There's something more inherently rewarding about a day at the beach. Sure, there's a fair amount of prep work that goes into packing a bag, dressing the part and trekking down to the nearest public beach. But a pool or park can only mimic the rays and water—nothing really compares to the moment you realize you've gone far enough into the sand and it's more appropriate to carry your shoes than to wear them.

Sand will get stuck places, and loud families will park too close to your blanket, but the people-watching and sounds of waves crashing will make it all worthwhile when it's time to start packing up. And yes, there are enough uncontrollable variables (mostly the weather) that can put a damper on your beach day, but where you're truly the master of your domain is before you ever leave the house.

Packing everything you need (but not too much) is an art. And it requires you to ask the big questions: Is it a day to quietly crank out a few chapters or are you more worried about "obeying" local open-container laws? We put together a quick packing list to help you look, prep and execute the perfect beach day.