Just a couple more days to go before we leave on the Mystery Vacation™, so it’s time to start organizing what goes into my aqua blue backpack. This is all the stuff that I want to keep secure, or want to use on the plane, or for things I do not want to have to dig through my clothes to find.
Although it looks like a lot of stuff laid out there, I doubt it will even fill the bag half-way, leaving room for some of our travel snacks (we will divide them among the four of us) and possibly souvenirs on our way home. It’s not very heavy either.
Here’s what’s going into my backpack:
- Laptop and case
- Phone
- Kindle
- Journal & pen
- Camera & case
- Assorted chargers
- Toiletries, toothbrush, comb and medicine
- Sleep mask (earplugs will go in as well)
- My jacket (it folds down to almost nothing)
- Some snacks
Other than the sleep mask and earplugs, Brett and the girls’ backpacks will carry similar items, although the girls will add school-related items – they plan to get some work done on the long flight over to the mainland and back, and hopefully will be able to get some reading done when we’re in our room each evening. I thought about bringing along my purse, but finally decided against it. It’s just one extra thing to keep track of.
Much of what’s in the bag will be unpacked into our room when we arrive, and the bag will be lightweight and easy to carry around at our destination, leaving my hands free for picture taking and other activities.
Each of us will be taking a carry-on for our clothes – we all like to keep it as simple as possible when we travel. I’m almost finished packing my carry-on; the warm clothes I’ll need at our destination are not what I wear here. Brett and the girls will pack tonight and tomorrow, and we’ll be on our way early Wednesday morning.
All will be revealed tomorrow!
The Occasional Nomads 
“To the mainland and back” you said!! You know you want to let the cat out of the bag!
I despise packing but at the same time watching you pile up your carry on makes me envious and makes me want to plan a trip!!
You are going to have so much fun, I just know it.
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Big reveal is tomorrow! Brett and I girls have known for a while that we were heading back to the mainland. Their only clue though was that it was somewhere Hawaiian Airlines flies to, and they fly to a LOT of places on the mainland, so said my clue didn’t help much.
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I’m going to Iceland for Easter and your post reminded me of a few things I need to remember to pack. I’m always amazed at people who can pack everything in their carry-on bag. I wish I could do that, but I always end up having to check a bag. Since you mentioned warm clothes, you must be going somewhere cold, but that doesn’t really narrow it down, lol. Can’t wait to find out where!
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Brett and I were able to get all our clothes in one bag this time! I think the secret for us is rolling our clothes, plus neither of us are taking a whole lot along. I’m taking five different outfits, but that’s five different tops and three pair of (yoga) pants that roll up pretty small. We’ll do laundry once at our destination.
Would LOVE to visit Iceland. A friend went a couple of years ago and she is still raving about it!!
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Wow, you fit everything in one bag?? That’s impressive! I roll my clothes too. My father was in the Navy and taught me how to do that when I was a kid, but I’ve never been any good at estimating what I will need. Oh well. This will be my first trip to Iceland but I hear the weather is very changeable and you can experience 4 seasons in one day, which means I will definitely be over packing again. We’re only going to be there a few days though so hopefully I can control myself. The trip I’m taking I found on Groupon. They had been running specials for weeks to Iceland so we finally caved since it’s a place that’s on our bucket list. Glad to hear your friend enjoyed it!
I went to the Grand Canyon 5 years ago. I think it was in February and it was snowing! I had always thought it was warm there year round so that was a surprise. I was only there for a day though and took a tour. I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time!
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OK, I don’t want to brag, but both Brett and I fit our clothes into one carry-on bag! Not sure how we managed that, but it’s all in and with a little bit more room to spare. We will have to do laundry while we’re gone, but that’s just that between us we no longer have enough cold-ish weather clothing for more than five day, maximum. Oh well.
Snow was initially in the forecast for while we were there; now it looks like temps will be in the high 60s to low 70s, with sunshine every day! Woo hoo!!
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We are heading to Europe on a flight in May where our carry-on weight is limited to 11 pounds. I a, guessing my carry on will need some weeding out!
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