Prep for Beach Outing with a 2 y.o

Don't forget the sunglasses----there is a lot of glare off of the sand and the water. We used a little sunshade tent--that worked great...it is just a little semi-circle "backwall/roof" attached to a circular bottom. It provides shade and keeps the sand out if it is really windy...plus the little ones like that they have their own little "place" to hang out. And unlike an umbrella, you can position the tent to face any direction so that it has shade.
I would also suggest a mesh laundry bag. You can dip everything into the water to get rid of the sand, and then it can all air dry in the bag. Also great for collecting shells (if you are at the ocean),

Sunscreen, umbrella, hat, sand toys and an exit plan! She may not like the sand at all (my son didn't for years). Snacks, drinks/water, wet wipes for hands and, in case she loves the sand--baby powder/cornstarch helps get the sand off of legs, feet, arms, etc. Have fun!

A small squirt bottle filled with water is great for spraying sand off of hands before eating! I have found that baby wipes don't get it off very well.

water shoes not flip flops (sand won't get under feet in these and little ones sometimes freak about sand between feet and flipflops lol)
sunscreen
hat
toys in a basket w/handles
big towel for sitting
towel for drying off with
thermous of warm water
papertowels (pour warm water on paper towels for wiping face & hands)
umbrella for shade if you can
drinks and snacks in a cooler

lots and lots of patientes

I like that bottle of water idea for the hands, I'll have to remember that! She's right, wipes don't work all that well, but they do okay. I'd say as long as you have a blanket, drinks and tons of snacks all you really need is a bunch of buckets and shovels. She'll have fun just scooping sand into the buckets. My 2y.o. loved making "sand castles" by just packing the bucket and dumping it over. She was totally afraid of the water so it was sand all the way for us.

For the zoo...a stroller, lots of water and snacks, and good walking shoes...plus a camera! ;)

Lots of sunscreen, lots of snacks, lots of water and some beach toys. Have fun!

Sunscreen, her own chair with umbrella, cold water, water to wash her hands off, fruit , spout bucket, swim diapers, shovel and you! Have fun!!

sunscreen, hat, towels, sand toys, umbrella?, food & drinks

For the zoo... do you have a wagon?