Beach

Rio Portable Cabana Beach Hut Beach Shelter SPF 50
$25.95
We bought the Rio Hut for an August trip to Panama City Beach Fl. I have a 2 year old that didn't need a bad sunburn. The hut proved to be an EXCELLENT buy. I didn't even open the package until I got down on the beach, and I found the instructions on assembly very easy to follow. After the first time it only takes about 5 min. to set the tent up. I did purchase extra tent stakes at Walmart before our trip, and I took a rubber head hammer with me. I suggest you do the same as the wind on most beaches can get pretty high. Another suggestion would be to face the tent perpendicular to the water and when you finish staking the tent, push sand up to the sides(on back). This way no wind will be able to get under the tent. This tent also has a floor in it, which we loved. I posted a pic. of the tent (with my Dad sleeping in it), he stayed in it more than my 2yo. Basically if you are thinking about purchasing this and are worried about the quality because the price is so low--don't worry!!! The tent is well-made and the fabric and poles are sturdy.

Texsport Calypso Cabana Beach Shelter
$39.99
If you are looking for a tent large enough to hold big kids and adults, this is a good one. It's very roomy and open. It is not as easy to assemble as some other ones, but not too hard. It folds up to a reasonable size. My only complaint is that it arrived without the set of stakes, but the manufacturer could not have been nicer about rectifying the problem.

The Beach
$14.98
I know, I know, it's not the book. Guess what? No movie is. Standing on it's own, I think it's one of the more underrated adventure movies out there. It has some great actors/actresses from around the world (Virginie Ledoyen, Tilda Swinton)-- even Leonardo, who I don't normally like, is the perfect fit for a brash, somewhat phony but adventurous American. Fantastic, beautiful, on location scenery in Thailand: places I had been, that I had seen. It has great narrative from the book. A great haunting soundtrack (UNKLE, Moby, Leftfield, Underworld). It's also got a kind of innocent magic to it-- which, i can tell you from traveling, is true and real-- and then the loss of that magic, which is also part of the story. Give it a chance, forget what other people say.

Beach
$17.99
While I agree that this is a wonderful book with great illustrations, the pictures can be a little abstract and small for the little ones. You might be better off with Beach day or a book like that. I am commenting from the point of view of 4 year old and younger.