Vacation Essentials
Hi friends,
I absolutely love to travel! My favorite place to visit…? The beach—as I’m sure many of you have guessed. But I love traveling, period. I love visiting new places and stumbling upon unplanned treasures—a secret waterfall, a ruin we didn’t know existed, a world-famous bakery in Charleston that makes biscuits so mouth-watering a weary bunch of authors were up at 5 a.m. to be lined up when they opened at 6. Each trip holds the wonder of a new discovery.
While I’m all for spontaneity—I’ve been known, bless my husband’s heart—to wake up in the morning and suggest we pack a bag and head for an overnight trip or weekend getaway—I’ve also found comfort and practicality in several must-have travel items. These are the items, no matter how spontaneous our adventure, that I don’t leave home without. I thought it would be fun to share some of them with you, and maybe you’ll find them useful too.
1) Travel attire:
I don’t know about you, but I want to be comfortable while I travel, while not looking like I just rolled out of bed, though that’s often the case. I’m not an uber early riser but somehow always end up on the 6 a.m. flights or early morning drives to avoid morning rush hour on 95.
If I’m heading out for a conference and need to be ready when I arrive, I opt for Kut from the Kloth jeans. They are the MOST comfortable jeans I’ve ever owned. I choose a dark rinse or black for a more professional feel. I pair it with a comfortable blouse from Banana Republic and a lightweight, yet cozy sweater for cold airplane cabins. Old Navy has some great ones and they are lightweight enough to fit in my handbag. But, the most important item of my conference attire is my Tieks ballet flats. They are pricey, but they last forever and are the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, no matter how much walking is required or how big the venue to venture about. Here’s a pic of my favorite color—romantic blush. You can dress it up or down.
For family trip attire, I stick with Kut from the Kloth but I go with their drawcord pants, paired with an uber-comfy PrAna t-shirt and a pair of Sanuk flip-flops. The latter being the most important. Their flops are made from yoga mats so it’s like walking on a cushy yet supportive service all day long.
2) My Top Three comfort accessories for plane or car:
With COVID considerations many people are choosing to drive for vacations rather than fly and all these items are great for both flights and road trips alike.
A pashmina is a tool of many trades. It works as a scarf in the winter, a wrap on summer evenings, a blanket for cuddling up whether it’s a chilly plane cabin or a cool car. It weighs practically nothing to carry and you can even stash it in your purse.
This stuff is addictive with all the yummy flavors, and it keeps lips from getting dry. Their sunscreen is great too!
Hand lotion
Lotion not only helps keep hands soft but just putting on lotion can make you feel like you’ve freshened up and there are so many scents (if you don’t need to go fragrance-free) that you can find one that perks you up or relaxes you.
My favorite brand of lotions is L’Occitane and they come in travel sizes perfect for stashing in your purse. My favorite scents are lavender for relaxing and verbena when I need a pick-me-up.
3) Last but certainly not least… A BOOK
Whether it’s on e-book, print, or audible, a book is a travel necessity for me. Right now, I’m re-reading one of my favorites, The Screwtape Letters. I enjoy visiting old favorites now and again.
Reader Question: What’s your number one travel go-to?
Blessings,
Dani