A shovel and a boogie board cover 90% of the fun.

Don’t overthink it. Kids 5-10 aren’t picky—they’ll play with a stick if that’s what’s there. But if you want them occupied for hours without you having to referee whining, bring a decent shovel (the sturdy plastic kind, not the flimsy dollar-store one) and a boogie board.

The shovel turns into a moat-digger, a castle-builder, a weapon, a scoop for wet sand art. The boogie board works in the water, but also as a sled on wet sand, a base for a sand castle, or a tray for carrying shells. Add a bucket if you want, but the bucket is just a container—the real tool is the shovel.

Everything else—floaties, inflatable sharks, ring toss games—gets used for five minutes then becomes a sand magnet you have to haul back. Keep it simple, pack a towel and a snack, and let the ocean do the rest.

Trust the shovel.