Let's Go On a Road Trip!

A huge percentage of people take vacations in the summer, including myself. If you'll be doing this as well, here are some cool facts about road trip planning. 

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I know gas is expensive, and literally, everything costs more right now with inflation, but that doesn't mean that you can't take a great road trip. Save by bringing your own food, or check out these other money-saving tips, and don't forget to get your car checked out before you leave home. 

Plan a lot of stops along the way, so you can get out and stretch your legs and maybe see something cool. Roadside attractions can be pretty cool, if you give them a chance. I like to stop at places that are free, like we saw on our last road trip through Nevada. 

Google is your friend. I search for tips on where to stop, but I also take time to go to Google Maps, pin my route, and then go alone that route to see what attractions are open nearby. This can take a few hours, but it has allowed me to find some real hidden gems.

What are some of your favorite road trip tips, or your favorite places to road trip to/through?

Tips On Packing Light for Summer

Summer travel is here, but with it comes a lot of frustration: long lines, delays and cancellations, lost baggage, and high prices on airfare. Your trips are going to require a lot of patience. Hundreds of checked bags are not getting to their final destination. If you've ever been on a trip where your bag doesn't arrive, you'll know the stress that comes with that. Let's talk about how to pack light for summer.

Unless I'm on my way home and have purchased more items than I have room for, I don't check a bag. When I do, it's only on my way home and I never pack things I bought in my checked bag, or things I can't live without, in case it goes missing.

I've packed for two weeks in a single carry-on for two of us, and a personal item for our electronics, snacks, and toiletries. I'll be doing the same for our upcoming trip to Paris, because we'll be flying on budget airlines, but for now, let's look at how I suggest packing for Las Vegas (and any other summer destination you'll be visiting).

Bottoms

I generally go with 3 bottoms in a solid color. For warm destinations, I take two pair of shorts and a pair of capris. I then take a versatile dress that can be dressed up or down. Men can bring a pair of lightweight slacks. These can be worn on the plane to avoid having more pants that you don't need. 

The bottoms I bring are usually all in one neutral color family (tans or black/gray), so they can go with every top I bring. I've shown brighter colors here, because maybe you'd rather do neutral tops and fun bottoms, but also because it's easier to see than a bunch of black pics. 

Tops

You want to make sure every top goes with every bottom, this way you can maximize your travel wardrobe and not bring a ton of pieces. 4 tops will give you a bunch of options (12 distinct outfits). I choose items that are moisture-wicking and lightweight, so I don't look as sweaty as I might feel. This also means that when you do laundry - and you should do laundry - it all dries fairly quickly. 

Look for summer-friendly fabrics. I purchase a lot of my travel clothing from Columbia, PrAna, Toad & Co, United by Blue, and Mountain Hardwear. They can be expensive, but they make high quality clothing that will last a long time. Most of the time I wait for sales or purchase secondhand on sites like Poshmark. 

Extras

Tops and bottoms are all well and good, but you'll also want to bring a swimsuit. A wrap is a smart addition to your summer wardrobe, because it can be used indoors in the air conditioning, a cover-up for your swimsuit, a beach blanket, a picnic blanket, a towel, and even an emergency top.

Shoes! You need them, but you don't need 12 pair. I walk a lot on my trips, so I make sure my shoes are comfortable for walking all day. I choose one pair of casual shoes, like deck shoes or sneakers, and a good pair of sandals. Again, make sure both of these match with your tops and bottoms. I love a sandal that can be worn with shorts and then with my multipurpose dress, just like I love a slip-on that can go with my dress and with my plane outfit.

Toiletries

If you're beholden to the 3-1-1 liquids bag, then you'll need to pare down your toiletries as much as if you are trying to pack small. I look for multipurpose items, lightweight makeup, and only bring colors that will go with my looks. At home, I probably use 5-6 items, so I try not to bring too many more thing than that. Things I love: tinted moisturizer, waterproof mascara (for pool days and surviving sweaty times), a small eyeshadow palette, a tinted lip balm that moisturizes, a cream cheek/lip tint, and a stick highlighter. 

I am also a fan of spray-on sunscreen, because you can put it on over your makeup, spritz your hair and scalp, and do any touch-ups you need easily throughout the day. There are some great makeup setting sprays that double as sunscreen for your face. 

Other things you might want to look for: solid shampoo bars, travel-size hair appliances, deodorant wipes, makeup wipes, lotion bars, and ways to downsize your full-size products, like decanting into smaller containers or taking trial/sample sizes instead. 

I'll be showing you more of my packing tips on my trip, but I hope this is a good start for you if you'll be traveling soon. What are some of your favorite packing tips?

5 Tips to Prepare for Your Next Vacation: Get Ready to Explore the World

Are you ready to explore the world and take your next vacation? Vacation time is meant for exploring new places and finding inspiration from the world around us. Whether you’re a city-dweller planning your next vacation or an outdoor enthusiast who loves hiking and camping, there is something for everyone. The key to unlocking the door to your next adventure is preparation.

Preparing for your upcoming trip can feel like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The right tools and information will help prepare your mind, body, and soul for a relaxing getaway. Read on to learn 5 tips on how you can prepare for your next trip – wherever that may be:

Research your destination.

Whether traveling somewhere new or returning to a familiar place, research is critical. Understanding your destination and what it offers will help you plan your trip better. Depending on where you’re traveling, you may want to look at the best times to travel, what the weather is like, and how to get around if you’re unfamiliar with the area. When traveling to a new place, it’s easy to want to see and do everything. But it can be easy to get overwhelmed and miss out on critical aspects of your trip. By researching your destination, you’ll better understand what you want to see and do.

Create an itinerary.

An itinerary for your trip is a great way to help you organize your vacation and see what you want to explore. It can also help you stay on track when you don’t want to overdo it. That being said, you don’t have to create a strict itinerary that you really can’t deviate from. When planning your trip, think about what you want to see and do. You don’t have to fill every minute of your vacation with activities – give yourself some downtime too! Create an itinerary that is flexible but still has an outline of what you would like to see and do.

Pack the right gear.

Your next adventure is a great time to try something new or return to a tried-and-true favorite. For example, you can use your next vacation as an opportunity to try a recent outdoor activity, like kayaking down a river or going rock climbing - check out tips from enthusiasts such as Jerome Clavel to get the most from the experience. Or, if you’re a frequent traveler, you can use your next vacation as an opportunity to learn new languages and cultures. You can do many things before you head out on your trip to ensure you bring the right gear. If you’re visiting a new place, you may want to look at packing for different climates and what the weather is like during different times of the year.

Don’t forget the essentials.

Everyone has their must-have items when traveling, but it’s easy to forget something important. A checklist is a great way to ensure you don’t forget anything. Make a list of the things you need on your trip – from food and beverages to medications and toiletries. You should also consider packing and arranging your bags in a way that makes sense. This can help you stay organized while also ensuring you don’t forget anything important. You can also use travel apps and services to help you prepare and stay organized throughout your trip.

Learn from your mistakes.

You may have made a mistake when planning your trip or forgotten something important on your journey. Hopefully, you won’t make the same mistakes twice, but we all make them sometimes. While you should learn from your mistakes and not make them again, it can also be helpful to talk about them and share what you’ve learned with others. Whatever mistake you made, you can use it as an opportunity to learn from your experience and better prepare yourself for your next trip.