Travel/Vacation Checklist

Here is a Travel (Vacation) Checklist that I’ve gathered over the years. We try and print it out and use it before any of our big trips and it always comes in handy as well as alleviates any uneasy feelings as we leave our driveway. Hopefully you will find this useful as well. If you have anymore to add please leave a comment or email me.

Items to consider packing:

Important:
Itinerary (leave copy with friends/family)
Passport/Visa/Drivers License
Tickets
Addresses/Phone numbers
Maps
Instructions for getting messages from your answering machine remotely

Electronics:
Cameras, Film and chargers
Cell phone and charger
Computer and associated equipment
iPod and charger
Extra Batteries

Toiletries:
Razor
Shampoo (small container)
Soap/deodorant/powder
toothbrush/paste
hair gel/moose
makeup
Sunscreen, lotion
Sunglasses

Medication:
Prescribed medications (birth control) in the original containers
Anti-diarrhea medication, motion sickness
Pain relievers
Anti-bacterial ointment
First Aid Kit
Bug Spray

Clothes:
socks/underwear/t-shirts
dress pants/shirts/socks/dress shoes
active shorts/shirts/sneakers
casual jeans/shorts/shirts
jacket/sweatshirt
umbrella?
bathing suits
beach towels/toys/chairs/cooler
warm hat/scarf/gloves

Fun:
Pictures to share
Books/sketch book/pens
CD’s/MP3 Player
Bikes, Helmets, Ski’s, Balls, Fishing Equip, Sand Toys
Frisbee, Tennis Raquets, Golf Clubs

If you’re taking kids:
Favorite stuffed animals
Toys
Coloring books
Travel games
Snacks

Misc:
Backpack
water bottle
Pillow(s)
Blankets/Sleeping Bag/Towels

Plastic bags for:
- Trash
- Dirty/wet clothes

Before Leaving Home Checklist
Have neighbor get mail and newspaper or put your mail on “hold” on-line.
Turn off Heat/AC.
Make sure all candles are off. Water is off.
Turn off lights and appliances.
Lock doors/windows.
Make sure pets are taken care of.

2 comments August 23rd, 2007

Fun Things to do on a Date in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

A friend of mine asked for some ideas on where to take his girlfriend out for a date in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I sent the question to my co-workers and this is what they came up with below. Let me know if you have any other ideas.

• Harrisuburg Senator’s Games: http://www.senatorsbaseball.com/

• Susquehanna Art Museum : http://www.sqart.org/ From there you could walk a few blocks for a nice dinner.

• Color me mine if they’re an artistic person, you can make your own pieces of pottery and come back later to see how they turned out: http://www.harrisburg.colormemine.com/

• Really good restaurants that I would recommend in the area: Skewers on Second Street: http://www.skewersgrill.net/ (right by Ceoltas) has excellent middle eastern food; Aangan: http://www.aanganindiancuisine.com/ (Indian cuisine) on Progress, Garrison’s tavern (europena/american) on Forrester), Okini that serves Pan-Ameican food: http://www.dineoutharrisburg.com/okini/ – anything from Thai to Sushi.

• Take her horseback riding that’s always super fun.

• Go on a hike up to Hawk Rock and already have a picnic set up there for the two of you to enjoy the view, it’s really nice.

• Café Fresco. It is small, intimate and has great food and service. On Friday nights they have Jazz bands. It is close to everything and best of all NON-smoking: http://harrisburg.citysearch.com/profile/36096432/harrisburg_pa/cafe_fresco.html

• Definitely make sure at least one date includes a walk along the river.

• Dinner at Bayou ar Sammys, followed by a stroll to city island to catch a Senators game or show off your skills in the bating cages.
  http://local.yahoo.com/details?id=12002128
  http://www.bayouonsecond.com/

• Dinner at passage to India, then a ride on a bicycle rickshaw around down town, then drinks at fisaga or the fire house.

• Indoor Rock Climbing @ Climbnasium in Mechanicsburg (http://www.climbnasium.net)

• Find a body of water (Little Buffalo State Park, Riverfront park, Susquehanna in general ) and during the daytime you could do the whole kayaking and fishing thing and pack a picnic for a twilight show…share a bottle of wine that’s always fun…

• Lol… One co-worker said the best thing to do in Harrisburg is to take them to Philly!

Add comment July 30th, 2007

San Antonio, Texas

I took my wife away on a surprise Texas getaway this past week. My mother-in-law and sister were very generous and babysat our kids during this time. My wife Shell had no idea about the surprise until I told her to to pack her bags 1.5 days before take-off. Texas is one of our favorite states and we had a blast visiting San Antonio and Houston, we were in Dallas/Fort Worth a few years earlier and loved it as well.

In San Antonio we stayed in the heart of downtown at a hotel called “La Mansion“. We had a great room (not the cheapest) with a view of the Riverwalk, so close that we could spit in it (not that we tried anything like that). The Riverwalk was easily the most enjoyable part of San Antonio. It a beautiful area filled with nice restaurants and shops. We also visited other San Antonio attractions including the Alamo, and the Missions. All the people were SUPER NICE. The weather was great… 70’s all the way up to 85 degrees. This was especially nice since Lancaster, PA received 5 inches of sleet and snow while we were away.

On Friday I had another surprise for Shell. We took a 3 hour trip to Houston for the Rodeo (considered the largest in the nation) as well as a Dierks Bentley concert (he’s a cool country singer). Photos of our getaway here.

1 comment March 20th, 2007