Summer Travel Essentials 2024

With the passing of Memorial Day, the 2024 Summer travel season is upon us! Do you have certain things that make your summer travel better? I know I do! I am sharing some of my favorite tips and summer essentials finds!

A Book in hand.

This is a repeated phrase of mine, but I have to have a book when on the road. Whether to read while riding along, or before bed, I always bring a read along. One of my favorite places to get a book is at the local library. I go to the Pawnee Public Library. It’s kind of cool because my sister-in-law Terri is a librarian there!

Lately another place I have found books at reasonable prices are at flea markets. Do you go picking at flea markets for collectibles? I love the fact that in Virden, there are two independent bookstores to find my books too. I get my grandkids a gift card from the Sly Fox each year and the owner, George Rischel will order the book if they don’t have what you are looking for.

Sometimes it is fun to find a book that relates to your hobby. Yesterday my husband Keith picked up several Lincoln books at a garage sale. My sister Debbie is big into the pickle ball sport. I have played a couple of times and enjoyed it. I recently received the book Winning Pickleball by David Satka to review.

What I like about the book is it not only delves into the physical aspect of the game, but the mental. The book offers advice for both pickleball beginners and advanced players giving ideas of how to improve your game. I passed this onto Debbie who is delving into ways to improve her already awesome game!

Three great books I received to review should add to your summer reading and travels are The National Parks Bucket List, and 50 States Bucket List, and The Benjamin Franklin Book of Quotes! The National Parks book by Linda Mohannad offers a great list of the parks by state and shares what you can find there. You can record what you saw and find some of the amazing history the US has to offer. I have had fun with the 50 States book by Jessica Laughlin is where I have listed who I traveled with and what the coolest thing I found as part of the “diary” type items you journal. The book accompanied me so far to Indiana and Iowa. In Indiana in Shipshewana, the most unusual thing I saw was an Amish buggy pulling a boat!

The Benjamin Franklin book is edited by Travis Hellstrom shares about Benjamin Franklin’s life and character. It is book is a true-life guidance book. My favorite quote so far is “Be at war with your vices, at Peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”

Summer Essentials Travel Products

Traveling with shampoo and conditioner can be dicey because it can spill. I was excited to try JR Liggetts shampoo, conditioner and lip butter. This travel easy pouch makes this shampoo and conditioner bar the perfect outdoor camping and travel accessories with all natural formulations and biodegradable packaging. This follows the leave no trace philosophy. Best of all, the shampoo and conditioner left my hair soft and clean and washed out easily. Love this. The lip butter is also great especially since skin can dry out in the sun!

Another product I found last year when playing tourist in St. Charles, Missouri with my sister is Bathhouse Soapery. I bought some of the Gardenia soap, deodorant, and perfume, and love it. I was so sad to find that the shop is no longer in business. We searched up and down main street to no avail. However, I found them online, and was able to order a new batch and added in the body butter, I hope I like it as well as the other products, again like the bar shampoo, these travel well!

Summer Essentials Comfortable Clothes

I am often out walking at tractor shows, hiking trails, or pounding the pavement at historic sites and such so comfortable clothes, and especially comfortable shoes and socks are at the top of my list. I received some very cool Dr. Motion compression socks to review which they said, “are for small town and big city adventures”.

Last night I tried out the socks, I love the crew socks as much as a slipper as a sock. They are pretty, comfortable, and stay up!

Don’t forget your hat for sun coverage when hitting the road. I have several, but my hillbilly big, brimmed hats are my favorite. I picked up a great one on a trip to Clarksdale, Mississippi at Collective Seed and Supply Co. this winter.

Another new fun find is the Ekouaer line of pj’s! I had a chance to review this soft, comfy and luxurious nightgown!

I highly recommend this comfortable brand for comfortable, yet fashionable sleeping while at home or on the road!

During hot days, stay hydrated, I love to take the Clover Valley sparking water along with me, remember healthy snacks. I recently found that Home Goods carries Octonuts, in both almonds and cashews in small bags several to a container. Take the bug spray and sunscreen and don’t forget a map. I also like to check out the guidebooks (100 things to do in…), and the local visitor’s bureau for reliable information. I just located The Detailed Traveler who has a list of the 50 state visitors’ bureaus! If looking for agricultural sites, my Agricultural Treasures Guidebook, eBook is available as well!

Its’s great to learn about fun festivals and events. Is there anything better than music in an outdoor setting in the summer? What have you found that makes travel better? Share!

Happy Travels! I will add to this list as the summer progresses, and I find more Summer Essentials