.

Need some ideas?

• For the guys: a linen button-up shirt with nice shorts
• For the girls: a light, airy summer dress
• Unisex: a good pair of sunnies and beach hats for men and women

What should you bring on a beach date?

When planning any kind of beach trip, bringing the right gear is the key to a good time.

And not just because the right beach gear lets you enjoy certain beach activities - it’s also important because the right gear can protect you from glare, sunburn and just make your romantic beach trip more comfortable.

The same goes for your beach date.

The right gear can be the difference between a romantic date, and a disastrous day at the beach, so you’ll want to make sure you’re bringing the right stuff.

For example, if you’re planning a romantic beachside meal, you might want to bring along an extra large beach blanket to protect the two of you from sand, as well as beach wine glasses and holders for that bottle of red you plan on bringing with you.

And of course, you can’t forget the essentials...

Romantic date or otherwise, it’s essential that you bring a matador droplet wet bag, a french umbrella you can find, sunglasses to shield your eyes and high-quality sunscreen like Cocooil to protect your skin (the last thing you want is a nasy sunburn after your date).

What is good picnic food for a date?

Beach picnics are one of the most popular ways couples choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day while at the beach.

Just one question: what sort of food should you pack?

Luckily for you, we’ve got a bunch of suggestions:

• Small fruits like strawberries, cherries and grapes are a great start. Not only are they sweet, but they’re also the perfect fit for the beach setting - and of course, they’re easy to prepare
• Chocolate is a romantic date staple - if you’re planning a romantic beach picnic, this needs to be on your shopping list
• Canapes like skewers, bruschetta and sushi might not be traditional date food - but since they’re portable and don’t need cutlery however, they’re the perfect beach date food
• Wraps - once again, they’re easy to transport and can be eaten entirely by hand, making them great choices
• Cheese board - pack a few dips, some cold cuts of meat, biscuits, bread, and soft cheese and you’ve got a beautiful platter ready for serving

And don’t forget to bring drinks either - be it a sparkling champagne, bottle of red, or anything else you prefer.

A great beach date starts with the right gear

And getting the gear starts at our online beach shop

While you can scramble together a date using whatever you have lying around the house (be it old beach gear for family trips or other items repurposed for beach usage), for the best results, you need purpose-built beach gear.

And that means visiting a dedicated beach shop.

While you can find certain beach items at your local department store, there are a couple of issues with this:

• A lot of it’s quite cheap, with poor build quality and missing features like UV protection
• Their range is limited - good luck finding items like our giant inflatable flamingo or Red Paddle Co SUP (stand-up paddleboard)
• It just isn’t very stylish - most of them use plain, basic designs

Whether you’re planning a romantic date at the beach or a family holiday, we’ve got the gear for you.

Our online shop exclusively stocks high quality products from some of the world’s best beach brands including Airhead Water Toys and The Nice Fleet.

Each item on our shop goes through the ringer - and by that, we mean we head down to our local beach and do some real-world testing before deciding whether or not it’s good enough to sell to customers like you.

Date coming up soon? Click here to start shopping!