Our family LOVES to travel! We lived in New Zealand for 2 years and Italy for 2 years and between those places, we took a year to travel to 17 countries and 29 states. Traveling is not for the faint of heart! It takes work and patience and flexibility. But for us, it’s completely worth it. We love experiencing new cultures, trying new foods, and creating priceless memories together. We just got back from spending 4 days in Washington DC together and had a great time! Here’s what we did and what I wore…
What to Pack
Before I get into what I wore and what we did, let me just take a quick minute to give you some tips on what to pack when you’re traveling. We always just pack a carryon suitcase and a personal item. It’s cheaper, it’s quicker, and it ensures that our luggage doesn’t get lost. So, in order to pack smartly and fit everything in, I follow a few tips:
- Check the weather- Always check the weather before you travel! Sure, the weather can change, but it will still give you a good idea of what to expect.
- Plan activities- Know what activities you will be participating in so you know what type off clothing and supplies to pack.
- Use versatile pieces- Pack pieces that can be worn in multiple ways and with multiple things.
- Pick a color scheme- When you pick a color scheme, things can mix and match easily together.
Travel Day Looks
We spent 4 full days in Washington DC and we took 2 days to travel on each end of the trip. Since we were traveling in the cold winter months, we had a lot of bulky layers to pack. So in order for me to fit everything in, I wore my big puffer coat on the plane. It saved a lot of space! We had a 4 hour drive to the airport and a 4 hour flight to DC. Here’s what I wore on our traveling days:
COAT | LEGGINGS | SHOES | PURSE | HAT | SUITCASE | BAG | GLASSES
Day 1
The first day in a new place is always so exciting! My husband and I had both visited Washington DC before, but it was the first time for our kids.
Here’s what we did:
- Rented scooters and rode to the White House, Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument. (side note: I’m not very coordinated so it was definitely out of my comfort zone riding a scooter! But I did it and I survived!)
- FBI Tour
- National Archives
- Ice skating outside
- Pizza and movie night in!
SWEATER | PANTS | SHOES | COAT | BEANIE | BAG | SUNGLASSES
Day 2
When we looked at the weather before we packed and left, we saw rain in the forecast! So we knew we had to come prepared! We packed rain jackets and umbrellas and made sure to make reservations for inside activities.
Here’s what we did:
- Natural History Museum
- Library of Congress
- Capitol Building Tour
SWEATER | PANTS | BOOTS | COAT | BEANIE | PURSE | SCARF
Day 3
It was another rainy day! But thankfully it only rained for half of the day. No matter where we travel in the world, we always make sure to go to church on Sunday. We love being a part of a worldwide church that teaches the same thing no matter where we are on the globe.
Here’s what we did:
- Church
- Dulles Space Museum
- Washington DC LDS temple
- Arlington Cemetery and Changing of the Guards
SWEATER | PANTS | BOOTS | COAT | BEANIE | PURSE | SCARF
Day 4
Today was out last day! We didn’t have a lot planned and wanted to just go with the flow. It was sunny but windy and COLD!
Here’s what we did:
- Holocaust Museum
- Washington Marina
- Old Post Office (best view in the city!)
- Shopping
SWEATER | PANTS | SHOES | COAT | BEANIE | BAG | SCARF | SUNGLASSES
The Key to Staying Warm During Winter Travel
The key to staying warm for winter travel is wearing a warm base layer! I wore a WoolX thermal shirt and leggings under every outfit! Having that wool layer kept me toasty warm. And my winter coat was stylish and so cozy! I was never too cold because I wore high quality layers that kept me warm during the cold winter weather!
Best Traveling Bags
When you travel, you want to invest in good traveling bags! It matters! I recently replaced my carryon suitcase with a new one and I’m in love!! It held a ton and moved so smoothly. And the bag that I use for my personal item was like a Mary Poppins bag!! Quince has great options for suitcases and bags for traveling!
And my go-to brand for purses is Sapahn! There are so many sizes, shapes, and colors to choose from! They make the perfect travel accessory! You can save 20% on any Sapahn bag with this discount code: JOELLEN20
Check out these perfect bags for traveling!
Other Travel Necessities
I don’t go anywhere without my favorite makeup to travel with and my trusty skincare! Seint makeup is TSA approved so you can carry it on with you without any spills and messes and without worrying about it getting lost in your checked bag!
Everything (minus mascara) fits into your palette! I love how simple, compact, and versatile it is!
And, I don’t travel anywhere without my favorite skincare! The weather, elements, and changes in your daily habits can wreak havoc on your skin so I always travel with my skincare faves. I make sure to pack my skincare in my personal item so I don’t lose it and so they don’t spill in my suitcase.
Learn more about my favorite waterless skincare products!
If you need other travel style inspo, then check out these other style posts from where I’ve traveled:
Here are other blogposts that you might enjoy:
- Age Gracefully with Seint Beauty
- Unlock Radiant Skin with Oliveda’s Skincare
- What Makes Olive Tree People Different? Exploring the Brand’s Unique Approach to Health and Beauty
- Skin Tint vs Tinted Moisturizer: Which One is Right for Your Skin?
- What is Waterless Beauty?
- Why Every Skin Type Needs Hyaluronic Acid: Benefits and Usage Tips for All Skin Concerns
- Is Vitamin C Really Essential for Your Daily Skincare Routine?
About the Author
JoEllen is a licensed aesthetician, certified makeup artist, and certified John Maxwell coach, speaker, and trainer. She works with women helping them look and feel confident. She loves teaching women simple beauty techniques so they can feel empowered to try it at home. Her motto is that when you look and feel good, you do good!
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