Growing up on the shores of Lake Michigan has helped make me a bit of an authority when it comes to lakeside living, the pro’s & cons and how to make the most of your investment. Talk about a celebration of nature! Imagine waking up to look out upon beautiful hues of orange, red and purple as the morning sunrise is shining on the water. You can breathe deep and start your day by having your breakfast out on the patio watching the gorgeous landscape unfold. At night you could end your day by having your favorite beverage on the deck facing the breath-taking sunsets that we are so fortunate to have; but aren’t always able to enjoy during our typical daily hustle and bustle. I often wonder if we were all able to “take in the show” of sunrise and sunset, would our days look and feel different?
Unfortunately, I don’t live on a lake anymore, but I try to take pause and drink in any sunset I come across. When I am up early and not scrambling to make it out the door, I make it a priority to enjoy the beautiful peaceful moments. It gives me amazing clarity to start my day.
Below I have made a couple lists of suggested items to get you started as you pack for your lakeside summer adventure!
Lakeside and Beach List: (see a list of favorites below)
- A sturdy beach bag or tote that holds most of what you need
- Light beach chairs with straps for easy carry
- Beach towels or mats
- Umbrella or shelter from sun
- Watersport equipment and activities i.e., inflatables, boogie boards, kayaks, fishing
- Beach games and toys i.e. buckets, shovels, nets and balls for volleyball, badminton, paddleball, frisbee
- Safety vests and equipment for motorized sports i.e., ski’s, kneeboards, rope, gloves, swim goggles
- Sunscreen, Aloe, Bug spray, Itch Relief Cream
- Sunglasses, Hats
- Beach, boat, or water shoes
- Plenty of re-fillable bottles or large self-serve cooler with tap for water
- Music / Bluetooth speakers
- Waterproof cases for phones and electronics
- Air pump or small air compressor
- Binoculars
- Whistle or bell
- Trash bags
- Wet wipes
- Brush (good for wet hair like Wet Brush) and Hair ties (Thick braided hair is a good option for long hair). It stays put and does not tangle so easily.
- Customizable First Aid Kit (One that has pockets you can fill with things that your family uses often). Such as, eye drops, Latex free band aids, Neosporin and so on.
- Additional gas containers for motorized water vehicles.
- Boating and fishing licenses.
Cottage list:
- Food storage containers & bags (Sustainable/reusable options are available see list below)
- Aluminum foil
- Can and bottle opener.
- Lighters, candles for indoors and citronella for outside.
- Batteries, flashlights/outdoor lanterns, and additional light bulbs for inside.
- Coolers for outdoor grab and go drinks and snacks (keeps down on tracking beach sand in).
- Ice trays or bags of ice if there is no ice maker
- Mesh outdoor food covers to keep the fly’s off!
- Non-breakable dishes and cups. Do not forget dish soap.
- Grill (lighter, charcoal and fluid if not gas)
- Spices, sauces, and condiments
- Utensils to eat, cook and serve with
- Paper towel / napkins / paper plates / toilet paper
- Antibacterial wipes, spray, and soap.
- Food – Make a “loose” daily/weekly menu.
- Have ready to go healthy/ beach ready / guest drop-in snacks and drinks.
- If you have a signature summer drink, alcohol, and non-alcohol, keep ingredients stocked and ready to serve.
- Jugs of drinking water.
- Campfire skewers. S’more fixings. Do not forget the buns for brats or dogs.
- Small tub to fill with water for washing off sand before entering cottage.
- Yard Games and board games
- Pens, pencil, and paper (for games and notes)
- Books for lazy & rainy-day reading
- Portable chargers
- Allergy / Meds / First Aid Kit
- Personal items i.e., glasses, contacts, toothbrush, deodorant, prescription meds, cosmetics, grooming, swim diapers and fem hygiene.
- Clothing – Pack for cool and very warm. Swimsuits, shorts, long pants, sweatshirts, or light jacket. Undergarments, socks, tennis shoes, sandals, or flip flops. Quick and cute cover ups or sundresses are nice to have when company drops in.
- Blankets, sheets, pillows, kitchen & bath towels.
- Having an extra cot, inflatable bed or sleeping bags help with guests.
- If you do not have a W&D, bring laundry soap and a lot of quarters for nearby laundromat. If there is an outdoor clothesline be sure to bring clothespins to hang wet items.
- A fan or two – Helps if you are used to air con or if you need white noise
- Bring a rake and shovel. (in case of sharp items, dead fish or other undesirable things that end up on the beach).
Let us discuss some things you can do to prevent accidents and loss of items when you are not around. It is always smart to have a physical and mental checklist of what you need to do each night or when you leave the lake or cottage. After living out on a big lake for over 20 years you tend to notice weather changes before others. You feel the wind picking up, the cool feel of a fog bank on the way or when a storm is coming. It is best to prepare for all these events before they catch you by surprise. The last thing you want to come back to after a drive into town is a broken window where the deck umbrella blew through it. It is sad indeed when the fun inflatable whale your little one begged for is long gone (from experience) because it was not secured after coming in from the lake. Here is a list of things that you should keep in mind after enjoying a wonderful day at your beach cottage.
Safe and Secure List:
- Safe Clean Beach: Take a quick survey of the beach area and make sure it is free from any sharp objects, nails, and broken glass. I always bring a rake and bag. You do not want to ruin the fun with an incident that may require a tetanus shot!
- Waterproof outdoor storage: I would recommend investing in a large outdoor storage tub that is water proof for the quick on-set of rain where you can quickly put, towels, cushions and anything you don’t want to get wet. When storing inflatables, cloth lawn chairs or hammocks for the winter make sure they are in mouse proof containers.
- Umbrellas: Any beach or picnic table umbrellas should be secured with bungee cord or laid down flat on the ground before leaving. I have watched them spiral right out of the metal weighted stands with the right kind of wind.
- Inflatables: Always secure all inflatables when you walk away from the lake. One thing I know for sure is that it can be completely still one minute and on any lake a wind can pick up just like that! *A trick is to bury a metal pole securely in the ground sticking up about 4-5ft. Take a Styrofoam (floaty) noodle and split it in ½ and duct tape around the pole. Now you have a safe place to put your circular inflatables/tubes that will not get too hot.
- Motorized / Water vehicles: Make sure boats and anything of that sort are secure by locking or taken out of the water and properly put away.
- Chairs and tables: If you do not have super heavy furniture make sure it is secure. Stack or fold the chairs and if you are leaving for the winter, I would store any outdoor furniture in a garage, shed or boathouse if possible.
All of this might seem like more effort than it is worth, but the benefits far outweigh the work. Once you have your routine and go lists set up, it will become easier every time. After you have enjoyed a day of tranquility and adventure with loved ones, you will want to repeat!
Below are some of the suggested products (talked about above) and their direct links. This website sometimes uses affiliate links. As a customer, you do not pay any more because you are using this link. A small percentage of the sale will go to the person or blogger who generated the link. Thank you for your support! As an affiliate associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases.
Product Suggestions:
Beach Chairs
Ultra Comfort comes at a price $$. This chair has a 500 lb capacity.
This is a great choice for larger frames and is easier to carry.
Another solid choice for lightweight carry, but holds up to 300 lbs.
Beach Bags / Totes:
I have had the same huge 31 tote for close to 15 years and it has held up incredible and has hauled so many things! Check out this link for choices.
https://www.mythirtyone.com/us/en/collection/work-bags?page=2
A friend has one of these SHYLERO bags and loves it!
If you have shopped at IKEA and have one of these already use it! It works great.
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/frakta-shopping-bag-large-blue-17228340/