How can I keep drinks cold and sand-free at the beach?

Use a dry bag instead of a standard cooler. A standard cooler attracts sand — every time you reach in, grit gets in and the lid never seals perfectly. A dry bag zips shut, so you can throw it in the cooler and your cans stay sand-free even when you’re elbow-deep in ice. Dry bags also insulate a bit, keeping drinks cold.