Bring a towel and the sunscreen. Bring more if you must. But don't forget the most important beach accessory -- good manners. Along with your gear, consideration for fellow beach lovers is perhaps the most important ingredient for an enjoyable day by the ocean.

Beach etiquette -- like its more formal, indoor version -- is just common sense. That is, being mindful that one person's behavior affects another's environment. Just because you are outside at the beach doesn't mean the golden rule doesn't apply.

Yes, we're talking to you: Don't be a beach bum.

Here in North County, beachgoers seem to fall into two basic categories: the minimalists and the campers.

The minimalist tucks a board under his or her arm and drops the sunglasses and car keys on the sand on the way to the waves. Even flip-flops are superfluous; most serious beach people have such calluses on the bottom of their feet they could walk on hot coals. These eco-friendly souls tend not to offend, litter or disturb, so there isn't much to say about them.

But the other group, the campers, tend to arrive in the minivan and come for the day -- pitch a canopy, line up the beach chairs, dump out the sand toys, and, of course, the kids, usually a football team's worth.

Coolers are packed to the brim and rolled down from the parking lot. Later in the day comes a subgroup of campers. Joining the day trippers, they pull out the hibachi or Smokey Joe grill and conference tables from the trunk.

They've got all the fixings for a neighborhood get-together, end-of-soccer-season party or a family reunion. These prolific, sprawling congregations have greater potential to spill into other people's private space -- and sometimes, to offend.

On Tuesday morning, one large group enjoying Ponto Beach in South Carlsbad included the Tapleys, Wellmans and Pepes, who had driven down from Murrieta and Temecula.

Karen Tapley, 64, of Murrieta, came with her daughter, Kim Wellman, and Kim's two children, Natalie, 8, and Amy, 6, as well as her friend Yvette Pepe, 32, and her two children, Ysabella, 5, and Anthony, 4.

"There were five more of us too, who just left with two of the coolers and some of the boogie boards," said Wellman. "You should see how I can pack my Wonder Wheeley from Wal-Mart. We got here at noon and stay for the whole day."

Even though this family is numerous and well-equipped, they say that doesn't mean they forget their manners at the beach. In fact, they say they have seen plenty of etiquette infractions by others this summer.

"It just happened last Thursday," said Tapley. "We were right here, and a group of four adults and six kids came and sat right in front of us. I mean less than 6 feet in front of us -- so we couldn't see the children in the water."

Tapley said her group did not say anything, choosing instead just to shift camp 10 feet to the left. "We had to move all of this stuff, umbrellas and everything," she said with a heavy sigh.

Pepe mentioned another violation: "There was a group of people right over there that was smoking," she said. "And their smoke blew over here. You know, you come to the beach for the fresh air, and you could smell it."

Although smoking is still permitted on Carlsbad, Encinitas and Oceanside beaches, Solana Beach and Del Mar beaches prohibit it. Del Mar Mayor Crystal Crawford wrote about the new law last year on the city's Web site, when the smoking ban was proposed.

She wrote: "Just imagine, you have joined some friends at Powerhouse Park or at the beach to watch another of Del Mar's world-class, Technicolor sunsets … Then you gasp and sneeze as a foul cloud of cigarette smoke comes billowing into your gathering. As your group groans in dismay, the offending party does the unthinkable. He tosses the burning cigarette onto a nearby 'ashtray,' the beach!"

Syndi Seid, an etiquette specialist in San Francisco who has written about beach manners, said one of the things she most dislikes at the beach is overhearing others' loud conversations, especially when inappropriate language is used.

"That really bothers me," she said. "I don't want to listen to one of my neighbors f-ing this or f-ing that, particularly when there are children around. I think it's inappropriate."

But she said talking on a cellphone, another common etiquette offender, isn't offensive per se at the beach. "It's not the what, but the how," she said. "When you press the cellphone against your ear, you don't hear the resonating of your own voice, and sometimes you don't talk the same way as you would talk normally."

Almost every enjoyable beach activity, it seems, can pose a risk to someone else, whether it's throwing a football, shaking out a towel upwind of someone, or digging in the sand.

Travis Green, 29, of Leucadia, often spends time on the beach digging a hole for his daughter, Skye, 2, to play in and around. "It usually draws some attention," Green said of the holes he likes to dig. "Kids are usually waiting in the wings, waiting for you to leave so they can play in it … Not enough people bring shovels to the beach."

Green estimated that Tuesday's hole at Ponto Beach was about five feet deep, with a couple of stairs cut into the side. "You gotta stop when you hit water, because it starts to cave in."

He doesn't worry about filling the holes again before he leaves, he said, because they are at the water's edge. "The tide usually takes care of that."

But seasonal Carlsbad lifeguard Daniel Carr, 46, said that sometimes the holes people dig in the sand can be dangerous for him as he drives the county jeep on the beach. "If we deem it unsafe, we will ask people to fill up the hole," Carr said. "With a vehicle on the beach, we have to watch the water and the beach, and when you see a head pop up in the sand like a gopher, it can be dangerous," he said.

Most of the state park rules at the beach are based on simple etiquette, said Carr.

"If you have a bonfire, it has to be raised 6 inches off the sand, and you have to douse the hot coals with water and take them away with you when you leave," said Linden Broccoli, 25, lifeguard station 21 at South Carlsbad Beach.

"Parking is an issue here too. People block others so they can't get out, or they get stuck in the sand and have to call a tow truck."

But the Carlsbad lifeguards all agreed that the biggest etiquette issue they face is litter. "They leave their trash everywhere up at the seawall, off the Chestnut area," said Carr. "This is the first year we have had trash cans there, but they overflow and we have to pick up the trash."

"The kids just leave their trash at the beach -- their Slurpee cups, their junk food wrappers -- especially up at (station) 37," said Broccoli. "And they skateboard on the seawall. That is not allowed, to protect the older people who like to walk there."

So watch the kids, leave only footprints and space out, beachgoers. Being considerate of others is the way to go -- and the most certain way to enjoy the beach at its best.

Contact staff writer Ruth Marvin Webster at (760) 740-3527 or rwebster@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.

While the allure of the Pacific on a sweltering summer day is unmistakable, beachgoers all head to the sand for different reasons. Some come to surf and swim. Others come for privacy and a chance to tuck into the latest New York Times bestseller. Others come for a long walk or time to catch up with family and friends.

Beach Etiquette by Syndi Seid, of Advanced Etiquette in San Francisco:

1. Allow a minimum of five feet between groups. Take time to consider where and how you set up your space. Spot your larger groups as far away from other people as possible. When bringing half your house to the beach -- from boom-box to boogie boards to beach chairs -- make every effort to consolidate your items in a small area that will not take valuable beach real estate from others.

2. Let everyone enjoy the view. Part of the pleasure of going to the beach is relishing the water vista. Be sensitive not to place your umbrella and other high items directly in front of other people's sight line.

3. Monitor noise levels. Especially in large groups, continually be aware of how loud your party is getting. Many people go to the beach to rest and relax in peace and quiet. While you'll want to be cordial, give your neighbors their space; some people may not wish to talk to anyone, only enjoying the sun and a book.

4. Supervise children: While an expanse of beach is an inviting space for free play, both waves and dunes can be dangerous. Unsupervised children can get lost in a crowd or may annoy your beach neighbors by kicking sand or being disruptive. Instead of depending completely on free play, bring plenty for children to do -- and join in the fun -- building sand castles, creating art from found objects, sharing the most unusual sea shell, or reading the latest bestseller.

5. Play responsibly. Both adults and children need to be careful when playing catch not to toss a ball or a Frisbee into someone else's area. When setting up for badminton, volleyball, or other games, keep the outer boundaries as far away from other people as possible.

6. Keep it clean. Secure all items from blowing away in the wind. When items do blow away, go after them, otherwise the item becomes litter and will pollute the beach. Keep all your belongings as close to your blanket as possible.

7. And your language, too. Refrain from using any form of foul language. Conversations should be quiet and controlled. You never know who may find your words offensive.

8. Be mindful of how you behave in the water. Look out for others in the water before you engage in vigorous splashing, dunking, yelling to friends who are several yards away, and other horseplay. Maintain control of boogie boards and other water toys so that everyone has a safe day in the sun.

9. Sunbathe with discretion. Topless and nude sunbathing is not customary in the United States. Instead, there are designated beaches and areas of beaches where this is allowed. Otherwise, nudity is not only inappropriate but may be against the law.

10. Take only memories. Be sure to pick up all of your belongings. When shaking out your blanket and other times, take note of which way the wind is blowing and make every effort to prevent sand from blowing into other people's eyes and space and leaving them annoyed. Patrol the area all around your beach party scene for litter, lost items and leftover food.

Beach rules for each of our North County beach cities:

Oceanside and Carlsbad:

Glass: All glass containers are prohibited

Alcohol: Alcohol is prohibited on all city beaches, jetties, the pier, and all parking lots.

Dogs: All dogs are prohibited on all city beaches throughout the year. You may walk your dog on a leash on the Strand in Oceanside and the Beach Walk in Carlsbad.

Fire Rings: Fires are allowed in designated city fire rings only. If you bring your own barbecue, it must be elevated off the ground. Coals must be removed or disposed of in the hot coal container or in a fire ring.

Swimming and surfing areas: All swimming and body-boarding areas are marked with a black and yellow checkered flag in Oceanside. If you wish to surf with a hard surfboard, you must be outside of this area. Surfing and swimming areas are so designated in Carlsbad.

Del Mar:

Fires: Del Mar prohibits open fires and fire rings at the beach, but visitors are welcome to barbecue using charcoal and their own small barbecues. Visitors must remove coals after they cool and take them off site. Disposing of coals in the bushes or on the grass is subject to a $1 million fine.

Alcohol: Alcohol is allowed at the beach, but not in glass containers through the year except the 4th of July and buffer days before and after the holiday.

Vendors cannot sell soda and hot dogs at the beach.

Dogs: Dogs are permitted off leash and under voice control from the day after Labor Day until June 15 and on least from June 16 through Labor Day, north of Powerhouse Park. And south of Powerhouse Park, dogs are permitted on leash year round.

Solana Beach:

Swimming and surfing areas: Surfing is prohibited in all designated swimming areas.

Dogs: Leashed and unleashed dogs, except for guide dogs, are prohibited on all city beaches, beach accesses, parking lots and bluff-top areas 24 hours a day.

Alcohol: No person shall consume alcoholic beverages in public parking lots adjoining park and bluff-top areas unless the city has designated a specific temporary or permanent signed area.

Smoking: No person shall smoke within the boundaries of any public beach or park unless designated.

Radio: It is unlawful to play a radio, record player, tape player, CD player, etc. so that it can be heard more than 50 feet away.

Fires: Only allowed in designated areas.

Encinitas:

No dogs, alcohol or glass allowed at beaches.

Fire rings and picnic facilities available at Moonlight Beach.

Surfing: In only designated areas.