Beach Life: Must Haves for Fun on the Lake

Living in the Great Lakes State means that you're never far from splendid fresh water that you'd be remiss to miss out on. Michiganders also know that even though school starts after Labor Day, there are still plenty of swimmable days left in September. So, get yourself to the lake and get yourself some fun toys to make the most of it. 

Here are our favorite toys from this summer: 

Water toys are always a hit, and this alligator float doesn't get old. We had one as kids and always fought over it, so now we have one for each kid. At less than $15 each, that's an easy problem to solve. 

The Water Mat made playing in the lake insanely fun. My mom took the plunge and bought one after a friend of hers raved about it being the best lake toy ever. And she was right. It was great when the water was calm and wildly exciting when the waves of the lake made it like a roller coaster.

Sand toys are a must. My kids especially like decorating these cupcakes, and as mentioned in an earlier post, I like this packable pail that packs flat.

I've tried a million sunscreens, and Think Baby is my absolute favorite. It rubs in easily, smells good, and has great longevity.

I love my new Hatley bag for toting all of our things to the beach; it has an interior zippered pouch for sunscreen, cell phone, and keys. It's also big enough to fit three or four towels.

What are your must-haves for the beach?