Ready to make a splash and surprise your beach-loving friend or family member with the perfect gift?
Look no further, because I’ve compiled a list of the 50 best gifts for beach lovers!
Whether they’re a sun-worshipper, an adventure-seeker, or just love to relax by the shore, this list is packed with gifts big and small, perfect for any gift-giving occasion.
Beachly subscription box
Subscription boxes are the gift that keep giving year round! Some companies, like Beachly, also offer the ability to buy a single seasonal box, too.
Beachly is perfect for beach lovers because each box is packed with goods and accessories for the beach, as well as coastal inspired home decor.
There are 3 types of boxes to choose from: men’s, women’s, and beauty.
Whichever box you choose, there will be fun surprises each season to look forward to.
Donation to Surfrider foundation
The Surfrider Foundation helps protects the ocean and its beaches worldwide.
They do this by sponsoring relevant laws, organizing beach cleanups, working with restaurants to reduce single-use plastics, and more.
A donation to the Surfrider Foundation can be made online. Or if you buy from their online shop, 100% of the purchase goes back to the foundation’s efforts.
A stylish and practical way to shade the face from the sun's harmful rays is with a UPF 50 bucket hat.
This option from Hat Depot comes in a variety of fun colors and is super affordable too!
Protect your peepers with polarized sunglasses like my favorite pair shown above from Sojos.
I love the trendy cat eye design and the tortoiseshell and black design matches pretty much everything.
They do come in other styles and colors, plus they don't cost an arm and a leg!
This lightweight Turkish beach towel from Sand Cloud dry quickly and don't retain sand after being shaked. The designs are also reversible!
These little beach towel clips are the accessory you never knew you needed!
I got these before a cruise vacation one year and they proved invaluable at keeping my towel on my chair, as well as holding it steady when drying (like a clothes pin).
I never travel to a beach or cruise vacation without these now!
Beat the heat with a portable and rechargeable fan. I have this fan in light pink and use it both at the beach, as well as when I'm on my treadmill or spin bike.
The bendable legs mean the fan can be attached to nearly anything, like the arm of a beach chair, ceiling of a beach tent, and so on.
Another easy way to beat the heat at the beach is with a cooling towel.
I first starting using the Frogg Toggs cooling towel years ago when I was visiting Disney World during the swampy summer season and it actually helped keep me cool. I've been hooked ever since.
It's super easy to use - just wet it before you head out and pull it out when needed.
Just be sure to fully dry it before putting it way for more than a night so it doesn't get mildewy.
Protect your skin against sun burns with reef safe sunscreen that doesn't use chemicals that are harmful to coral reefs and other marine life.
I like the Blue Lizard brand because the cap on the bottle will turn purple-ish when it's time to reapply. It's so helpful!
A spacious and durable bag is necessary to carry all the essentials when going to the beach.
I first saw the ALOHA Collection bags when on vacation on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
The material is durable and splashproof (ie, not fully waterproof) and comes in a variety of styles, such as the Day Tripper bag above.
If you're more of a beach blanket than chair type of person, you'll want a blanket that is large enough to fit you and your things and doesn't get overly sandy.
This option from Seaview has a hidden zippered pocket for valuables, plus you can stuff the bags on the corners with sand to keep it from flying away. Genius!
If you prefer to lay out on a beach blanket, you're gonna need a pillow.
The Ballast inflatable pillow can be stuffed with a special ice pack to help you keep cool.
Create a little shady respite area with a cute beach umbrella from Business Pleasure Co.
They have a few different umbrella models with a mix of boho and sunny designs.
For an even bigger shady space on the beach, check out the Sun Ninja beach tent.
It's super easy to set up with the lightweight frame and stays steady thanks to the sand bags on each corner.
Nothing's worse than trudging through the beach, looking for a place to sit while juggling all your gear.
The Tommy Bahama folding backpack chair is super duper lightweight and can strap to your back like a backpack.
My mom has a bunch for the beach and they are so convenient and are so light they barely feel like you're carrying something.
Another item that makes days at the beach much easier is a small, compact beach table.
It's kind of like a lap tray but is made of material meant for use outdoors. You can use it to play games, prepare sandwiches, hold snacks and drinks, etc.
I know Stanley cups are all the rage right now, but I'm a YETI girl, hands-down! They keep your hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold all day.
I have a variety of sizes, like the rambler (seen above), tumbler, coffee cup, and even a stemless wine cup.
When it comes to the beach, I like the rambler size because it's extra large and can hold tons of water to help keep you hydrated.
Keep your drinks steady and prevent spills with these octopus-like drink holders.
Just swivel them into the sand and place your drink inside!
Pack your snacks and drinks in a handy-dandy backpack cooler.
It's so much easier than dragging the usual rectangular cooler through the sand!
Keep your valuables safe, like your phone or wallet, in the FlexSafe chair vault.
This slash-proof bag includes a lock that will hold it to your chair or umbrella.
Your options for beach games are endless with a waterproof deck of classic playing cards.
They'll stay in great shape, even if you just took a dip in the ocean, and can go with you to the beach for years to come compared to a regular set of cards that'll start to disintegrate if they get wet.
If you're more of an UNO fan, you're in luck, because they have a waterproof set of that game, too!
In addition to the waterproof coating, they also have a clip that'll help keep all the cards together, making them super easy to pack for the beach.
Another fun game for the beach is Spot It! Beach edition.
It's like a scavenger hunt where you have to find all of the items on your card.
What's a day at the beach without tossing a football around for a bit?
This waterproof version from Wave Runner has a special material that makes it easier to grip and catch, especially when wet. It's perfect for tossing around at the beach!
Sand toys can take up a lot of room, but the buckets in this set are collapsible, which makes them perfect if you're traveling far to get to your favorite beach.
The set includes 3 buckets, 2 shovels, a rake, a sieve, and 6 small molds, giving you endless options for building sand castles and sculptures.
You can't go wrong with a beach float! Instead of your basic inflatable ring, get an animal float like this flamingo or a unicorn.
BONUS: They make for cute Instagram photos!
The JBL Clip portable bluetooth speaker can play for up to 10 hours, giving you a full day of your favorite tunes at the beach.
I also love the clip that can be stashed on the outside of your beach tote or cooler backpack.
One of my favorite things to do at tropical beach destinations is to go snorkeling.
A basic snorkel set is perfect for beach lovers because it includes goggles, a snorkel, and fins.
The snorkel in this set is detachable so you can use just the goggles, too!
Have fun in the surf with a boogie board, aka bodyboard, from Thurso Surf.
I like this option because it looks like a vintage surfboard and includes a wrist leash so it doesn't get away from you in the waves.
Sometimes beaches can be extra rocky which isn't so great for our feet.
Water shoes or socks add an extra layer of protection for walking around the beach, as well as in the water.
I have this pair from Amazon. They dry quickly and kept my feet from being cut when snorkeling in Hawaii!
I love a sarong type wrap for the beach because it can be tied in multiple ways - a skirt, a halter dress, a shawl, etc.
It also makes a lovely gift, especially in the recipients favorite color. This option from Shu Shi has a ton of different options!
Another way to protect your skin from the sun is with UPF rated clothing. A rashguard is a good place to start, such as this option above from O'Neill for women.
Here are a few more options:
A wet bag is essential for stashing wet swimsuits so all your belongings don't get wet!
Technically the Bumkins wet bag is geared toward moms for stashing in a diaper bag, but it comes in a bunch of different colors and sizes that adults can use too!
No changing rooms or bathrooms? No problem!
Use a changing poncho to keep covered while you slip off your wet, sandy swimsuit and pull on something dry.
The Shakalo Sandscreen bag easily removes sand from your skin. Just swipe and it's gone!
No more finding grains of sand hours later, plus you'll prevent getting sand in your car if you use it before jumping in.
Most SPF lip balms leave a chalky, white residue. Needless to say, it's not a good look.
However, the Sun Bum SPF 30 lip balm doesn't do that! It comes in several beachy flavors, like coconut and banana, and glides on smoothly. It makes a great stocking stuffer for beach lovers.
I actually use this lip balm year round, not just at the beach. Banana is my go-to, but I also like the mango.
Another great skin care related gift for beach lovers is the FaceTory Sun Bae sheet mask.
It's perfect for after a long day at the beach for cooling and calming your skin, while also rehydrating it.
I love to use it before going to dinner after being out in the sun all day because it leaves my skin moisturized, calm, and glowy.
As much as I love the beach, it does a number on my already dry hair.
The Sun Bum revitalizing deep conditioning hair mask really helps revive and moisturize my hair after a day at the beach.
It's perfect for Christmas stockings or a gift basket filled with beach beauty goodies.
Swedish Dream soap is packed with marine ingredients that can help relieve various skin ailments.
The sea salt soap is perfect for dry skin. I like to use it when my eczema flares up or in the winter when my skin gets extra dry.
The seaweed soap is purifying, so it's good for acne and clogged pores.
And the sea aster soap is good for irritated skin of any type and helps with redness, too.
Get fresh-out-of-the-ocean wavy hair with the Sun Bum texturing sea spray.
While I have naturally wavy hair, sometimes it needs a little boost and this stuff does the trick!
I should note that this won't work on all hair types, but does work well for most people with straight or wavy hair types.
This is another perfect gift for Christmas stockings, Easter baskets, or a gift basket filled with beauty items for beach bums.
As a fellow beach lover, one of my favorite pieces of jewelry is a sea glass necklace from an artist in Maine.
It's a such a genius way to repurpose littered glass that has been smoothed over by the ocean.
When you can't be at the beach, the next best thing is making your home smell like the beach.
A coconut beach scented candle from Yankee Candle makes the perfect gift for filling your home with the scent of a tropical, beachy paradise.
You can't go wrong with beachy home decor or art as a present for someone that is obssessed with the beach.
However, a map or coordinates sign takes the cake, in my opinion.
Map Mom on Amazon has a ton of different beach destinations, like this one for Indian Rocks Beach in the Tampa, FL area.
If your beachy friend has a bit of a sweet tooth, some salt water taffy is the perfect gift.
This back from Taffy Shop includes a mix of tropical flavors reminiscent of many beach destinations.
Keep your phone protected from water and sand while at the beach or out on a boat with this waterproof pelican case from Case Mate.
It includes a brightly colored lanyard so you can wear it around your neck, plus if it happens to slip off, you'll be able to find it more easily thanks to the neon strap!
I love to read at the beach, but when I travel, I prefer to use a Kindle instead of a physical book to help keep my luggage lightweight.
A Kindle Paperwhite is perfect for reading at the beach because the screen is glare free, unlike phones or iPads. It's also small and light, just like a paperback book.
A GoPro action camera is perfect for a beach babe or dude that also loves to take photos or create videos for social media.
It's durable, water-resistant, and has tons of fun accessories to help capture epic photos, like the popular half overwater/half underwater shot.
I have 2 GoPro cams myself and NEVER travel without both!! I gotta have a backup option to make sure I get content for the blog!
Keep all your tech at the beach, such as your personal fan, phone, and GoPro camera charged up all day with the iWalk portable charger.
The iWalk comes in a variety of strengths and also has models that will fit different port types (ex: iphone vs Samsung).
The best part? No charging cord required!
Surfing lessons
Surfing lessons are a great activity for friends or couples to do together or even as a solo hobby.
If you don’t live near somewhere with surfing, you could opt to surprise your special someone with lessons on your next beach vacation.
Or if you travel to the same beach destination on a regular basis, getting a package would give them something new to look forward to each time you go.
Beach vacation
Of all the gifts you can get a beach lover, a beach vacation definitely tops the list.
This gift requires more money than other items on the list, but if you have the means, it’ll be a gift they’ll remember forever.
For ideas on where to go, check out my post about the best beach vacations in the USA.
What are your favorite gifts for beach lovers?
I hope my curated list helped you find the perfect present for your beach buddy or ocean-loving family member.
Whether it’s practical gear, fun games, or relaxing accessories, these gifts are sure to make a big splash.
Before you go, be sure to leave a comment below about your favorite gifts to give beach lovers.
Happy shopping!
About the author
Meg Frost is a Boston-based travel blogger that helps people embrace technology to make vacation planning and traveling wicked easy, affordable, and fun.
She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami.
