4 Essential Items to Pack for Your Lake Trip
When you need to take a break, there’s nothing like soaking in the scenery by a lake. Whether it’s winter or summer, each season offers a different flavor of relaxation that can rejuvenate your spirit. Depending on the time of year, you should be well-prepared with different essential items. So when do you need to leave your water shoes behind and take some sturdy hiking boots instead? This guide will show you everything you need to know about packing for your next exciting trip to the lake. Here are four essential items to pack for your next lake trip.
1 - For Winter Lake Trips: Comfy, Warm Clothing
Trips to the lake often bring to mind warm weather with boating, sunbathing, and jet skis. However, there is something equally charming about going to the lake in the winter. During this cold season, you should expect to spend more time indoors. Therefore, invest in a rental house or cabin that allows you to feel comfortable and experience all the charms of lakeside living while it's cold outside. For the most complete experience, make sure your rental unit has access to a fire pit or has an indoor gas or wood fireplace. While there is limited sunlight during the day, the beauty of winter lake trips is rooted in their peace. Indulging in the sights and sounds of a roaring fire with a delicious meal and drink is the epitome of winter lake bliss.
For this kind of trip, bring comfortable and warm clothing that will help you enjoy the outdoors during the day and stay cozy inside at night. A cashmere turtleneck with long johns and jeans is a perfect wintertime outfit that suits the ambiance and keeps you stylish all day long. When it's time to go to bed, slip into something comfortable like some flannel pajamas made with the most insulation for chilly nights. Talk about cozy!
2 - For the Fall: Prepare for Outdoor Adventures
Transitional Seasons like fall make it so easy to go outside and enjoy the weather for most of the day. The days are still long, and the afternoons can still be balmy by the lake. You will want to bring your best hiking boots and sneakers with you to handle the unpredictable terrain. It's also advisable to bring an all-weather jacket, so it's easy to shed layers as the weather changes. When it comes to your clothing, you don't need to dress as warmly you would as during the winter. Something cozy like tunic sweatshirts and leggings should be more than enough to stay warm without overheating during the day.
3 - For Spring and Summer Lake Trips: Prepare for the Water!
Depending on your location, spring and summer can both be appropriate seasons for taking a dip in the water. Lakes have peaceful, still, waters that are incredibly inviting and are suitable for swimming, sunbathing, and boating. If you plan to go to the lake in a northern area, spring might feel more like fall in terms of your packing needs. But if your lake trip is in the south where the weather is already warm enough for swimming, pack like you would for a beach trip.
If the weather is suitable for swimming, you're going to need at least one swimsuit and a couple of women’s cover-ups to make sure you are ready for the water. However, it's advised to bring at least two swimsuits so that you can wear one while another is drying or in the wash so you can be versatile and spontaneous.
4 - Use the Right Bags
Depending on how you plan on arriving at your lakeside destination, you will need different types of luggage. For instance, if you plan on going cross-country in an airplane, you will need some larger checked bags to make sure that you have enough essentials when you arrive. If you plan on driving to your destination, then a few suitcases should suffice. Within these bags, you should also pack some versatile beach bags that you can use when you get to your lake house.
This makes it easy to go shopping, carry around toys, sunblock, and other odds and ends that your vacation requires. You will find many sizes and varieties of canvas bags that range from small to large, with many offering the option to zip up the top to keep the contents inside. The open interior of a canvas tote bag makes it easy to adapt to a variety of irregularly shaped items to help you pack quickly and efficiently.
Going to the lake is a wonderful idea any time of year. Whether you want to cozy up by the fire in the winter or spend all day in the sun at the shore, a lakeside vacation has much to offer.