Packing for any trip can be a daunting task, but I find packing for quick weekend getaways can be the most challenging for me. I'm headed back to DC for another long weekend with my parents like we did last year and like last year I am not checking luggage since it's a quick trip. After a couple of recent weekend trips, I feel like I'm a pro at tackling the quick trip bag. Here are some of my tips.
Write a list: I usually keep a couple of lists starting a couple weeks before my trip, one for things to pack and one for things to do before my trip. I generally try to write my packing list in sections: clothes, toiletries, shoes, etc. I try to add complete outfits to the list and have even been known to draw the outfits for reference. I like crossing things off the list as I accomplish them or as I'm packing and they have gone in my suitcase/bag so I know what I'm missing. I have been packing using this system since high school or junior high and for the most part it seems to keep me organized and allows me to not tear through my apartment/house like a mad woman at the last minute.
Check the weather: Wyatt thinks I check the weather too much as it is very unpredictable, but it is wise to check the weather a couple of times leading up to your trip so you know how to pack! The weather channel now gives you a 15-day forecast. While a lot can change in those 15 days, I like to look a few times to get an idea of what the weather might be. I simply wait until a few days before to make final decisions based on what I see then. Once you have a general idea of the temperature range, you can always throw in a rain jacket (wear it to save space when packing) or scarf just in case.
Pack outfits by day: Obviously, after just talking about weather if there is going to be a warmer or cooler day in the trip, I'll plan an outfit based around that. If I have an itinerary, I will pack outfits for each day based on what is appropriate and comfortable for the day based on the scheduled activities. When traveling by plane, I tend to try to wear flats or sandals to the airport for easier security screenings and am less concerned about the comfort of my outfit (most everywhere I've flown in the last few years has been a short flight). If I'm traveling by car and know I'll be in the car more than about 3 hours to get to my destination I want comfort. I tend to always pack a comfy outfit for my return trip. Another tip while still packing outfits by day that will give you more flexibility is to pack outfits where items are interchangeable. Pack shirts that go with a couple of your bottoms and you'll feel less constricted when you go to get ready each morning. If you're like me and like to pack heavy because you cannot decide what you want to wear, this allows you more choices without packing 10 pairs of pants and 15 shirts.
Packing cubes: I never used these until last spring. They are game changers! Putting everything into my bag or suitcase used to be like a puzzle but now I use packing cubes and it's so easy! The package I bought has a small, medium, and large container. I tend to put undergarments in the small cube, two stacks of shirts/sweaters/etc side by side in the large cube, and bottoms in the medium cube. Once they're zipped and ready to go I just lay them in the suitcase or bag and there are still crevices to stick scarves, socks, shoes, etc.
Shoes: Pack appropriate shoes! Last year on our weekend getaway to DC, I ended up with what felt like tendinitis in my right foot. I only had my converses with me and the ~14 miles a day of walking three days in a row did not bode well for my poor foot. I ended up going to a mall on our last day and buying a pair of tennis shoes but the damage was done and my foot took a few weeks to heel. This year I'm planning on taking tennis shoes and arch supports for any flats if I choose to pack any.
Just remember that it's not the end of the world if you forget something. You can always borrow or buy something in the event it got left behind, or simply go without. Even though I had been checking the weather for my recent Chicago trip, mother nature still decided to surprise us and snowed off and on all of Saturday while bringing a bit cooler temps than originally expected. We popped into H&M and I picked up a scarf, gloves, and a sweater to wear with the outfit I had planned for dinner that night. And as for packing for long trips, I tend to try to use some of these same steps. I do try to pack more options, especially for trips where I spend a week in one spot without an itinerary like our South Carolina trips.
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