What to pack for European vacation?

What should I pack for a lengthy vacation?

• I am going on a vacation to North Carolina. I am leaving on June 18th and returning on July 4th. Due to the high cost of baggage, I am bringing one carry on sized suitcase, and my purse. I dress pretty casually usually wearing things like short shorts and t-shirts. I want to know two things I guess, what should I pack, and how should I make the most out of the room in my suitcase that I have. I have access to a washer and a dryer, so cleaning cloths is no problem. we are spending a week of the vacation camping in the appellation mountains, I don't have to bring a sleeping bag or anything but I do need to pack accordingly for that. We will be spending some time on the beach at our beach houses, but we will also spend time in the city at our home. my suitcase has two front pockets and one large middle pocket, and can't weigh more than 40 lbs. I would like a list that I can easily cross things off of, and that includes all necessary things that I will need. I am a girl:) so I have to pack in accordance with that! I have never been camping before, so I have NO clue what to bring for that. I wear basketball shorts and sweatpants in MN where I live, but I don't know if that will work in NC where it is substantially warmer? I am a runner, so I would like my Nikes to be included on the list! I am bringing the bag as a carry on, so everything in it needs to follow the standards for security! Thank you so much, I honestly have no clue what to bring:) I appreciate your time and effort=) oh, and I would rather not wear the same cloths a lot, but I can't bring too much...sorry thats a little confusing=)

• Answer:

  The appellation mountains, eh? I wonder if they're anything like the Appalachian Mountains, in the northern foothills of which I used to live. :-) To be specific, you probably mean the Blueridge Mountains of western North Carolina, I suspect. First, you don't want to take a 40-pound suitcase onto an aircraft as carry-on. Swallow your desire to beat the cost of checking your bag and check it anyway. Remember, the dinky little overhead compartment has to be shared by all the people in your row. It is not for you alone. Being a bin hog is terribly bad manners and is very inconsiderate. While you're struggling to get that beast into the bin, you'll be holding up other passengers trying to get down the aisle. When you've landed and are trying to get it down, you'll risk bonking someone in the head with that heavy monster. It's so, so much easier just to check it and forget it until you pick it up at the baggage claim. As for what to pack, here's a list I share with my students when they go backpacking in Europe. Your situation is not too entirely different. Of course, this is just a suggestion: you will certainly want to modify the list to fit your needs: CLOTHES: 1 pr comfortable, BROKEN-IN walking shoes 1 pair flip-flops or shower shoes 7 pr socks 7 pr undies 1-2 shorts 1-2 skirts/jeans 3-7 polo shirts/T-shirts 1 sweater or sweatshirt 1 poncho or rain jacket 1 bathing suit 1 semi-nice outfit (for dinner or theatre or concert) TOILETRIES: Any prescription meds plus doctor’s prescription for generic refills Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss soap & shampoo comb or brush sunscreen/moisturizer deodorant traveler's first aid kit contraceptives/condoms (stop snickering!) aspirin/pain reliever Pepto-Bismal tablets (not liquid) tissues moist towelettes tampons eyeglasses/sunglasses/contacts/solutio… EQUIPMENT: Camera/SD cards/batteries/charger Camcorder/batteries/charger/videotape Swiss Army style knife (pack in checked luggage, not carry-on) Cellphone/charger Pocket or keyring flashlight Address book Notebook or travel journal Guidebook(s)/ maps Travelers sewing kit Waist or neckpouch for documents Luggage lock (the kind the TSA can open for inspection) I also advise my female students in particular to wear a short, comfortable hairstyle and wear minimal makeup. Anything that is long and takes too much time to coiff wastes time and all that extra silly stuff like hair dryers and gels and other unguents just waste space in your luggage. Besides, you can't carry more than 100 ml (3.4 ounces) through airport security anyway, and all of your gels and liquids have to fit in one 1-qt. zipper-top bag. (See the TSA's helpful website, www.tsa.gov, for info on what you can take through airport security.) To see what the weather will be like, visit the Weather Channel's website, www.weather.com, daily for the week leading up to your trip. You will get a feel for the weather trends and forecast, so when you pack the night before you depart, you'll know what to expect from the weather. Have a sensational time in beautiful North Carolina.