Packing Carry-On Only Bags for Family Travel
Packing light for air travel with children.
When I showed glimpses of the carry-on only luggage that our family took to the Tiny French Farmhouse this summer, I received a cascade of unanticipated comments and questions: “How?” “Impossible.” “Packing list, please.”
First and foremost, we have somewhat of a cheat when it comes to packing for this particular destination, as the farmhouse is our home and we plan to leave items there over time for increasingly lighter packing in the future. However, since this was only our second visit — and three out of four of us have VERY different bodies and needs than we did the last trip — these were pretty much fully packed bags.
Since most of us are operating on minimal mental bandwidth these days, I’m breaking down what/how we packed into simplified categories below:
BAGS
3 backpacks:
~25L juvenile overnight-style backpack (I wouldn’t recommend the one we have — but this one would’ve worked better.)
1 kid’s ride-along convertible suitcase / seat extender
1 washable paper catch-all Palermo tote by UASHMAMA for miscellaneous overflow items
Baby Carrier Mini, in lieu of a stroller (Note: our youngest is small — please read specifications to find a carrier that suits your child.)
BOOKS
While I prefer hard-copy books, Adam and I use an e-reader for travel
For our baby/toddler: Indestructibles (lightweight, slim, flexible, waterproof)
For our young reader, paperback library books / series selected for content AND weight/size
FOOD + BEVERAGE
2 Stojo adult collapsible bottles, latched to backpacks with carabiners
2 Stojo children’s collapsible bottles, latched to backpacks with carabiners
1 Stojo collapsible, lidded bowl/to-go container
4 Sets of to-go cutlery with straws and washable napkins (minus the matching knives
1 Set of beeswax cloths
FOOTWEAR
I find that shoes from the following brands usually travel + wash well, as they’re slim but sturdy and flexible:
Rothy’s
AllBirds
Bensimon
FEIT slippers
Note: Rothy’s — both the men’s and women’s styles — are also versatile for dressing either up or down.
TOILETRIES
Shampoo + conditioner bar
All-age tin of sunscreen
Toothpaste tablets
Travel first aid kit
One shared travel-sized bamboo brush
Menstrual cup
LastSawb ear swab
Cadence magnetic honeycombs for smaller/specialty liquids.
A clear Stasher bag for all bottles, for easier TSA inspection when required. We then wash and use the bag for other things while abroad.
Above: A TSA-approved size bottle of multi-use Branch Basics cleaner from concentrate for use as detergent and more
TECH
We kept our tech to a minimum, editing cords and plugs and sharing as much as possible between necessary devices. We use a portable, zip-around cord book / organizer to keep everything streamlined.
TOYS
We repurposed small canvas pouches and reusable clear baggies to further organize and corral figurines, activities for fine motor skills, reusable-sticker books, and art supplies. All the pouches fit in the ride-along case with room to spare, since everything becomes undone in travel and needs to fit pell-mell, too. Once in France, we use the pouches and baggies to syphon off activities for car rides and unexpected waits while out-and-about.
CLOTHES + OUTERWEAR
This is so specific to preference, region, time of year and individual needs that I see no point in getting TOO specific. But since we knew we’d be able to wash our clothes, we only needed the following:
A TSA-approved size bottle of multi-use Branch Basics cleaner from concentrate for use as detergent and more
3 days worth of outfits each
1 overnight outfit each
Specialty gear like swimsuits and water-repellent jackets
Until We Can Get to France...
Post Summary: A roundup of Airbnbs that in some way remind me of the homes or places I love in the same general region as our farmhouse. This post was created in partnership with Airbnb.
Recently I’ve found myself mentally mixing the past with the future as we await a safe and smart opportunity to head to our little farmhouse and reunite with the region that’s already felt like home to me for 14 years.
While I largely stayed in the same residence during my weeks or months in the Midi-Pyrénées in the past, there were still several opportunities to try Airbnb properties for fresh perspectives.
I enjoyed exploring new residential spaces from the design perspective, but it’s the human interaction and personal touches that stuck with me the most...
The host who pulled lettuce from her garden for our evening salads, the nearby restauranteurs who opened their doors after-hours to offer us a bottle of local wine, and the neighbors who went out of their way to patiently show us how dishes (like aligot or gâteau à la broche) are made.
The tea towels drying from the line offer insight on the owners. Windows thrown open wide invite opportunity to swap local delicacies. Balconies become perches for sharing news of nearby events or places to explore beyond the more well-traveled paths. And there’s always, always a French dog to cuddle. Yes, I find such joy in exploring various home designs, but it’s really the hosts and neighbors I’m most eager to encounter again some day.
Below, I’ve rounded up some rentals that in some way remind me of the homes or places I love in the same general region as our farmhouse. I’m eager to continue exploring and sharing new views and environments like this truly spectacular spot on the globe.
Click on an image below to view the listing. (All listings are in the USA.)
Experiencing the Holidays with Folks from Around the World While Sheltering at Home
Note: This blog post was created in collaboration with Airbnb.
As we shelter at home this holiday season, want to learn how to make recycled puppets for the holidays? Or put down the phone and make creative collages the old fashioned way? So do I. And, thankfully, there’s a safe and accessible way to do so.
Since our family isn’t traveling this season in an effort to keep my pregnancy healthy and our friends / family / community members safer, we’re turning instead to holiday-themed and everyday online experiences with Airbnb. Not only are these courses a way to learn something new while connecting with folks from all over, but they’re also a way of supporting small businesses by supporting the hosts.
Towards the start of the pandemic, I taught a handful of Live small space living classes via video from the Cottage for Airbnb Experiences. (It’s something I would’ve happily continued to do if West attended school and if parts of our property weren’t shared with neighboring homes, but our situation made it a bit too tricky for me to sustain.) I learned just how much effort, energy and expertise goes into these online classes, and how magically they can connect people from around the globe as we shelter at home.
Above: Teaching my Airbnb Experiences online class back in the summer of 2020.
Here are some of the classes I’ve added to our list— from creating recycled puppets for the holidays, singing holiday songs with a Broadway performer, Santa storytime with a children’s book author, and vegan holiday cooking, and more.
Holiday Sign Language Vocabulary (based in Athens)
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Description: Visit with Santa and let him know what you'd like for the holidays this year in Sign Language! After meeting with Santa, he'll lead you in a fun holidays themed vocabulary game! Get to learn phrases that you'll be using all holiday season long! We can also add Christmas carols to the fun as well! This is a safe environment for young adults, children, families, businesses, team building, and non-profits ages 8-100 to get an authentic experience from a Deaf professional.
Create Recycled Puppets for the Holidays (based in Berlin, hosted in English)
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Description: Together we are going to make holiday puppets from recycled materials. We will make special Christmas elves and Hanukkah puppets celebrating the festival of lights.
Santa Storytime with a Children’s Author (based in Atlanta)
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Description: Meet Santa and have an opportunity to introduce yourself. Then the host will share his journey from the world of sports to Silicon Valley to storytelling as a children's book author. Then, he’ll perform two storytime readings, cover-to-cover, of holiday classics. Afterwards, the group will explore some of the creative elements involved in bringing this book to life (world-building, color theme, character journey, mood arc, etc.) and share ways children's picture books go from idea to a finished book. Lastly, there’s an open discussion where kids and adults can ask questions about creating children's books.
Learn to Collage Holiday Edition (based in Barcelona, hosted in English & Spanish)
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Description: A fun session to learn about collage art, which is a great hobby for everyone and a fun way to explore your creativity. For 2020’s Holiday Season, the experience is adapted for making creations for friends and family.
Sing Songs with a Broadway Performer (based in NYC)
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Description: Learn a song and sing together— there’s no better way to feel connected and JOYFUL.
Vegan Holiday Baking (based in Slovenia, hosted in multiple languages including English)
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Description: Learn how to bake Almond Crescent Cookies and Fingerprint Cookies with Jam. (When you book the experience you will get full recipes with instructions in advance.)
Dreamy, Uniquely Designed Homes I’m Hoping to Visit
Note: This post was created in collaboration with Airbnb.
I’m hugely grateful to be here in our little home + garden during this bizarre time of social distancing. Still — like most folks, I’m guessing — I increasingly find myself thinking back on past vacations, and envisioning various future getaways to uniquely designed homes nestled within entirely different environments.
Above: A roadside photo I captured on our most recent visit to the Aveyron region of France.
I’ve discovered that a bright side of staying in place during the present is that it has allowed me a bit more time to plan for the future.
Above: From a sunset walk through Peyrusse-le-Roc in 2017.
I began gathering a dream list of small, delightfully unusual Airbnbs that I’m eager to visit on our next visit to our home away from home: rural France.
Above: Photograph taken during a stroll on our most recent visit to the Aveyron region of France.
Each home offers something out-of-the-ordinary. One property is nestled at the foot of a medieval castle, one is a treehouse, another is a dome, there’s a cottage that pretty much looks like it’s straight out of the Shire, and obviously a few homes have pools… because a girl can dream within her dreams, right?
Stone Apartment with Pool - This property looks like a practical and interesting blend of styles— new but traditionally-inspired, streamlined but rustic, simple but luxurious. A studio for resting and working, and a pool and outdoor zones for relaxing and revitalizing make it seem like a smart live/work retreat.
Windowed Dome - I’ve never stayed in a dome before! I like that this one is both beautiful wilderness retreat for adults and a suitable set-up for kids.
Medieval Home at the Foot of a Chateau - This small, rustic, eco-friendly home is situated a the foot of a 14th century castle, tucked within an old village surrounded by rolling hills and gorges. Between the views, the features and the unique design, it’s a place I could envision staying for a longer stretch of time for work or play.
Treehouse in Nature, but Close to a City - Nestled in old growth trees but near to the town of Millau, this small treehouse has extraordinary arching windows and cleverly designed interior features.
Vine-Covered Home and Garden with Pool Access - This 18th century converted barn in the Lot Valley with a vine and flower covered terrace and private garden offers easy access to hiking, canoeing, and the extraordinary village of Conques.
Hobbit Home - This is a modest, happy looking home with a round front door out of a fairy tale, rustic wooden interior features, and windows framed with brick overlooking a wild garden and sprawling valley.
Outdoor Oasis with Pool and Views - Adam and I never had a honeymoon. If we could do it over, I’d certainly want to make a multi-night stop here— an isolated, refined stone home with epic views, sunbaked terraces, and a modern but beautifully integrated pool.
Planning Careful Escapes from the City
Note: This post was created in collaboration with Airbnb.
I’m feeling the need to step out of the city more and more these days. Our mini trip to an Airbnb in Joshua Tree last week turned out to be a gulp of fresh air that we hadn’t realized we could all really use.
Above: Our most recent visit to Joshua Tree. Airbnb property details here.
We planned and packed for pandemic-era car travel. For the car ride itself, we stuffed a cooler full of beverages and snacks, we toted a travel potty along for our little one, and we kept bottles hand sanitizer at-the-ready. For the stay, we packed enough washable face masks for one per person per day (along with an empty dirty laundry bag), as well as helpful little items like reusable drinkware and utensils to help us avoid single-use goods when out, and to minimize potential exposure.
Above: Packing for a road trip to Joshua Tree
The property was pristine, and we found it notably easier to practice social distancing while in the rural environment than it is daily at our home in the city. In short, we felt safe and relaxed, and the experience inspired me to investigate more spots for (safe, careful), relatively nearby getaways.
Here’s the list of properties that I’m compiling for such escapes. (Spoiler alert: My favorite one has an outdoor shower, of course… you know I can’t resist.)
Lakeside A-Frame - I love a good A-Frame, and this window-filled cabin escape is nestled beautifully between National Parks, and perched on four wooded acres overlooking a lake with staggering views of mountain peaks.
Malibu Airstream Eco-Retreat with Outdoor Shower and Lounges - This property is both extravagant and eco-minded at the same time. With abundant outdoor lounges (and even an open-air screening zone), a swing and piano overlooking the mountains and ocean, and — my favorite — an entirely outdoor bathroom, including a compost toilet, this Airstream is an actual SoCal dream of mine.
Topanga Getaway with Outdoor Tubs - Topanga’s quiet hills and old growth trees have always held a special place in my heart, and this
Wine Country Cabin - This renovated yet rustic cabin was once a military bunker that was relocated to the rolling hills of Paso Robles wine country and transformed into a cozy home. With views of wineries and rolling hay fields, it looks like a sweet escape from the city.
Refined Cottage Under Old Growth Tree Canopy - A bright, SoCal cottage on the Central Coast that’s close to town yet removed enough to enjoy wooded views and a quiet sundeck.
Topanga Tiny Home - An earthy, mountain getaway in Topanga canyon with designs that are as simple as they are stunning.
Bright, Minimal Wine Country Tiny Home & Garden - A sweet and simple tiny home for a quiet work/live retreat.
Minimalist Modern Cabin with Walls of Windows - A truly indoor/outdoor home in the high desert within the hills of yucca valley. With visually striking, clear walls, a sun deck and propane fire pit, this compact, uncluttered, off-grid home generates its own power from the sun.
Another favorite "tiny house" in Venice
What do you do when you need a mini-vacation, but you don't have enough time to travel? Airbnb! In-town vacation rentals are perfect for unique staycations. Adam and I just spent a couple days at my other favorite "tiny house" in Venice (which I first discovered on Airbnb), and I completely fell in love with the space:
Meet the @craftsman.mini.me by @shophbleu. Isn't it a dream? The fig vines creep in at every corner, stretching from the outdoor shower, which is the most gorgeous little place to relax and breathe:
At 400 square feet, this house is only slightly bigger than our Tiny Canal Cottage. But, much like our home, the numerous windows and doors make the space feel open and airy.
Learn more and/or book the house here.
(My camera is currently being repaired, so these photos are mainly iPhone. Sorry for the less-than-ideal quality, but the subject is so amazing that it hardly matters. Enjoy!)
