It’s Winter Break! How to pack for your family vacation.
You have all the duffle bags and suitcases out of storage and the final hours of work are officially over! Wahoo! All that you need to do is pack up your clothes so that you can get right on your way to a well-deserved vacation. And make sure the kids are on top of that too (are they ever?).
First off, we need to know where we’re going. Warm and tropical? We’ve got a list for that. Cold and blustery? We have that too. Let’s take a look at the types of things we need to pack for a solid winter vacation.
How to pack for the wonderfully cold vacation.
Welcome back to winter! You’re a big fan of mountains and ski towns full of good food, fun little shops and all sorts of snowy recreation. You want to get packed without overdoing it this time since you plan on bringing back some gifts for your friends.
For the adults you’ll need:
- One packable down winter coat
- A couple turtlenecks (a colorful variety)
- One fleece pullover
- A couple sweaters (cable knit, cotton, or cashmere)
- Leggings or thermals for layers throughout the trip.
- Snow pants if you’re skiing.
- Chinos or jeans that you can layer (or are fleece lined)
- Merino wool socks
- Boots
- Slippers
- Your favorite warm winter hat (knit or fleece) and scarf
- A warm pair of weatherproof winter gloves or mittens
- Toiletries
- …and of course underwear
What the kids will need is similar, just smaller:
- Packable winter coats
- Snowpants
- Thermals
- Winter Snow boots
- Flannel PJs
- Warm wool socks
- Hat and gloves and scarves/gaiters
- Hand and foot warmers to keep complaints at bay
- Favorite stuffed animals and blankets
- Board and card games for everybody
- This one’s extra but a thermos full of hot cocoa can make everybody’s day five times better
You might have a few additions to this list but generally you can rely on these as being the core to get you through those casual winter days. If the trip calls for a more formal outfit, you can combine a turtleneck with a cashmere sweater. If you need to be more formal than that, you’ll want to set aside something that fits the bill, but these are all great options to get you through that wintertime trip.
How to pack for a tropical vacation.
It’s unbelievable that there are people who live in the summer year-round, but hey you’re about to dip your toe (literally) to see how those waters feel. Paradise is only a couple flights away and that’s a relief. After all, we’re diving right back into winter like we didn’t just do it. Take a look at the calendar and let all those winter woes disappear: it’s island time now.
Here’s what the adults ought to bring along:
- Your swimsuit of course
- Light linen tee shirts or polos
- A couple pairs of shorts/skirts
- Bring a fleece or cotton sweater in case it gets chilly at night
- A lighter flannel shirt can also be useful if the temperatures dip
- Your UPF clothing will come in handy since you’ll be by the beach
- A packable rain jacket
- Merino wool socks will keep your feet dry all day if you’re out and about
- Your best sun defiant hat
- Sunglasses
- Sneakers
- Don’t forget: toiletries and underwear!
As for the kids:
- A light rain jacket or windbreaker
- UPF shirts for the beach and walking around the area
- Swimsuits
- PJs for the plane
- Socks and underwear (extras just in case)
- Khaki shorts and a nice shirt or blouse for a nice dinner out
- Fleece pullovers
- A baseball hat, or buy one as a souvenir to bring home
- Sneakers that do it all. Sandals are a great option too.
- Games and books and things to do!
It’s surprising how much more difficult it is to pack for the summery weather. That’s when our bags are bursting the most because we can’t believe that we have to leave our winter coat at home and those boots and all the other little things that change our world. Try to plan outfits. You might just be at the beach the whole time and all you really need is a swimsuit and a towel. Better to pack it than to not, but only if it fits of course.