Today my boyfriend and I are hitting the road to spend New Years Eve in Vermont. I sent him the official ski trip packing list a few days ago, and then I started thinking about some of my favorite snacks for a road trip. One of the great pleasures in road tripping is the food. When I visit my friends on the Jersey Shore each summer, I eagerly anticipate a stop on the Jersey Turnpike for some T.C.B.Y. nearly as much as I do the amazing seafood dinners awaiting me in Manasquan. However, the majority of the time you’re better off bringing your own food than relying on drive-throughs, and that’s where the perfect road snack comes in to play. Rather than pack a “balanced meal,” road tripping is a great time to geek out on your favorite snacks, and when I hear “snack,” I automatically think cheese, apples and crackers. Luckily for me, those three components travel pretty well on a long car ride. A few hours outside the fridge, and the cheddar cheese has that perfect sort-of-soft texture that pairs really well with a crunchy apple or cracker. What’s your favorite snack for a road trip?
As I have mentioned previously, each year I rent a house with a group of friends in Killington, VT, which we share for the entirety of the ski season. Like with any vacation home, a lot of people want to come up and visit. After a few years of friends arriving either without key pieces of clothing, a toothbrush, and bedding, or completely unprepared for Vermont weather, I decided to create a ski vacation packing list. I save this in my Google documents and send to people 2-3 days before they come up to the house. This gives them enough time to procure anything they may not have, and me the peace of mind that they won’t show up with nothing but a six pack of beer (it’s happened).
The ski trip packing list:
CLOTHES
Think: layers. It’s cold outside and toasty warm by the fire. You will move between both several times a day.
PJs
Undies
Winter boots with thick, warm socks
Winter coat, hat, gloves
“Inside shoes” to leave by the door – we all try to take our shoes/boots off as soon as we open the door, but sometimes there’s snow or ice tracked in and nothing is worse than stepping on wet rug with socks on creating a “wet sock foot” situation.
OUTFITS
I find the three outfits described below can be easily combined into one by most men, but for women (myself included), these are three distinct outfits.
Jeans-and-a-sweater apres ski outfit for the lodge.
Outfit to wear out to dinner or out to see a band – preferably something with layers as it’s cold outside but the bars and restaurants are toasty.
SKI CLOTHES
More is more when planning to hit the slopes; even if you don’t end up wearing the neck warmer, it’s better to pack it and have the option.
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{A mix of German ornaments purchased on a family trip to
Germany last Christmas}
I’ve been listening to my three favorite Christmas tunes non-stop since Thanksgiving: Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the Vienna Boys Choir’s “Joy to the World,” and the Waitresses’ “Christmas Wrapping.” They’ve provided a wonderful soundtrack for this week’s Christmas preparations including carrying out some favorite holiday traditions (seen below) and some not-so-favorite (dealing with the Westfarms Mall parking lot immediately springs to mind).
{I give this as a gift every year: fairly-traded spicy hot cocoa that is
both politically correct and delicious}
{A tray of holiday candies as decor}
{While not yet in my mother’s gift wrapping league, I’m pleased with my
paper-and-ribbon combo this year}
Connecticut Day Trips is a blog about travel and life in Connecticut, written and photographed by a native who moved away, moved back, and learned to love it: Contact | Advertise
