Texas has quite a few rivers you can float. It's a great summer vacation, but there's also a lot of things I wish I had before I floated the river for the first time. I'm thankful that that first time I floated the river I went with people that had experience with it. Even so, there's things I wish I had known before. Here are a few tips and tricks to make your river more enjoyable!

1. Bring a lot of sunscreen

2. Even if you think you're not getting burnt, you are. Reapply your sunscreen, often.

3. Pick your butt up over rocks in shallow water; if not, it hurts.

4. If you plan on bringing your phone on the river, make sure you have something to protect it. (Lifeproof case or a clear waterproof case that your phone goes in.)

5. Bring a speaker cooler that you can bring down the river with you for entertainment.

6. Have a way to float your coolers down the river. They make special floats to float your coolers down the river. You can either buy them or rent them.

7. Have enough drinks (either water to stay hydrated, or alcohol if that's your choice).

8. Reapply your sunscreen.

9. Bring aloe. You'll probably still get burnt even if you keep putting on sunscreen.

10. Have enough rope to either tie your floats together or to tie around your floats to be able to hold on to each other.

11. Depending on how long you plan on floating the river, pack a lunch. It's hard to enjoy your ride with an empty stomach.

12. Bring fishing shirts in case you get burnt and want to cover up while floating the river. They're a lifesaver by your third day!

13. Reapply your sunscreen.

14. Have enough tubes for everyone in your group.

15. Make sure you have a way to blow up your tubes.

16. Have a way to get all the tubes to the river after you blow them up, such as a truck or trailer.

17. Bring water shoes; with the rocks and sand on the bottom of the river flip flops are too hard to walk in the water when it's shallow.

18. Don't litter in the river. They make bags to tie onto your cooler to throw your trash in.

19. Did I mention to reapply your sunscreen?

20. Most of all, have fun!