It's summer, which means taking at least one full-on, sunscreen-on-the-nose day trip to a beach. 

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From New York's serene Robert Moses State Park (which sees 3.8 million visitors a year) to Coast Guard Beach in Cape Cod, Mass., the U.S. has an endless number of state beaches open to the public. The perfect beach day can entail swimming, reading a bad novel and making memories. But it can be even better with these safety and lifestyle hacks. 

Here are five hacks for making your next beach trip a great one. Summer isn't over yet. 

(MORE: Effortless Ways to Outsmart Your Cooling Bill) 

Put Your Valuables in A Peanut Butter Jar

One-up the phone-in-a-plastic-bag move by putting your valuables in an empty peanut butter jar. This allows your goods to be easilly acessible but also much safer than a zip-lock in case the tide sneaks up. High tides can take you by surprise at the beach. Let you getting soaked be the worst of it. 

Freeze Your Water Bottles Beforehand

Looking to cool off while you're lounging? If you freeze your drinking water bottles, they'll be unfrozen and ice cold by the time you get to the beach. Also, be sure NOT to leave any plastic water bottles behind. Respect your surroundings. And bring more drinking water than you think you'll need. According to the Mayo Clinic, the best way for children to stave off dehydration is to make sure there's water available at literally all times. 

Swim Smart

If you're going to take a dip during your beach day, be smart about it. According to the Red Cross, beach swimmers should never dive head-first the first time jumping in, and you should check for depth and obstructions before diving at all. Avoid patches of plants because they can have aquatic life lurking, and stay 100 feet away from jetties and piers. They can have rip currents. 

Wear Sunscreen Even If It's Cloudy

The FDA recommends people wear sunscreen that is SPF 15 or higher, even during cloudy weather. That's because no sunscreen completely blocks radiation. Getting a bad sunburn can really wreck a good time so be sure to apply some regardless of the weather. 

Alternate Between Sun and Shade

If you're looking to get your tan on while at the beach, that's fine, but don't overexpose yourself. According to Mass.gov, people should monitor their time in the mid-day sun because the beach is a place with potential severe exposure. Dress in loose clothing and shade yourself with an umbrella. Also never leave anyone in a parked car.