Dad & Grad 2020 Travel Gift Guide

This year has been pretty weird and hard to handle, but don't forget that the dad(s) in your life and the graduating seniors shouldn't get lost in the bad that's happening. At some point we'll be able to travel again, even if it's just close to home or road tripping. We're seeing things start to open, and even if we aren't taking advantage of those early opportunities to stay healthy, having a travel bag packed and ready is a great thing to work on, and you can even use those things at home. As always, here is my list of awesome things for your loved ones, broken down into price categories:

Budget - under $50

1. SpectraSpray

There are natural sprays for everything, including those to make your travels way better. Purchase sprays individually, or ones that go together in a Jet Lag Kit or Stay Well Kit. $19.95+ on SpectraSpray - my review is here

2. Nabee Compression Socks

Sitting on long flights and/or walking all day, can really be bad for your circulation. I have issues with swelling ankles and feet and have found that compression socks are a necessity for my life. I love the fun patterns that Nabee has. Just because you're doing something to help you stay healthy, doesn't mean you can't look awesome doing it. $29.99 from Nabee.

3. AeroPress Go

Does your dad/grad love coffee? Are they always jetting off somewhere? Even if they just enjoy camping or needsto free up some space in their home (or college dorm), the AeroPress Go is perfect for those that just want a good cup of Joe at home. It makes amazing coffee, is super easy to use and clean, and fits inside its own mug. $31.95 from AeroPress or Amazon - my review is here

4. Airplane Pockets

I really hate the airplane seat pocket. Mostly because they aren't large enough for things I want to have during my flight, but also because I've found so much trash in them when I've flown. Get your dad/grad a set of Airplane Pockets that slip over the tray table (covering it with an anti-bacterial fabric) and give them 4 pockets to hold their phone, glasses, pen, snacks, book and whatever else. If you follow me on IG, you've seen these in action on my trips. $29 on Amazon

5. Well Told drinkware

Since no one's going anywhere for the foreseeable future, why not give them something to remind them of a favorite trip or destination, or a big trip they have hopes of. Well Told Design makes beautiful drinkware with etched maps and more. I have a pair of London pint glasses, but I'm hoping to add to the collection soon. $18+ on Well Told - my review is here

6. Belkin Mini Surge Protector

We have several of these - one for travel and some for our house. These surge protectors are so useful, because you can turn one outlet into three sockets and two USB ports. the back swivels, so you can fit it anywhere and then plug in all your gadgets. It has come in handy in those rooms that have maybe one free outlet (read: 95% of hotel rooms) that isn't at the bathroom vanity. Give your dad the convenience of always having enough power outlets. $16.89 on Amazon

7. Bamboo utensils from The Other Straw
When we all start traveling again, even if it's just around town, we're especially going to want to eat out, even if that's just at food trucks. I'm really loving these great bamboo utensils from The Other Straw. Not only are they eco-friendly and nice to look at, but they come in their own pouch for keeping them clean in between uses and TOS donates 50% of their profits to fund ocean cleanups. $9.56 on The Other Straw

Moderate - $50-100

1. Timbuk2 Rogue Laptop Backpack 2.0

I am a huge fan of Timbuk2 bags. They have ones that are great for everyday and ones that also work well for travel. The Rogue 2.0 is perfect for toting your laptop on trips, along with snacks, books and all the other things you want in-flight. They can work as great weekenders, or for those that light to pack super light, which is usually me if I travel alone. The less I have to carry, the better, and a backpack is easy to get down the tiny airplane aisle. It can be paired with the Packable Travel Tote for coming home with extra goodies.  $89 on Timbuk2 | $39 on Timbuk2

2. FaceCradle

There are so many travel pillows to choose from, but one of the best I've tried is the FaceCradle. Not only is it perfect for the ever-diminishing airplane space, but it's great for tall people, and for using on trains and in cars as well. It has a bunch of different ways to use it. We have the regular version and the lite version, and we sleep like babies on the plane. $49.99 on Amazon - my review is here

3. Barrier Method Neckie

Everyone's got a mask or two right now, but Barrier Method was selling theirs before they were all the rage. I always get compliments on my winged mask. With summer coming, the neckie is smaller, but still lightweight and effective. This anti-bacterial mask is both healthy and pretty and can be used to stay well, reduce your allergens, keep your neck warm, among other things. Gift your dad/grad the gift of health and wellness with one of these. They can wear it to the grocery store and on the plane. $50 from The Barrier Method - my review is here

4. Bluffworks Original Khakis or Departure Jeans

It can be hard to find the perfect pair of pants to travel in or with. Bluffworks started with their original chinos and have since branched out into jeans, blazers, shorts, and now women's clothing. Their pants go from boardroom to sightseeing to rock climbing to dinner out. They look great, they're stain-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, moisture-wicking and even include security pockets. Pack fewer pieces that have more versatility. Your dad already probably hates to pack, and your grad hates to do laundry, so these pieces work for everyone. $49+ on Bluffworks

5. Tropicfeel shoes

I backed these as a kickstarter, because they sounded amazing. They are pretty much Spring and Summer shoes (though if the fall isn't cold, you could wear them then too). We travel to Vegas a lot and do a ton of theme parks, which have plenty of water activities. These shoes are like your best sneakers and water shoes in one. I backed them hoping they would be as good as they sounded, and they were. We both have a pair and they are super lightweight, can be worn with or without socks, and look fantastic. They are perfect for all the walking your dad/grad will do on their travels. $100 on TropicFeel

6. Benjilock

Regular TSA-accepted locks usually suck, and are easy to forget the combination to, especially if you only travel a few times a year. If that's a problem your dad has too, so he just doesn't use a lock on her luggage, a Benjilock might just be what he needs. Instead of a combination or a key, it opens with a fingerprint. And if he's traveling with several people who are using the same carry-on/suitcase, it can hold up to 10 fingerprints. $70 on Amazon, but can also be found at The Home Depot and QVC and Ace Hardware

Splurge - $100+

1. Gift cards

Buy a gift card that can be used for their favorite airline or hotel chain (or Airbnb) or rental car company when they can travel again. It's nice because you can customize it and make it a bit more personal than a normal gift card. $1-infinity: whatever you want to spend.

2. GlobeIn monthly travel box

If your mom doesn't quite have the funds to travel (or just misses traveling during Lockdown), but loves cool stuff from other countries anyway. Give her the gift of stuff from around the world with the GlobeIn box. Each box contains at least 4 goodies from other countries and they all center around a story. $144 for a 3-month subscription. (The price per box goes down with longer subscriptions)

3. CityPASS

I'm sure your mom already has her next trip planned. Why not help her make it more affordable by giving her most or all of her activities for free? You'll be able to find a lot of participating cities. $50+ on CityPASS website

4. Priority Pass

Hanging out in the airport can be fun, but after a while, you wish it could be better. Buy your dad access to all the airport lounges, so he can get some peace and quiet, free snacks and maybe get some work done or catch a shower. You can purchase him the standard pass for $99/year, or upgrade them to the plus for $299, which includes 10 free visits (generally member visits are $32).

5. Travelon Heritage Carry-All Weekender

This wide-mouth weekender has so much room in it for a weekend or a week or a two-week trip. It's true! I packed two people's clothing in it for a week in Vegas. Not only is it spacious, but it's also super good looking. Your mom will get so much use from this bag and get all the compliments as well. $115 on Travelon + get 20% off if you use code SHEREENTRAVELS20% - my review is here

6. Ebags Fortis Spinner Carry On

Has your dad been using the same beat up carry-on for decades? Or your grad doesn't even have a real piece of luggage? Then this bag works for either. The hardside shell gives it extra strength to keep their belongings safe, the spinner wheels make it easy to take even on cobblestones, and they can't overpack, though you can expand it for extra purchases and check it home. $159.99 on Amazon

And if you want to throw in an extra fun thing in for them, you can add a Happy Traveler shirt, bag, coasters, or travel mug for them to take wherever they may go.

What are you doing for the dad or grad in your life this year?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Your purchases help me bring you more useful blog posts and travel overviews.

Standing Up For Justice

Today I was going to give you my 2020 Dad & Grad Wish List, because I don't want them to get lost in the shuffle of these crazy times, but then crazier times came and I decided instead you will get that post on Saturday, because today I need to talk to you about the most important things in life: human equality. 

art by @makedaisychains

I travel to get a better understanding of the world, to meet new people, to experience new cultures, to try new food. I love learning new things and seeing people different from me. I grew up in Tucson, Arizona, with a wide range of friends from all backgrounds, and parents who were accepting of everyone, even though (or perhaps because) they had both been discriminated against themselves. My mother moved from Germany when she was 5 and didn't know any English. She had to learn at home and at school, with her mother who also didn't know any English. The teachers discriminated against her, because though she was white, she was not American.

My father was half Japanese and could pass for anything but white or black. He was in the Air Force and we moved around quite a bit when I was small. We lived in places like Virginia and Mississippi, where people wouldn't serve him, because he was not white. 

I know what racism looks like. I've seen it and I've felt it. I've even fought it within my own family. That said, in all the ways that people see me, I'm a white woman. I have privilege. I never really understood that until I graduated from school and moved somewhere less diverse. I've seen white women use their privilege to put others down, have them arrested, have them beaten, have them murdered. I know what it's like to be a white woman, and though I've never used my color to do this, I know I have this ability. 

I will never know what it's like to be a Black American. I'm not even treated as an Asian American, but that doesn't mean I can't try to understand and learn and be an ally. I've learned this week how to be a better advocate for someone being harassed, unfairly, by the police or just another entitled citizen. I've learned how I need to think before I call the police if my situation is ever with a POC, especially a BIPOC. We shouldn't have to police the police, but apparently, this is what the world has come to, and it's either that or we let racism win. 

I'm tired of trying to explain to privileged white people why them saying All Lives Matter is derogatory, especially at a time like this. They want to think that everyone is equal, but the fact is, they aren't, and they have never been. It's hard to see that when racism doesn't affect you, which is another privilege in itself. I posted on my Facebook page saying I would stick up for Black Americans, and fight for their rights with my voice on every platform I have. You know what happened? A white person called me a racist, saying that white privilege was a fantasy that only morons believed. This is how a whole group of privileged white people think. They think that the Black Lives Matter movement is a way to shame all white people.

I also came across a white man who said "Black Lives Matter is exclusive. It means MY life doesn't matter." Um, does it? This man has never been oppressed and thinks everything should be about him. He can't conceive of the fact that not everyone has the same opportunities or good fortune or carefree life he's had. He doesn't have to fear everyday because of the color of his skin.

Before I go on, yes, there are good people of all races and bad people of all races, but until we stop defining any of that by the color of our skin, we fight for justice and equality. Yes, there are good cops, but there are also very bad cops, and as someone pointed out there are three different kids of cops: those who are bad, those who are good, but don't speak up when their own have done wrong, which also makes them bad, or those that have spoken up and fought for what's right and are no longer cops. I don't know if I believe that, but watching so many police forces across this nation roll into cities filled with peaceful protesters and start macing them, releasing tear gas, hitting people in the face with rubber bullets, running them down with patrol cars, and other atrocities, it's hard to really deny they have a point. 

I'm sorry if you then are focused on the rioting and the looting, but rioting occurs after people are denied a place to voice their opinion, and looting is something else altogether that has nothing to do with the protesting, but that's what the government wants you to see. They run the media out before they can see them abusing peaceful protesters with no provocation. They are trying to keep helpers from helping and showing others what's really happening. Our own president said he was against using force on people, then threatened to send in the National Guard to shoot protesters who are just trying to be heard, and then told officers to pepper spray those same protesters (and people of the church) so he could go stand in front of said church for a photo op with a bible. This is not how a president should behave, especially in the time of crisis.

I've included several of my favorite ways to respond to people who need guidance right now. Feel free to copy and paste them for your social media posts/comments. If you don't agree with this post, that's fine. I'm clearly not going to say anything you haven't already been told and still disagree with, but I won't let you use my platforms to say hateful, racist things either. I believe Black lives matter. I believe in equality for all. I will fight for justice. I will say their names. I will be an ally. I will listen. I will share. I will not be silent. 

If you would like some resources for books to read, here is a great list. I also just ordered The Assassination of Fred Hampton: How the FBI and the Chicago Police Murdered a Black Panther by Jeffery Haas. 

If you would like a list of places you can donate to, here is a long list to choose from.

If you are overwhelmed, but still want to help, you can work on self-care and also support these Black businesses.

If you want to know the truth about rioting and how the small businesses feel, please read this article.

If you want to know how the police and National Guard are treating medical workers in Minneapolis (and I'm sure elsewhere), please read this and also this. These are not isolated incidents.
If you need a place to understand what's happening, So Let's Talk About ___. is a great place to start.

If you want to follow and support Black travel bloggers, here are a few of my favorites on Instagram:

• Emi Eats
• One Brown Girl's World
• Nikki Houston
• Nicky's Savory Travels
• Vernette
• Annita Thomas
• Ami
• Shanice Frankson
• Search #blacktravelfeed for more amazing travelers

Pride Month has started, so as a quick note, if you want to follow awesome LGBT+ travel accounts, here are some of those, too:

• Disney Queers
• Troy Petenbrink
• Vanderlust Boys
• David Perry
• Danielle & Anna
• Search #gaytravel or #queertravel for more 

If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Please take care of yourselves and one another. Please fight for what is right. Please have an open mind when people tell you to listen. Travel is for everyone. This blog is for everyone. I believe in inclusivity, equality, and justice. Be good to each other and stay safe. Do not be silent. 

Also, don't forget to vote. Because we need protests, loud voices, and new government officials that listen to change things. Change doesn't come from just complaining to others about it. If you aren't lucky enough to live in a vote by mail state like Oregon, think about those that have less access to polling stations and are also being robbed of their chance to vote, because voter suppression is real, especially in poor, black communities. If you know anyone who you can help getting to the polls, please do, in any way, whether that means you volunteer to drive them, spring for an Uber, or coordinate a group to go together. We need to work together to change this broken country/system.

If you have feelings you want to talk about, stories you'd like to share, words of encouragement, or resources you think others can benefit from, I would love to see them in the comments. 

Why I'm Eating After 7PM

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed below are my own.

So, if you read my last “After 7PM” post, you know that I’ve started a new diet journey, though I don’t like to think of it as a diet, because I can eat goods I like and not want to kill myself in the process. Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion shows how you don’t have to starve to get fit or healthy. “Fact is, most diets are extremely narrow with regard to food choices and  variety, and many even limit entire macronutrients altogether over the course of the entire pro-gram (think low-carb and low-fat diets).”

Nobody wants to eat “diet” food. It sucks. I like to travel, I like to eat good food, and I even like to make good food choices, but not if the results make me unhappy and like I’m missing out on everything out there that I could be eating.

I love this excerpt from the book, because it definitely speaks to me: “You will eat large, delicious meals. You will enjoy foods you love. You will not feel deprived. You will enjoy meals and snacks at night. And you will lose weight quickly and safely in the process.”

I still want to look good in a bathing suit and I want to have the stamina to keep up with the things I want to do in life and on vacation. On my last big trip I walked over 60 miles in the course of two weeks, much of which was uphill, and I walked a marathon over a four-day visit to Disneyland and Universal Studios. I didn’t complain, but I was tired. I’m not in the best shape, so I could definitely stand to be healthier and shed a few pounds, which is what I’m aiming to get from Eat After 7PM.

Joel created this diet for me and others like me. Let’s see why this diet works and why it works for everyone. Here’s what Joel Marion had to say about his background and motivation to help others get healthier and lose weight:

Q: What inspired you to write the book?

A: After authoring 6 best-selling books it was glaringly obvious there were 2 huge misconceptions about dieting that needed to be exposed. The first is that you can't eat late at night or before bed, which science now shows is NOT true. And second, you can't eat large portions that satisfy your natural instinct. This book solves both these problems by providing an evidence-based, enjoyable approach to dieting that can be used by any person to quickly achieve their weight loss goals.

Q: What was the most surprising discovery when you were researching scientific data for the diet?

A: That almost everything my college education and certifications taught me was NOT grounded in published scientific research.

Q: How difficult is the Always Eat After 7 PM plan to follow?

A: It's not. And that's exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7pm works because it caters to our body’s natural instincts.

Because this diet works for everyone, I’m excited to see where it takes me and how it can change my eating habits, and, by extension, my daily life and energy levels.

Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion is now available to purchase. Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.

This post is brought to you by our sponsor, “Always Eat After 7 PM”. The opinions expressed above are my own.