Packing Recommendations
Indoor Considerations
Food
- Basic consumable kitchen supplies like aluminum foil, plastic wrap, storage containers, spices, cooking oil, etc. When planning meals, don't forget the kitchen staples that are easy to take for granted.
- JC's Grocery in Brandon is open 8am - 6pm Mon-Sat, and 9am - 1pm on Sunday. JC's is a well-supplied small town grocer and our recommended first stop to support local business.
- Extensive grocery options in nearby Alexandria.
Paper Products
- Bedroom linens are provided, but paper towels, toilet paper, wipes*, tissues, napkins, toothpicks, etc. you will want to bring or buy locally.
- Often guests staying before you will have left some extras, but best not to count on them.
*Westwood Beach Resort uses septic tanks and no wipes of any kind can be flushed, regardless what the package claims.
Cleaning Supplies
- Dish soap is provided in kitchens.
- Laundry detergent if you plan to use the coin-op laundromat in Brandon during your stay.
- Similar to paper products, often times guests will have left some extra hand soap/sanitizer after their stay.
Bags
- Garbage bags (13 gal), food storage bags, beach gear hauling bags, etc.
Towels
- Dish towels, hand towels, bath towels, beach towels.
Electronics
- CHARGERS, power strips, extension cords, clocks, fans, camera, laptop, tablet, streaming device, portable video player, bluetooth speaker, radio, CD-player, cassette walkman, turntable, 8-track player...
- You may be coming to the resort to unplug, but doublecheck you've packed all your important items that do plug. If you forget a cord or an essential item, Dollar General in Brandon or multiple stores in Alexandria are there in a pinch.
Small Supplies
- Scissors, tape, notebooks, rubber bands, paper, pens, markers, pencils & sharpeners, safety pins, etc. You'd be amazed at the small things you find yourself wanting at random moments.
Other
- Favorite pillows/blankets, medicines, air fresheners, games, cards, books...
Outdoor Considerations
Weather
- Jackets, boots, umbrellas, waterproof storage containers for outdoor gear, etc.
- Evenings are often cool with the breeze off the lake, so even when the weather is warm, don't forget a few cool-weather options.
Fishing Gear
- License, rods, reels, line, net, basket, filet knife, tackle, bait...
- Let's be honest, if you're here to fish you'll have forgotten kitchen towels before you forget even one part of your fishing set up. In the event you did though, Fleet Farm in Alexandria and bait shops around that area can probably fill any gaps.
Activities
- Outdoor eating supplies for meals at the picnic benches, charcoal and lighting supplies (grills available)
- Golfing gear, walking shoes, bikes (the 55-mile Central Lakes State Trail is paved and runs through Brandon)
- Field sports equipment - the open green space on-site is great for small field baseball, football, frisbee, soccer, lacrosse, kite-flying, etc.
Beach Gear
- Bathing suits, beach towels, life jackets, inflatables, water toys, etc.
- Sunscreen, sun glasses, after-sun lotion...
Other
- Lounge chairs, extra clothespins (provided clotheslines have some pins available), coolers, bug spray, campfire roasting skewers, lighters, grill tools...
Considerations for Younger Children
Indoor Activities
- Crafts, paper, colored pencils, crayons, washable markers, tape, scissors, books, puzzles, favorite toys, screen-time setups for rainy days inside.
- Sometimes a few minutes of familiar device time or other home staple, even if it doesn't fit with your idea of vacation, is enough to calm tense nerves and keep a vacation happy. Carefully consider what may soothe if emotions turn sour.
Outdoor Activities
- Sand toys, water toys, inflatables, life jackets
- Stroller, frog/butterfly nets, bug or creature houses, camping chairs
- Fishing rods (canned corn makes for cheap and easy catch and release fishing with young kids off the docks)
- Kites, rain boots, bikes, tee-ball or other sports equipment, bubbles.
Other Necessities
- Travel high chair, utensils, bottles or sippy cups (separate cups for water/milk/juice can limit dishwashing)
- Favorite pillows/blankets/stuffed animals, portable crib, nuks/pacifiers, fans or other noisemakers for sleeping, nightlights, mattress covers (if wetting might be an issue)
- Diapers (and disposal bags), wipes*, swim diapers
*Westwood Beach Resort uses septic tanks and no wipes of any kind can be flushed, regardless what the package claims.
