Plan some take-along foods that do not require refrigeration like peanut butter, hard cheeses, fruits and dried meats.

   Pack perishable ready-made sandwiches or cooked foods in a cooler.

   At home, pack right from the refrigerator.

   Use insulated cooler or frozen gel-packs to keep the temperature inside under 40 F. Note: Large blocks of ice melt more slowly than cubes.

   Keep beverages and plain water in a separate cooler. This keeps the perishable foods safer as the drinks cooler is opened more.

   Partially bury the coolers in the sand, again shading them with a blanket and umbrella.

   Perishable foods left out of refrigeration for over two hours--one hour when it's above 90 Fahrenheit are not safe and should be discarded.