Packing for the Long Haul
Essential clothing items to help you avoid overpacking
When I finally made my dream trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland a few years ago, I had a tough time deciding what to include in my suitcase. Because the trip took me from London to Bath, Cardiff, Waterford, Dublin, through Belfast, and onto Edinburgh, down to York and Stratford before bringing me back to London, I needed a lot of stuff, including clothes. I confess: I overpacked. I regretted that when I had to lug my heavy suitcase through the airport and beyond.
While I won’t be city-hopping like that again, I am going back as soon as I can. This time, I’m thinking carefully about what to pack. Here are some specific and general items on my short list.
Shoes
Let’s start with shoes because they are bulky and take up precious space. I took two pairs of shoes with me on the trip, but I mainly wore this pair of Skechers Boat Shoes:
Yes, I know people think Skechers are “old lady shoes,” and my feet would like to weigh in on that. You do what you want to your feet, but I want my feet to last the rest of my life. These shoes held up for…
