Summer’s here, and at last the long days of outdoor fun can begin. Sunbathing, swimming, hiking and other activities don’t have to end when the sun goes down. With these ideas for packing for a pool trip or a beach vacation, you can keep the fun going all summer long.

It can be fun to plan a trip and get everything ready, but it’s time consuming. To save you time, I’m here with some tips on what to pack for your kids’ next pool trip!

In the middle of summer, when it’s so hot outside that you don’t feel like doing anything, the last thing you want to do is go to the pool. But if you’re a parent, you probably have kids who love water and want to spend as much time as possible in it.

Trying to figure out what to put in your suitcase or duffle bag can be overwhelming, especially if you’re going away for an extended period of time. So here’s a list of items to make packing less stressful and more organized:

This is the first of a three-part series.

Part 1: What to Take Poolside

Part 2: What to Bring on a Picnic

Part 3: What to Pack for the Beach, Day Trip or Weekend Getaway

I love going on trips and exploring new places, whether it’s a weekend getaway to the mountains or a night under the stars. However, packing for these activities can be stressful if you don’t have a solid game plan. Here are some tips from my friends and me at SuperCoolPoolClub.com that will help you easily pack for any outdoor activity.

‘What should I take?’ – One thing many people forget is sunscreen. They might think it’s silly, but remember that if you’re headed out for longer than just a few hours, you’ll want to bring more than just a tube of sunscreen with you. Other items that are often forgotten include band aids, bug spray and hand sanitizer. Make sure you throw in some extra batteries for your camera too!

‘How should I pack?’ – If you’re bringing something fragile like your phone or laptop, make sure it’s packed safely in a bag or case. Another tip is to use reusable containers like mason jars instead of plastic baggies

When you travel for outdoor activities, you need to be prepared. You need to make sure that you have enough clothes that are appropriate for the weather and other outdoor conditions. Packing the right clothing and gear is essential to having the best trip possible.

I’ll admit to being a bit of a pack rat. I like to bring along as much as I can, just in case. So if you’re going away for the weekend, and need to fit everything into a small car, here are some suggestions for packing light.

If you’re going to spend the day outdoors, you want to enjoy it. It’s not just about keeping warm. You want to be comfortable and confident, too. That means being prepared for a wide range of weather conditions, from hot and humid to cold and windy.

I love camping, but I don’t like packing a lot of bulky equipment that usually goes unused. My approach is based on three principles:

1. The right equipment will let me be comfortable in any temperature.

2. The right equipment will make it easier to camp in any weather.

3. The right equipment will make me feel safe and confident in any weather.

The right equipment is also essential if you have kids with you on your trip. They come armed with a built-in set of challenges that need to be met: they can’t control their own body heat or humidity very well, they’re self-absorbed and often clumsy, and they move more quickly than adults.’

If you have been reading my blog for long, you know my favorite season is fall. I love the feel of fall: the cool breezes, the crunching of leaves underfoot, the beautiful colors of the leaves themselves. And in Minnesota, it is truly beautiful! The picture below is one I took while walking around in downtown Stillwater last fall.

Trees are not the only thing that turn orange and red and yellow in autumn. We humans also turn those colors when we go outside after a long winter. We get sunburned, windburned and chapped.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Here are some great products that help protect your skin. They come from Neutrogena and come in two varieties: Sport and Sunblock. They both smell really good, so they don’t make you smell like a sweaty sports guy or girl. They are not greasy at all and absorb quickly into your skin. You can apply them before or after you get out in the sun; either way will work fine.