As most of you probably know by now, DH and I are heading off on the 10th March for our very exciting U.S. trip. We are having 8 nights in New York, 3 in Washington, then it is down to Nashville to visit some friends for a week and lastly 5 or 6 days in San Francisco before heading home to Melbourne. We will be gone four weeks. My dilemma is this: What to pack to wear? (I will warn you, I am a hopeless packer - I dither around and always end up taking way too much stuff.)
I always have this problem when I am going to a different country. It is summer here in Oz, so I find it hard to imagine needing clothes for a colder clime. My friend from Nashville has suggested lots of layered pieces. What is your advice for the different places we are going to? I would love to hear from all of you.
Now, I haven't had a giveaway for a while now (and I have decided that I am a giveaway rather than an exchange or SAL girl). So, if you comment on this post with a packing tip, you will go into the competition to win...... Well, I haven't decided yet.... but I will think of something good... so another mystery prize from me.
I will keep this Giveaway open until the 10th March (the day I leave) but I will not be able to post the winner their prize until after I get back home from my trip (which will be after Easter), so, I hope that will be okay.
So, please, please, enter and please spread the words as I need lots of good advice and suggestions.
28 comments:
hmmnn i think layer clothes will be fine..it is a good idea..
i am so excited for your trip..
have a lovely day..
love u xx
NY, Washington will be COLD. San Fran not as much and Nashville cool.. however layers make the most sense. Definitely a warm & dry jacket. Remember you are coming from "summer" here so a drop in temp seems more. Pretty savage on weight restriction so allow plenty for purchases! LOL.
Have a great time away!
Being from the UK I would say a warm cardigan/Jacket is a must!!
It is difficult to plan for weather that far out, because we have been having a VERY warm Winter...but that usually means that we get slammed with an early Spring snow. I personally hate dressing in layers, so I'd just take a variety of cool weather options. Plan to do laundry somewhere. We did this when we went to Europe for 16 days. I had to "get over myself" and realize that, yes, I'd be wearing an outfit perhaps 3 times in the course of the vacation. I survived. =)
My number one tip: San Francisco is WINDY, and it is COLD wind coming off the Bay. Bring a warm hat. Even if you never wear hats, wear one there! I didn't the first time I went and I had a sinus infection within 3 days!
Have a GREAT trip!
I don't have any advice as far as WHAT to pack, but a good friend of mine did give me this tip when we were traveling last year.
You know how you and your spouse usually have your own suitcase? Well, my friend told us to put half of your stuff and half of your spouse's stuff in one suitcase, and the other half of each person's in the other suitcase. That way, if for some reason one of those suitcases gets lost, you each still have something to wear!
Have a wonderful trip and lots of STASH purchases along the way! :^)
COLD in NYC and Washington, Nashville and a bit warmer and SF warmest although Nashville and SF are about the same this time of year. When you are in Nashville I will be about 3 hours south of you. There is a great stitch shop about 2 hours south of you in a little town called Decatur. Email me for more info if you have time.
I have to agree with the layers tip, that will also help because that way when your in the warmer san fran and and tenn you won't get to hot but have clothes for warmth if needed. I know NY can be kinda cool and washington probably the same.
Well even though I'm all the way in Sunny Miami, I can tell you that the northern states will still feel the cold in March. I've been to New York in April before and it can still get down in the 30's and even snow if the weather is just right. Plan cold weather clothes for that one. Tennessee....not sure. I would say cool for them still too but as much as NY and Washington.
San Fransisco...I can tell you will not be warm like some think. Even in the summer time, it can get very cool. It is very windy over there because it is by the bay. I would definitely make sure to take a wind breaker and a hat.
You won't go wrong with taking warm clothes on this trip. :) Now if you were coming to South Florida, I would say...bring on the sandals and shorts cause we are having a really warm winter.
Jen
Tracey's advice is brilliant. I've heard it before and it makes so much sense.
On the same lines, pack a change of underwear and a small washkit in your hand luggage just in case.
Roll stuff rather than fold it.
Take old stuff to travel in and discard it as you buy stuff to bring home. ie go out with a suitcase of clothes and come home with a suitcase of stash!
Chances are DC will be warmer than NYC, but not much. My son lives in DC and was walking around without a coat last week, but now it's cold again. In a word, the weather this time of year is: changeable!
We've had such a warm winter here (for us anyway!!) this year that I think you'll be fine not bringing any really warm coats. But, you never know! Some of the worst snowstorms in the northeast have occurred in March.
Definitely plan on doing laundry at least a few times. It's so much easier to pack light and not lug around all those extra clothes.
Have a great trip :)
Layers will be good for NY Wash....Nashville might be cool...But Florida and SAn Fran will be warmer. I pack for RI with mix and match so I do not have to take a lot. Enjoy the journey.
Wow...you're going to a bunch of different places on your trip!! I always have jeans with me...you can dress them up or dress them down and you can wear layers if it's cool or a tshirt if it's warm! Take some light sweaters/jackets too!! Have a great time!
Sounds like a fun trip, here in TN we had snow over the weekend and next weekend its supposed to be in the 70's so you just never know. Layers are the way to go, bring a rain coat. If you have extra time in Nashville give me a call I'm in Franklin. It is such fun to meet blog friends! Have fun on your trip
Everyone is giving you such great tips! I vote for gloves and a light jacket with pockets to keep your gloves in when you're not wearing them! A scarf would be great too, and not take up too much room. Please enter me in your drawing!
Definitely take a piece of warm outerwear for NYC and DC. Layering is an excellent idea for when you are going to various climes, as you plan to. Also, pack all essentials (i.e., medications, change of underwear, sleepwear) in your carry-on just in case a suitcase is lost.
I have no idea about the climate in the US, but I want to advise you to bring small things, such as scarf or muffler, cap or hat, and globes and warm socks. They will help you when it is cold.
What a busy trip you'll have. Oh dear..packing tip? Well, you will experience a BIG variety of temperatures in those areas.
Plan to layer your clothes. March brings rain and in some areas there could still be snow. Likely, you will not need shorts. ;-)
Have fun!
I usually start with shoes - plan to wear my heaviest, chunkiest ones on the plane. But then take as few pairs as I can get away with and match my outfits to them. Definitely pack cardigans/jumpers with as many tops as necessary for underneath and things you can layer if it's particularly cold. I always take one small smart handbag for evenings and one daytime one and plan my outfits around shoes and bags. Of course, packing half in one suitcase and half in another, but make sure you have the matching outfits per suitcase :)
Your trip is taking you to some varied climates so I'd stick with the layers. Some good walking shoes and a warm jacket are in order. Although it's been a fairly mild winter, March often dumps us with a surprise storm. I like packing light so that I have lots of room to bring home new clothes!
Oh goodness, you are going to see such a variety of weather travelling to these places! And this year the weather on the east coast has been rather schizophrenic, so you really don't know whether you'll see a blizzard or a heat wave! (I'm sitting here with the windows open in eastern NC.. in the middle of freakin February!)
Layers is definitely the way to go. You'll want light clothing for Cali, and it'll probably be pretty cold in NYC, but who knows what Tenn or D.C. will be like. Be sure you pack a pair of shoes that you can be comfortable in if it rains, or maybe even snows. A scarf, a hat, gloves, a winter coat, a light jacket, a swimsuit, a couple of sweaters and some short sleeved shirts, jeans, light pants or shorts... yeah, you're going to need just about every kind of clothing. HOpe you have a great visit!
Living close to DC, it's been a silly "winter" - hardly any snow and temps in the 60's some days! Today it's that kind of day and just beautiful. Personally, as long as I have my scarf and a medium weight jacket, I'm good to go. At least if you need to shop for anything warm, you'll get it on sale - the bathers are already out!
Where are you staying in DC, do you know what you're going to do there? So much to see, never enough time!
I don't know much about the east coast, but San Francisco can be chilly and damp, so a wind breaker would be useful, although the weather has been warmer this year. Layers sound good to me...that's what I do this time of year. Sounds like you are going to have a fun trip...lots of traveling.Enjoy the day!!
Definitely bring a sweater or a sweatshirt that you can put on over top of things, probably one that fastens in the front. THe weather here in the US can be unpredictable with warm temperatures in the afternoon and freezing at night or in the morning.
hi Kaye i think a pair of very comfy walking shoes and clothes that dont need ironing.xx
I found when travelling that a long sleeve shirt with a short sleeve shirt over the top would help with the layers and many jumpers.
This are my basics: raincoat & rainboots, a pair of wool sweaters and a turtleneck one and of course walking shoes. Then you can add as much as jeans, t-shirts and shirts as you want. I also found this video that may help you to fit it all in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaTlO9JKkjg
Have a nice day! xoxo
I hope it's not too late to comment, since I'm in San Francisco! (well, so close that I could practically be in San Francisco). Right now the weather is VERY finicky. It was beautiful and spring like two days ago, I was in shorts. And now it is SO COLD. I suggest versatility. Layers are good so you can put them on and take them off. The weather is warming up but it can get very very cold very easily, and San Francisco hardly ever gets above about 21C. But literally, this time of year it can be 4C one day and 21C the next. That's San Francisco! I hope you enjoy your trip! San Francisco is a beautiful city.
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