Spring Break Guide

All the things I'm packing for spring break and my favorite travel picks for myself and my family.

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After weeks of freezing temperatures, relentless snowstorms, and sidewalks coated in stubborn gray slush, an escape feels essential. Even if traveling with kids often feels more like a relocation than a vacation, sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what we need. Hopefully, the tips below will make getting there a little smoother.

• I cannot rave about these suitcases enough. They’re lightweight, sturdy, and roll beautifully. We have the largest size, and it’s been perfect for our family’s checked bags.

  • Just a friendly reminder to put AirTags in your checked luggage!

• I have these packing cubes for everyone in our family and cannot recommend them enough. They keep us incredibly organized, and I love using them throughout the trip to separate dirty laundry.

• There are so many cute dopp kits for kids on Etsy. I love this one and this one.

• These plastic pouches are a lifesaver. We use them for sunscreen, goggles, wet bathing suits, dirty clothes, toy organization, art supplies—I could go on and on.

While iPads can be a lifesaver on planes, these are the screen-free activities I’ll be packing in our carry-on to (hopefully) keep everyone entertained throughout the trip:

• For my seven-year-old son:

  • A Yoto mini. I’ve mentioned it before, but I truly cannot rave about it enough for curious minds and book lovers. It’s been game-changing for us, and the book options are endless. Don’t forget the headphones.

  • A tiny LEGO set with endless creative options. And this tangram puzzle set is also great for travel since it’s magnetic.

  • Highlights: They’ve lasted the test of time and my kids love receiving them in the mail. They also make excellent little travel books like this Hidden Picture one, or Puzzle Fun.

  • Here are some book series my son loves that we’ll be packing along: Magic Tree House, Captain Underpants, Dog Man, and The 13-Story Treehouse

• For my five-year-old daughter:

  • My daughter is loving this coloring book that doubles as a sticker book (her two favorite things)! I also love these Paint by Sticker books (and this one), that can grab her attention for awhile. But her all-time favorite is this one.

  • As a big crafter, she loves all these that I’ll be bringing along: a perfect coloring kit, a foil art kit, or gem art

  • For books, we’ll be packing Ladybug Girl books and Angelina Ballerina. She’s also going through a big Where’s Waldo? phase, which I’m equally loving. She also loves Highlights and would love these travel puzzle books

• For my three-year-old son:

  • Is Water Wow the best invention of all time for toddlers? I think so. My son also loves these little watercolor sets.

  • He’s a big Magna-Tiles guy, so I got him the travel set, and I think a Clixo travel set is just as great.

  • This coloring tablet can hold his attention for a while. He’s going through a big Peppa Pig-phase, so I’m bringing this this sticker book.

  • Finally, I’m never without some Washi tape to decorate the airplane seats

We’re off to the Bahamas for spring break and can’t wait for some beach time and much needed sunshine. Here are some of my must-haves:

• I cannot rave enough about this sunscreen and have been using it daily for years. It gives the perfect dewy glow. I recently purchased this skin tint sunscreen and love to layer it on top as well. Both are in my daily rotation.

• For body sunscreen, I love this one. It blends perfectly, isn’t white, isn’t greasy or heavy and just feels like a light lotion, which I love. For my kids, I love Sun Bum (it’s the smell of summer to me).

• Keeping with the sun protection theme, this is my favorite beach hat. It’s chic and great for travel too — it rolls up in a suitcase and holds its shape well.

• I think SunnyLife makes the cutest swim accessories for babies and toddlers - I could order everything from this brand, there are so many cute swim vests, swim masks/goggles, dive toys, and a towel poncho I love.

• Swimwear is my favorite article of clothing to purchase for my kids. I think Minnow does swim for kids better than anyone out there. For my daughter, I always go with a floral long-sleeved suit (less sunscreen), and love these shorts for my boys. Also, these boys’ swim shorts from H&M are excellent for the price, and I think they fit really well. For rash guards, Primary does a great job. Also, another hooded towel cover up for toddler girls that’s adorable.

• To keep with this very random recommendation list, how sweet is this floral cotton underpants set for girls!? I love the little bag to keep everything organized. And love these Jellies for my daughter, nostalgia at its finest.

• My husband and I love to play backgammon on vacation, and I have my eye on this genius towel set. Or, this roll-up set looks great, too. If you’re a mahjong player, I love this little travel mahjong set.

• Here are a few novels you’ve probably seen everywhere—but for good reason—if you’re looking for your next beach read: Heart the Lover, Hamnet, The Correspondent, Atmosphere (this is a great audio listen) and Broken Country. Each of these hooked me for different reasons, but every one was a true page-turner. Or, if you’re going through a big CBK moment like everyone else after Love Story, I highly recommend Once Upon a Time. I have Strangers packed, which I cannot wait to read.

• We don’t mess around when it comes to traveling with ski gear. Hauling ski equipment on top of kids’ stuff is a hard no. We always use ShipSkis—it’s been a total game-changer for our family and I highly recommend it if you’re heading on a ski trip. (AirTag in each bag reminder, again!)

• I have all our favorite kids’ gear listed out in my Ski Guide and highly recommend these products.

• While I don’t ski, I do love to look the part. My favorites this winter include:

  • On hiking boots: I’ve worn these nonstop all winter—they’ve officially become my go-to. While not technically snow boots, they’re waterproof, incredibly comfortable, and surprisingly hardy. I can’t recommend them enough.

  • J.Crew Cashmere socks are the coziest for lounging, and SmartWool is my go-to for sports.

  • These are my favorite PJs and love to use them as a base layer, too. They’re perfectly thin and a great layering piece

  • I love the color of these ski pants and matching jacket, but this gingham set takes the cake. I think Mackage makes some of the best winter gear, and love this ski suit.

  • These boots are very high on my list and can’t stop admiring them and love these gloves

• My husband, an avid skier who is very particular about gear, recommends: a great ski bag (including one for the kids), he loves having a cheap pair of goodr sunglasses he can throw in his pocket, and he swears by these ski goggles.

• Sleep is everything to me. I’ve been loving these gummies for nights when jet lag feels inevitable—they really work for me, and I appreciate that I don’t wake up feeling groggy. I also love this silky sleep mask. It’s the most comfortable one I’ve tried and feels incredibly luxurious.

• I reached a point where I felt like I was spending so much on digital books between Kindle and Audible—then I discovered the Libby app, and it’s been completely game-changing. You can borrow free audiobooks and ebooks (and even send them straight to your Kindle). You’ll need a library card, and I won’t pretend the app is the most user-friendly, but it’s easily one of my most-used apps.

• As much as I love my AirPods, I started getting a little paranoid about radiation so I went back to the wired ones, and am loving them. (bonus: they’re not as hard to lose!)

• Don’t even get my husband started on the water bottle situation for kids. For travel, I love these little water bottles. They don’t hold much, but they’re as light and small as possible (and don’t leak!)