The New Portland International Airport

For the last 4 or so years, PDX (Portland International Airport) has been going through a transition. Now, we were voted Best Airport by Travel + Leisure for 5 years in a row before this, and everyone has always said how much the loved coming to it, because we have local shops and restaurants and it feels inviting and we don't mark up prices like every other airport does, so when they said we were getting a huge remodel, I wasn't sure why...but we're halfway through it and I am in love.

Let's look at what the old airport looked like, before and during renovations:

PDX has always been pretty open. We had specialty carpet put in in the 80s (that looked like the title photo) and almost a decade ago it was torn out and replaced with the carpet you see in this picture. People were devastated. The PDX carpet was iconic. We took shoe selfies with it, had merchandise with the print on it, and this new carpet was just...not it. The old carpet was, well, old and disgusting and would cost entirely too much to have replicated, so they cut up that old carpet and instead of throwing it out, they sold it in square foot pieces for those of us that were sad to see it go. Obviously, I'm one of those people who paid $50 for a square of ugly carpet that I also loved. I framed it and it's hanging on my living room wall. 

Our airport was covered in this new carpet, making it kind of difficult to drag the new 4-wheeled roller bags along with you, but we made it work. Sometimes, you would just go to the airport to shop and eat, because there was a lot pre-security and it was a fun place to people watch. 

There was a lot of open space and skylights where they were needed, so you weren't just walking around in a dark box, but it really needed an upgrade.

For years, we've been showing up for flights and much of what we were used to seeing was behind walls, though they put up these fun giant post-its to make it feel more whimsical. You would have to walk a long ways to your flight one time, and then another time you would have to walk a long way in a different direction, because a different part of the building was being worked on. It was always a surprise, but the concept art was beautiful and our airport would finally be safe during an earthquake.

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Now, after 3-4 years and a lot of anticipation, the first phase of the airport is finally open. I went the Saturday after the official grand opening and was certainly not disappointed. The new areas are bright, airy, and bring in all the best of the Pacific Northwest. They had new "old" carpet made and put it in areas where people could still enjoy it and take their show selfies: in upstairs seating areas and in the public entertainment areas (i.e. under a piano in the atrium)

Our new atrium is vast, has real trees, video walls, wooden benches made from fallen trees from wildfires, and all local shops and food options in new airy surroundings.

The ceilings are so high that we now have space for even more great art. 

Plants have been added strategically, to bring the outside in and create a soothing atmosphere. 

Our TSA and security procedures are so much faster and less crammed together. 3 people at a time can bin their stuff to go through the x-ray. 

I especially love these new seating areas that look like branches and river rocks. There are places to plug in your devices, and it's out of the way of the main walkways, so it's also quiet and relaxing.

Last, but not least, here's what you used to come home to. This sterile set of doors that I know a lot of other airports also have. They are always awkward and kind of the worst photo op. 

Here's a video of what you come home to now. That stadium seating is made with the wildfire wood and now there's room for your loved ones to comfortably wait for you and not be all scrunched up in a tiny corner of the lobby. I saw several people holding signs again, excited to welcome people home. I love that. 

Next year we should see the second phase opened, which will mean all the walls will come down and we won't have to walk forever to get to the majority of the gates. I'll update again when that's done. 

Tell me about your favorite airport

6 Items You Don't Want To Forget At Home

There are a lot of things that you can buy when you get where you're going, but sometimes that isn't convenient or economically feasible. I've, unfortunately, forgotten some necessary things when I've traveled, and I've remembered to never do that again, but sometimes you just miss something. 

I always suggest having a standard packing list for your trips that have all the essentials on it and can be changed up for everything else. Here are 6 things you don't want to forget or pack in your checked bag, if you have to do that:

Medication

Whether you have prescription meds that you need to take or you plan to bring along regular over the counter items, like aspirin and bandages. These things should go in your carry-on. While we all know what a pain it is to have to run up to the grocery store or drug store for something for a headache, but it can be almost impossible to figure out how to get a few days of your prescription meds when you're on a trip, especially when you're out of the country. 

OTC meds and necessities like pain relievers aren't always easy to find everywhere in the world and can even be quite a bit more than they are at home. I keep a small stock of ibuprofen, antacids, sleep aids, bandages, antibacterial gel, and several other things in my bag at all times and replace as needed. 

Photo by Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition on Unsplash

Menstrual Products

If you are a person who menstruates, then you know how inconvenient it can be when you aren't expecting to start your period. After starting right in the middle of a vacation (twice!) and not having any product with me, I make sure to keep a small supply of items with me, just in case. If nothing else, it'll help tide you over until you can get to a store. If nothing else, some overnight pads and either a cup or enough tampons for several days should be in your bag, whether you expect to start or not. As a perimenopausal woman, you may not have a period for months and then all of a sudden get it and it lasts way longer than you expect.

Photo by De an Sun on Unsplash

Charging Cord(s)

I've forgotten a charging cord for my ipod before when they weren't available everywhere for, like, $7. I went to a bunch of electronics stores in Quito, Ecuador and nobody had one. One of the guys who worked at our hotel was nice enough to lend us one for a few days, which was very nice, but also not optimal. I have a cord bag that has a travel cord for my laptop, charging cords for our phones and other electronics, and USB wall and car adapters. It's always in my bag, so I know I always have what I need for everything we bring.

Photo by Rocio Ramirez on Unsplash

Passport/ID and Travel Info

You're not going to get very far if you don't have your passport or your ID, unless you aren't flying. Also, make sure your identification is still in good standing. While the airport may not care if your driver license is still valid, they will care if you're trying to rent a car or if your passport is expired. 

Sometimes your phone dies or you don't have a signal. Make sure you have a back-up version of your travel documents, so you know where you're going and how to contact places if you need to. It's also important to have copies of things securely in the cloud, in case something bad happens and you lose your passport or you get robbed. 

Contact Solution

This never seemed like an issue when I traveled until we went from Disneyland Paris to actual Paris and forgot all of our liquids in our hotel and no way to retrieve them. While I freaked out about not having most of my makeup, we had to go purchase toothpaste and shampoo, we also had to buy contact solution. Oddly, this was not available in any store we went to and were told we would need to go to an optometrist to buy it. They were all closed until the next day, and when we finally went to one the next morning, a tiny bottle was $8. 

This may have changed by now, but I just like to make sure I have everything I need with me all the time. We both also check every drawer and shelf before we leave an accommodation now. I was lucky that I had the bare minimum of makeup, including what could be used as moisturizer, to get me through the week we had left of our trip. (On the last day I saw a Sephora in the neighborhood of our rental, but by then I just ordered replacement items from my home Sephora. Now I only take small containers with what I need.)

Photo by Rocio Ramirez on Unsplash

Emergency Cash/Card

Things happen and sometimes travel can be unexpected, so just in case things don't go as planned, make sure to have an emergency credit card and some cash that can get you through a few days or a long travel delay. You don't need me to tell you why this is important. Also make sure you have a physical credit card. Not everyone takes Apple Pay or Venmo and only having tap-to-pay on your phone is not a great option.

Now that you know what you need to be a successful traveler and be ready for curveballs, go pack your bag and worry about fewer things. Have you ever forgotten something important/necessary on a trip?

My Denver Wish List

Soon, I'll be jumping on an early morning flight to Denver to spend 3 days before Eric has to work and I have to come back home to work, too. We will be relying on public transportation to get around, but we'll be staying in a new-ish vacation rental called Sonder. I have things I want to get to and also a Denver CityPASS, so let's look at this ambitious wish list I have:

Photo by Marc Pineda on Unsplash

For Eric's birthday, I bought two walking tours as experiential gifts. One was for Sacramento, which I'll be talking about soon, and the other is a street art walking tour in Denver. 

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Meow Wolf's Convergence Station

Since visiting Omega Mart in Las Vegas by the art collective known as Meow Wolf, we have made the goal to visit all of their locations. When Eric found out he was going to Denver for work, he knew he wanted to go. I'm just tagging along to enjoy it too. Meow Wolf makes interactive art that is highly popular, because each location has a different theme and story that you get to follow and figure out for yourself.

Photo by Evan Strock on Unsplash

Denver Botanic Gardens

I love a good botanical garden, because I want to see all the native plants that can be found in a destination. It's a lovely way to spend a quiet few hours while taking photos of beautiful things. 

Photo by Caleb Jack on Unsplash

Denver Downtown Aquarium

This was not on the top of my list, but I am really eager to see for myself what seems to be a place that people either love or are terribly disappointed in. It's included in the CityPASS and I always enjoy seeing cool fish. 

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Denver Museum of Science and Nature

So, I just heard that for about another month, DMSN has an exhibit on poisons. I'm very intrigued by that, as I am most of the special exhibits that come to these sorts of hands-on museums. I try to get to a lot of the rotating ones that come to OMSI here, and I like to see how other science museums differ from ours.

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Denver Art Museum

Okay, you already know how much I like a museum. I met a few people at the Travel Goods Show who do a lot of adventure travel. When I mentioned I'm a city traveler who goes to a lot of museums and fun restaurants and they admitted that museums are awful to them. That's a shame, because I learn so much from museums. I may not want to spend my whole day there, but viewing regional art always benefits me.

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Historic Chinatown Marker

Every Chinatown is different, yet still familiar. It's always interesting to see those areas in cities that are primarily white. Now, Denver, like a lot of the west, has been the victim of anti-Asian riots in the late 1800s, and their Chinatown was lost, but they have since put up this marker, a mural, and plaques to remember their once prosperous Chinatown district.

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History Colorado Center

This is another hands-on museum that showcases Colorado's history, mostly through the indigenous Puebloans that built the area. I find that history is best learned through interactive exhibits and by talking to docents who love their city and their job.

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Other things to see/do

If there's time, I'd like to pay a visit to the Denver Zoo, which I've heard is lovely. I'd also like to visit Molly Brown's house. If you've watched or learned about the Titanic, then you know Molly Brown was one of the survivors. I want to try ice cream from a giant milk can. I want to eat at a restaurant that was a former mortuary. And I want to eat at one of the many brunch restaurants called Snooze A.M.

I will also be checking out Union Station, the Milk Market & Dairy Block, and the historical Larimer Square.

Have you been to Denver? If so, what are your must-see, must-do, or must-eat recommendations?

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3 Weeks' Worth of Clothes In a Backpack

I rarely take trips that are longer than 10 days to 2 weeks, but I also like to have options when I travel. That can be difficult when you also want to travel light. As you know, if I go solo, I pretty much always pack in a backpack, because I don't like to hold people up trying to wrestle a bag into the overhead. It's entirely doable though, especially when traveling in the summer, spring, or early fall.

Now, the way to really get a lot out of your travel wardrobe is to not pack by day and instead pack a small mix-and-match capsule wardrobe. I did bring along one thing that didn't go with everything, and that was this red Trailblazers shirt I would wear on the plane, but it goes with almost everything else and it's made of a moisture-wicking athletic fabric, so it's perfect for hot weather and repping my city. I always bring along an outer layer and wear it on the plane (you can always take it off if it's too warm, but the plane is often cold), and this athletic jacket is perfect. Let's see how all the tops match (almost) all the bottoms I brought along with:

You can definitely swap out any of thes bottom pieces with something you like more. I enjoy a good pair of jeans with stretch and sneakers for walking all day, but if you prefer a pair of leggings, a longer skirt, or a comfortable pair of sandals, go for it. I almost always choose neutral bottoms and one fun piece that still goes with everything. 

So, I brought a total of 3 bottoms, plus the pair of jeans I was wearing. You don't have to bring that many, but if you're a chronic overpacker, this is definitely not going to feel like enough. In all honesty, it gives you so many options, without being overwhelming. Here we have jeans, my favorite pair of shorts (Columbia), my favorite black joggers (PrAna), and a snap skort (PrAna). I chose this color skort, because I also have a favorite pair of green joggers that I often take on trips and I don't need everything to be black. They also have 2 regular pockets, a zip pocket, and a slip pocket on the undershorts. 

One of my packed tops is this fun shadow puppet bunny that I bought at a market in London that has a longer back than the front. My other packed things here is this pair of scalloped ballet flats (Skechers). They don't take up much room, they go with most things, and they're super comfy to walk in all day.

My next top in my  bag is a white linen tank, because it breathes well and can be dressed up or down. I also packed a longer cardigan that can keep me warm, but looks great with dressier items. It's a perfect item to wear to a nice restaurant that might be a little enthusiastic with their air conditioning, as a lot of places in the summer tend to be.

Next up is a basic cropped black tee. It is roomy, without being too long. You can get them in a bunch of colors, and I do have it in others, but black tends to hide dirt, if you happen to spill food or whatever on yourself.

Last, is this high-low split tail tank top. I've had this for forever and I love it. It can be sporty or casual or even dressy, depending on what you pair it with and accessories to add.

Okay, last last is this travel dress I love from PrAna. I have it in both rust and black and wish I had purchased it in a third color before they discontinued it. It has big pockets, it's the perfect length and it's amazingly comfortable. It looks layered, has a split hem on the back of the tank, and gives your body extra air flow when it's really hot out. You can add another layer, like I have, by throwing on a tee over it, making it look like two separate pieces, add the athletic jacket for a sporty look, or the cardigan for date night. 

While we're at it, that cardigan is a great cozy loung piece when you're just hanging around your hotel room. Throw it on over your pjs (these are from H&M and purchased from Poshmark) instead of a robe.

If you've been following me on Instagram, you probably know that I bought this new backpack from a local company, Portland Gear, because it is waterproof (benefit if you live in Portland or another rainy place), it has a wide opening, so you can see everything inside and make it easier to pack, and because it came in this new pink color. Love!

All of my clothing fits in a medium packing cube and my underwear, socks, and extra bra will fit in a small one that I also put my travel lighted makeup mirror in for some cushioning. This bag fits everything else I need, too: my toiletry bag, my second pair of shoes, travel hair straightener, backup battery + cord, snacks, laptop, charging cords, a reusable grocery bag, a rain jacket, my reusable water bottle, and my tiny purse with all my everyday essentials in it. You can carry it if you want, but if you're traveling on a very budget airline and are limited to one personal item, then you can consolidate and this full bag still fits under the seat in front of you.

This backpack looks bigger than it actually is, mostly because it's wider than other backpacks I take, but it's easy to carry, has just enough pockets for everything and also has top handles and one of the front to help you pull it out of a car trunk, the overhead, and from under the seat. It also has little feet, so it sets upright when you're trying to pack and unpack it. When I posted about it on IG during my last trip, a friend said he and his wife saw it and purchased one for each of them for their next big trip. 

This is the standard size, but it also comes in a compact size for those who don't need to bring as much, use it as a commuter bag, or don't travel with a giant laptop like I do. This is the only bag I'll be taking on my next trip, which will be short, but it'll have enough room to bring back things that I may buy, too.

Anyway, I wanted to show you this great bag, but also how you can create 21 different outfits with not that many pieces, so you can wear an entirely unique outfit every day of your trip for 3 weeks or less, in case you care about looking different every day in pictures. I have traveled with much less and haven't felt limited by what I've brought. In fact, I'll have a much smaller selection on this next trip, which I'll document as I go. 

What's your biggest packing struggle?