ANIMAL RIDDEN WALLS

My summer meanderings have begun and with my love of novelty in full swing I was delighted when my sister suggested Pub 199 in Mt. Arlington, NJ. The walls of this funky restaurant are adorned with the stuffed remains of what Noah tried so desperately to save. The prices are great, the gawking potential is way up there, but you must pay in cash. We had lobster dinners in the $15.00 range and they were served with actual butter! So if you want something different for yourselves and the kids and you don't want to break the bank, head over to Pub 199 on 199 Howard Blvd., Mt Arlington, NJ 07856 (973-398-7454). No reservations needed

SAFE AND SECURE HANDBAGS

The three bags shown above are from Travelon. All the bags have wide, adjustable straps  which are excellent for personal safety while traveling or just out and about. The largest bag  (to the right) has metal support within to give it even more security from a thief with scissors or a knife. They range in price from $34.99 to $59.99 depending on features. I found them at the Samsonite store at the Potomac Mills Mall in northern Virginia on my way to North Carolina. They can also be found online. I personally use the middle bag as my everyday pocketbook. It has numerous zipped pockets for added security and it is washable.

SIX KEYS TO PACKING LIGHT

1.)   Know the climate and expected weather of your destination before you pack.


2.)   Wear your heaviest and bulkiest clothing (shoes included) on your flights if you take them

3.)  For those "Just in case" moments; Ladies, pack the indispensable "Little Black Dress". Men wear a sports coat on travel day but pack a collard shirt, tie, belt and coordinating slacks.

4.)   Scale down on everything. Travel size toiletries, thin socks, light weight underwear, fewer shoes and polyester-spandex blends work well in keeping down the weight.

5.)   When in doubt, TAKE IT OUT.

6.)   If you are going away for three days pack for three days and not a week.

FOR MORE TIPS AND DAILY CHARTS GO TO:     mimipackslight.com
      

TABLETS, E-READERS AND NETBOOKS ARE PACKLIGHTABLE!

I learned a major lesson during my Cruise Challenge, never travel without a computer. But that might not be altogether true, for I made a visit to Staples today, and found out about some other smaller devices that might have worked out just as well. Here at the Staple's in Cape May Court House, NJ, manager, Deven Hamidy, shows off the tiny but potent Acer. The Acer 10" Tablet which sells for $449.98 can be manipulated by touch which I like since I have an iPhone. Read your book, play games, watch a movie, make phone calls through skype and enjoy Wi-Fi connectivity all on this tiny computer. It packs light too which is what I love. It seems like there are all sorts of scaled down computers out there ready to make our journeys easier and more efficient. Toshiba Thrive, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy and of course the iPad 2, to name a few. Treat yourself to a technology outing and see what appeals for your travels.

LORETTA'S PRALINES, NEW ORLEANS

I can leave New Orleans without tasting a beignet but I can't go without trying a praline. While visiting the French Market I stopped by Loretta's and treated myself to an excellent original praline. Here her son packages up some of the best the city has to offer.

NEW ORLEANS - BLACK TIE OPTIONAL!

I am often asked, "What should I wear when I go to New Orleans?" I usually reply, "anything!"

Of course that all depends on where you are going, what you will be doing and when. Just remember though, that New Orleans is flexible. This past weekend I attended a wedding in the French Quarter where black Tie was optional. Walking down Bourbon Street, in nearly 90 degree weather, it was no surprise to see brides in long white gowns, tuxedo clad hurricane holders walking side by side with gents and gals in short shorts, ripped jeans and nearly no tops! What a place! Always keep in mind, that New Orleans is pron to high humidity and plenty of rain. So if you go, take an umbrella, some bottled water and very comfortable walking shoes.  

NEW ORLEANS

After packing for a two week cruise in my little Travelpro, it seemed relatively simple to pack it for a weekend wedding in New Orleans. Its warm here, about 90 F, so summer clothes are in order. I checked into the JW Marriott with jeans, long sleeve shirt, reversible jacket, sneakers and socks (my typical travel day fare) but it didn't take me long to throw on a pair of shorts, sleevless top and sandals. Then I was off to stroll the French Quarter, walk along the waterfront, and part with cash at Harrah's Casino. New Orleans is one of my favorite US cities. There is so much to do here, the people are friendly and the history......yeah, the history is great. With iPhone in hand I took a lot of great photos but Blogger is giving me problems posting them. What a drag. Before Blogger did an upgrade (wrong word) to their system a week or so back, I loved them. Now, with all the problems, I will probably have to change to another server. If anyone has a suggestion please email me at: mimipackslight@gmail.com

Thanks. Enjoy your travels

IMPRESSIVE PACK LIGHTERS!!

In the photo above are Elaine and Matthew from Perth, Australia. They are on a four week trip that includes visits to the UK, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and a grand finish of 10 days in Norway. Here you see them with two bags and two backpacks. Don't be fooled by the extra sac Elaine is holding as it is their lunch. I could tell by what they carried and the conversation that we had that they are great pack lighters. They had to pack for almost all weather types as they will be checking out Iceland's glaciers and the rugged terrain of Norway. They will visit friends along the way so they have also packed gifts in those bags. If I were to give out gold stars for packing right, these two would get them. Hey, thats not a bad idea. Elaine, Matthew, if you happen to check this blog, please send me your address for the first of the Mimi Packs Light Gold Stars! Also, would love to know about your trip and any tips you might like to offer.

CRUISE CHALLENGE, DAY 15, LONDON, REYKJAVICK, ICELAND, NEWARK

Day 14 was a travel day from London to Newark via Iceland. It was another beautiful day weather-wise. At Gatwick airport I had some time to spare so after a quick cup of tea and a scone loaded with codded cream and jam I meandered over to the first travel shop I saw, Rolling Luggage (how appropriate!). There I met Odilia who prowdly showed me her lightest bags from Samsonite. The Cubelite weighing in at 2 kg and the Cosmolite at 2.2 kg. They were easy to roll empty but I would need to give them the old Mimi test of running through airports, city streets, subway steps, etc. The store was loaded with other goodies too. My favorites were the animal character wheeled luggage for small children. The bright colored suitcases could also be used as a rolling seat for the toddlers. That might keep them busy for a bit!

CRUISE CHALLENGE, DAY 14, LONDON

Today finds me day tripping in London. Having spent the night at the Gatwick Marriott Hotel, I opted for the Gatwick Express train into Victoria Station. Packing a day bag with a few UK essentials like an umbrella. bottle of water, small snack, tissues, debit card and a few pounds, I was good to go. My goal for the day was an overview of the city by taking the Original & Best open top bus tour. Tickets are available at Victoria Station's information desk and they include not only a discount but fast track tickets to major attractions if desired and a free river cruise. The tour was wonderful especially because you could hop on and off the bus so you could spend time at the places that really interested you. an added plus is that each ticket is good for 24 hours. There are several routes to take around the city all designated by a different color. On the red line I got to see attractions like the Marble Arch, Speakers Corner, Madame Tussauds, Piccadilly Circus and St Paul's Cathedral. The yellow line took me to Talfagar Square where I stopped for a brisk run through the National Gallery and grabbed a bight to eat at a cafe. I finished my tour at Buckingham Palace walking back to Victoria Station as I fantasized about being a royal!

SHOES, SHOES, SHOES

Traveling from the port of Harwich to Gatwick Airport was a bit of a challenge. As I left the ship I was fortunate to make a train leaving to Liverpool Street and then hop on a subway to Victoria Station where I could get another train to the airport. My hotel was in walking distance to Gatwick airport which was great. While waiting for the subway I met a lovely woman by the name of Sandy. She made certain that I was going in the right direction (someone else had told me otherwise) and again made certain that I got off at the right stop. Thanks Sandy! I told her all about my Cruise Challenge and she responded with the typical, "But what about shoes." Clearly, shoes are on top of most women's minds when they pack so off I went on my roll of how fabulous Lindsay Phillips and Onesoles are for the female traveler (weather permitting, of course). Both shoes have interchangeable tops and I find both to be comfortable but I like them for different reasons. To put it simply, I find Onesoles to be more casual and better for the gals who don't like the toe thong. Also, the Onesole low wedge is perfect for anyone with a wider foot or for anyone who has sustained some past injury or for that matter has problem feet. The Lindsay Phillips on the other hand can be dressed up more and I find their velcro attached tops easier to get off and on.

CRUISE CHALLENGE DAY 13, GETTING OFF THE SHIP

Well, today is embarkation day at Harwich, UK. I packed my small Travelpro and discovered that I didn't wear four of the tops that I had brought with me. How do you like that? I over packed! I over packed and I learned a lot! Here are some tips I'll use next time:

1. Bring my laptop on the next trip.
2. Sign up with SKYPE for inexpensive long distance calls.
3. Lindsay Phillips SwitchFlops are fabulous and will definitely travel with me in the future.
4. A light weight black sweater would have been better then the cardigan style wrap.
5. Long black slacks would have been better then the floral ones I had packed.
6. I need a foldable hat with a bigger brim.