beach


Rio Del Mar beach day

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summer outfits under $50
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Wearing: hat (old, also love this one) / earrings / sunglasses / swimsuit cover-up dress (under $50) / swimsuit (not shown) / wedge espadrilles / straw tote bag / summer nail polish /

‘Tis the season to go to the beach! If you are local to the San Francisco Bay Area, when was the last time you took a beach day? Sometimes we think of the beach as a place to go to relax, but unfortunately, the summer months bring in a lot of people at the beaches, making them anything but relaxing.

Unless you want your beach day to be filled with activities, you might skip the beach and opt for a spa if you are looking for peace and quiet. Well, maybe that means you don’t know about Rio Del Mar Beach in Aptos!

I’m not trying to spoil the place, but I don’t think tourists will suddenly flood Rio Del Mar Beach if I post about it. Unless you live in the Bay Area and truck in your own picnic, there isn’t anything here for tourists to see. It’s just a beach.

Rio Del Mar Beach is a quiet yet large beach in Aptos, just south of Capitola. While many beach going locals talk about heading to Capitola in order to avoid crowds in Santa Cruz, an even better way to avoid crowds is to head a little further south on highway 1 and go to Rio Del Mar.

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This isn’t a beach made to handle a ton of people, despite having a ton of clean sand and space. Rio Del Mar Beach is set up like a local, neighborhood beach. The parking lot is small, and if you end up not finding a space, you will have to park in the neighborhood. If this happens, please oh please be respectful of the neighborhood! Park your car without blocking driveways and adhere to any parking signs that have been posted. It’s better to park a few minutes away than to block a driveway or break a parking rule.

Once you legally park, you can walk over to the beach and enjoy it’s peacefulness. There is a lot of sand, which equates to tons of space for spreading out your blanket. There are a few restaurants in town, but they are small, and you should dress in regular clothing to go. I recommend bringing a cooler with food from home to eat while on the beach.

There is also a really cool, cement boat off a small pier which has been sinking for years. Every time we go to Rio Del Mar Beach the boat is a little farther down in the sea. It’s pretty cool to see, and fun to walk over to and check out.

As always, I recommend going early! The earlier you go, the better chance you have of getting into the parking lot. I also recommend taking a day off work and going on a weekday. This will give you a more peaceful experience.

Shop my affordable beach outfit online:

Summer vacation is already halfway over! Enjoy it and go to the beach!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO
Cathy

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Summer beach bags 2021

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Summer beach bags from top left: small straw tote (IT bag under $500) / large beach bag (under $100) / designer IT bag / classic straw tote (under $300) / stripe straw tote / popular designer straw tote with shoulder straps /

Beach season is here! I love a fabulous straw beach tote this season since straw totes are hotter than hot; plus, when they get sand inside, they are easier to clean than a canvas tote. Love that!

Summer beach bags come in various sizes depending on what you need it for at the beach. A smaller tote can handle items such as a book, sunscreen, and baseball cap. Whereas a larger tote can fit a towel, lightweight sweatshirt for when the fog rolls in, a book, sunscreen, and snacks. The size you get depends on what you like to bring with you to the beach. I also like to look at my beach tote as something which can work at the pool too. So that is something to keep in mind if you are looking at the beach bag to work at the pool too.

I tend to carry two beach bags because I have kids who like to bring extra items to the beach. I normally will have one large beach bag filled with multiple towels and sweatshirts, and also a smaller beach tote with a book, snacks, and sunscreen. Yes, I am one of those bag ladies at the beach. haha

Shop summer beach bags for 2021 online:

Which type of beach bag is your favorite?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Pool slides for summer 2021

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Pictured: blue and white stripe pool slides /

Move over flip-flops, summer 2021 is all about pool slides! Don’t worry about that peice of plastic rubbing between your first two toes, flip flops are so last year. This year, the beach and the pool call for a hearty pair of plastic slides; and I am here for it!

As street style trends towards more comfortable footwear, beach styles and pool styles are no different. Summer 2021 is all about comfortable footwear, and the pool slide fits the bill as the perfect shoe to wear to the beach or the pool. Love!

Pool slides are super comfortable. They have a thicker sole than your average pair of flip flops, and that sole is generally cushy and comfy. The sole is so comfy, you may find yourself using your pool slides as a summer slipper at home! I know I have already been wearing mine around the house on warm spring days!

You can find varying styles of pool slides to fit your personal style. Personally, I love all of the styles by adidas, but there are luxury versions too. You can rock pool slides any way you wish! Look for metallics, floral prints, designer logos, and more! You can also look for seasonal colors, or classic hues such as black or navy. There are pool slides for every taste this summer season.

Shop pool slides online:

What are your favorite pool slides for summer 2021? Mine are blue and white striped!

Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the pool!

XOXO
Cathy