SUNSET MAGIC

Some of the most beautiful sunsets or sunrises can be seen over water. So if you happen to be lucky enough to have a river, bay, ocean, lake or pond close to your home, then go enjoy one of natures wonders. You really won't have to pack much, perhaps a folding chair with a thermos of coffee or a favorite drink will do. Bring a friend or loved one and your about as close to heaven on earth that I can think of.

BARGAIN ALCOHOL PRICES ON CRUISE SHIPS CAN BE EXPENSIVE

If you are flying home after a cruise vacation, think twice before purchasing the bargain liquors that the ship offers for sale. Many cruise ships keep your purchases locked away until the night before your departure. You then experience the dillema of transporting the bottles back. Since carry-on restrictions allow for 3 oz per liquid container, most likely the alcohol will need to be placed into your checked luggage. If you are not flying an airline like Southwest which accomodates two free bags up to 50 lbs, not exceeding 62" in size, you might have to pay for either a second or third bag or perhaps a weight surcharge. These fees can go as high as $100 per bag, so check with your airline to know for sure. Also, keep in mind that many a travel wardrobe has been destroyed by a broken bottle of booze.

HOW TO GO THROUGH AIRPORT SECURITY EFFICIENTLY

The airport security check in process can be unnerving at best. To help make it easier remember that you will be asked to take off your shoes, belt, jacket, coat and certain jewelry like your watch. I wear either sneakers with velcro straps or shoes that slip off easily. I try not to wear a belt or watch on airport travel days, but if I do, I put my belt and watch into my carry on during the security screening. I will also empty my pockets of change, etc. and put the contents into a quart size ziplock bag and place that into my carry on as well. You will be asked to remove your computer and all liquids for screening. Keep your laptop in a safe and convenient spot in your carry on and remember the 3,1,1 rule for all carry on liquids. All liquids that you carry on must be 3 oz or less, placed in a clear plastic 1 quart size bag and only 1 bag is allowed per passenger. If you require larger quantities of liquids they can be placed into your checked luggage.

MY SOLO UNDER THE SEAT BAG VERSUS MY TRAVELPRO ROLLING TOTE

My May transatlantic cruise is coming down to the wire. I have selected most of my clothing and will be packing a pair of Lindsay Phillips SwitchFlops as my main evening shoes. That is all great, but my subconscious is obsessing over my suitcase. I actually had a nightmare last night. I know I can do the two week trip with the Solo bag but the Travelpro is yet to be tested. Dimensions for the Solo bag are 16"x15"x9", for the Travelpro they are 13"x16"x8". For you mathematicians out there, you know those inches lost add up to a lot of space. So back to the dream, there I am onboard the ship with only half of what I wanted to pack. My goal is to pack 35 unique and different outfits not 18. What a challenge this is going to be!

THE SAK OR MY FAVORITE TRAVELON BAG?

The other day I saw an ad for the sax bag on travelsmith's website. The bag rolled for easy storage. I better get one of those I thought. My two week transatlantic trip is coming up soon and I might need it.

I thought it was going to be an easy decision as to which bag I liked best. It wasn't. The sax bag rolled nicely but so did the Travelon. Then I asked myself, "why do I need the bag to roll anyway?" The answer is, I don't. So then the problem of which would be better for me became clear, it was the size. The sax was bigger so it could acommodate more but the Travelon had more compartments and was better organized. It was also made with microfibers that made cleaning easier. The sax was made of high quality leather and seemed a bit more stylish. At this point, I still think I will take the Travelon bag on the trip but keep the sax for other adventures.

LET YOUR TRAVEL CLOTHES DO DOUBLE DUTY!

Letting your travel clothes do double duty expands your pack-light wardrobe. In the case of the sun dress above, which is actually a formal black full length skirt, it will do triple duty. I will wear it as a short skirt as well as a formal long skirt by topping it off with a long sleeve wrinkle free silk sweater. Always keep in mind that people often pay more attention to the tops you wear. Add interest to your wardrobe by wearing a bright colored scarf or clipping on a "funky" silk flower to your blouse. Be creative and have fun, thats all the rage these days!

FLIGHT TRAVEL WITH THE ELDERLY

When you are planing to take a trip with the elderly, the indisposed or small children for that matter, it is best to call the airline directly to see how they can help. They can assist you in making arrangements for a wheelchair to meet you at the main entrance of the airport and even locate seats that would best accommodate your charge. An isle seat located close to the restroom might be perfect for some while the bumper seats behind first class might offer needed room for others. Regardless, this is one time when it is better to speak to someone from the airline rather then trying to navigate through the internet. On occasion, the airline will even help the elderly go through the grueling process of the security check if they know the situation in advance. 

PERSONAL STUFF MAKES FOR GREAT PACK LIGHT OPTIONS

I took a break at a highway rest stop today and found these pack-light goodies. PS stands for Personal Stuff and personal stuff they are. It is a great concept having sample size packets of national products like Claritin, Benadryl Allergy, Day Quill and Chap Stick, but I was a little  taken back when I saw Sominex and Tylenol PM. Let's just hope the sleeping aids weren't for any of the drivers, and if they were, that those drivers waited until they got home or to their hotel before they popped them!

VISIT LOCAL FARMS

Spring is here and so are my annual visits to garden centers and nurseries. Maybe its because, just a few generations back, practically all my ancestors were farmers, that this time of year inspires that need to plant and get back to my roots. Regardless, it is always a joy to go out to the garden centers and see all those possibilities for my garden. But what about local farms? If you do a little searching on the internet via the Department of Agriculture for your particular state you can find local farms and events that allow access to the wonderful world of farming. Many are free and all offer the promise of a very interesting adventure for you and your family. So check it out and remember to pack plenty of water and disinfectant wipes or spray.

THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

Yesterday, I spent time at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, mesmerized by some of the 1093 inventions by the incredible and talented Thomas Edison. At the West Orange, NJ invention factory complex, one can wander for hours in the three story research building complete with machine shops, experiment labs, the incredible research library with a sleeping corner for the exhausted inventor, the first recording studio (shown above) and out buildings for chemistry, physics and metallurgy experiments. I am truly in awe of Edison's genius and curiosity and wish to thank him for among other things, the incandescent lamp that paved the way for lighting up our planet, for the phonograph, and the introduction of motion pictures. How our world changed because of him. His beautiful home at Glenmont is also available for tours and is just a short car ride away from the research center. 

GOOD NEWS for anyone wishing to visit next weekend, in celebration of National Park Week, all National Parks are observing "Fee Free Days 2011" on April 16th and 17th.

PACKING BUSINESS MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Today, most business travelers will tell you that their smart phone or laptop is all they really need to travel with. I, however, have found that I often need a few extras. These extras often include stapler, staples, scotch tape, paperclips, folders, etc. A trip to the Dollar Tree and I am in business. The Dollar Tree sells all of these items for the great price of $1.00 each and many of them come in a scaled down size. The smaller sizes are perfect for traveling light and because of their cost I can toss them after I use them if I need the extra space (although they don't take up much of that). They fit perfectly in a quart size freezer bag which makes them easy to locate in my suitcase. 

LADIES, ADD A LITTLE SPLASH TO YOUR TRAVEL WARDROBE

Michaels, the arts and craft mega store sells lots of goodies for the Pack Light traveler. I love the clip-on flowers shown above. They can add that extra splash of color to my black base wardrobe. For only a dollar or two, clip-on flowers are also a bargain. I use them on hats, pocketbooks or on the lapel of a favorite jacket. Other great Michaels finds include velcro strips and dots for quick mending on the go.