Summer is in full swing and that means spending more time outside. We’ve talked about games you can play in the car, but what games can you take to the beach? Why not bring the board games outside so you can play while enjoying fresh air and sunshine?
Whether you love swimming or prefer to lounge on the sand, you’ll want to take along games that won’t blow away easily and are easy to clean. You want to bring games that won’t get damaged by a little water and sand.
Here are nine games you can play in between swimming and building sandcastles while spending a day at the beach.
Uno Splash (Mattel)
Uno Splash by Mattel is an excellent option for the beach. The cards are waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about wet hands wrecking them. Plus, the cards attach onto a ring that can be clipped onto your beach bag.
Cinco Linko (Big Potato Games)
Cinco Linko by Big Potato Games is a quick, portable game. The brightly colored tiles are durable and waterproof. It doesn’t take up a lot of space — and you can even clip it to your bag. Lay out a towel and play this game in about 15 minutes with two to four people. Be the first to have five of your color tiles in a row to win.
Rummikub (Pressman Toy)
Rummikub by Pressman Toy is a classic family game that helps kids practice sequencing and recognize patterns. Set up a game on a picnic table or beach towel. It’s a great choice for the beach because the plastic tiles and tile holders are easy to wipe off and won’t get ruined by a little water.
Hive (Gen42 Games)
Hive by Gen42 Games is an abstract strategy game for two players. Each player takes turns placing insect tiles and tries to capture the other player’s Queen Bee. Similar to chess, each insect has placement restrictions. This game is very portable with no set-up or board required, and the tiles can withstand a day at the beach.
Flickin Chicken (Haywire Group)
Flickin Chicken by Haywire Group is sure to bring out the giggles. Players fling rubber chickens at a target on the ground. It’s probably one of the silliest games, but one you can certainly play in the sand. Encourage the kids to create their own rules too!
Bananagrams (Bananagrams)
Looking for an educational game to take along to the beach? Bananagrams is a great option. The letter tiles are durable and it comes with a fun travel pouch. They have other great options, too, such as Appleletters, Pairs in Pears, and Fruitominoes.
Sumoku (Blue Orange Games)
Sumoku by Blue Orange Games is a crossword style number game for up to eight players (You can even play solo!). It’s also a fun way for kids to work on math skills. The tiles are durable and you can easily wipe sand off of them afterwards.
Rory’s Story Cubes (Gamewright)
Rory’s Story Cubes by Gamewright is an excellent option for the beach. Roll the dice on a towel or table and let your creativity shine! Dice games such as this one work well when players have wet, sandy hands.
Spot It! Splash (Asmodee)
Spot It! Splash by Asmodee has beach- and pool-themed images in this fast paced symbol recognition game. The best part? The cards are waterproof making it ideal for taking along to play at the beach with the kids.
If you are planning a family trip to the beach, don’t forget to pack a game or two to play. They are a great way to take a quick break from swimming. A set of classic dominoes and a pack of waterproof playing cards can also provide hours of enjoyment and be used to play a variety of games.
