If you’re searching for a great gift for a jetsetter, roadtripper, weekend warrior, or occasional traveler, I’ve put together a list of a few of my favorite travel goods. Sharing some of my go-to gear – road tested by me of course!

Best Travel Pants Ever: Athleta Metro High Waisted Legging

I’m either wearing these pants or they are in my bag on every trip, every season.  Hands down the best travel pants I’ve ever owned. I actually own 2 pairs in black and a couple of other colors.

Show Me the Money:  Great Wallet

This was a find in Custard Boutique in my hometown of Greenville, South Carolina. I loved mine so much I gave some as gifts last year. It’s perfect for money, cards, receipts, passport and phone.  It’s a wallet but also a great clutch.  It’s the perfect travel accessory!

Peace & Love:  Be Hippy Mountain Logo Trucker Hat

Everybody needs a trucker hat!  I’m a huge Be Hippy fan. I always get stopped on the trail when I’m wearing my light turquoise with grey mesh back Mountain Logo Trucker Hat. It has a little Colorado flag on the side, which I love.  There are seven color options in this style.  Next on my wish list is a beanie!  Check out the Turquoise BE Bracelet – that’s a fave too.

Find Your Park:  America The Beautiful Annual Pass

This is my favorite travel gift idea.  The best $80 I spend every year is for the America The Beautiful annual pass for the national parks.  Seeing the incredible beauty of America is worth every single cent to me.  U.S. Military get a free pass.  If you’re 62 or older, the Senior Pass for $80 gets you a lifetime pass.  If you have a 4th grader, your child gets a free pass.  Also consider making a donation to the National Park Foundation. I made one in memory of my father and brother this year.

All in the bag:  Stella & Dot Getaway Bag

You can get so much stuff in this bag and still get it under the seat on a flight. Trust me – I’ve pushed it to the max!  Hands down, this is my favorite bag.  My dear friend Melissa Olson is a stylist with Stella & Dot and turned me on to this one.  I love the bag so much that when I wore out my first one, I ordered the classic black and cream stripe. When you need extra space it unzips for several more inches of space (won’t fit under airplane seat, but will still fit in overhead).  Love the newest edition in an apres ski motif – a girl can never have too many bags!

The Eyes Have It:  Zeal Optics Tracker

I’ve worn my Zeal Optics Cota Team Edition Polarized Sunglasses so much that I have literally worn them out.  They were limited edition so I’m suggesting the Tracker.  They’re polarized, which really helps in bright sunshine, and have ProFlex rubber to make them extra comfortable.  I’ve worn sport and leisure sunglasses for several years – they’re comfortable, durable, and well, just look cool, especially in White River.

“Scents of Adventure”:  Ethics Supply Co. This Land is Your Land Candles

I found Ethics Supply Co. This Land is Your Land candles in a cute boutique in Flagstaff.  I was on a two week trip exploring some of the national parks in the Southwest so I immediately bought two and gave one to my friend Lisa, who was traveling with me.  I got Zion’s Angel’s Landing since we had just been to Zion and candle’s scent is inspired by its sanctuary and splendor.   These candles capture the “scents of adventure” in some of America’s most popular national parks.  Ethics Supply Co. donates 10% of their profits from their Those Who Came Before collection to Mending the Sacred Hoop, an organization empowering Native American women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse.  So buy a national park scent and one of the three Those Who Came Before candles.  I’ve giving the Christine Quintasket one to several friends this year.

 

Other Scents I Love:  Old Pine Candle Co.

I recently found this line thanks to friend Lisa Hildago (television meteorologist in Denver) when she posted a picture on her Instagram.  They have a candle called Evergreen, the Colorado town where the company is based.  My cousins lived in Evergreen so it’s the perfect gift for them this year.  For me, it evokes wonderful memories with my aunt, who passed away this fall, and my uncle, who passed away several years ago, when I would visit them in Evergreen as a child and in my early and mid 20s before they moved down to Littleton.  Their Evergreen home was where I truly fell in love with Colorado.  I also love their Summit and Sweater Weather scents – perfect for this hiking meteorologist!

Puffy Love:  The North Face Thermoball Vest

Everybody needs a puffy vest!  The North Face has been my go to for puffy vest and polar fleece half zips ever since I moved to Colorado the first time in 2010.  I’ll admit….I have 3 The North Face puffy vest!  Black is my go to, especially when I’m on the trail.  I bought a light blue and pink one for spring and recently added a red one.  The Thermoball technology is lightweight, packable, and keeps you warm.  I wear these on and off the trail.  The red one I have is a past season, but I did find it on sales at Ski Country Sports.

That’s a Wrap:  Lululemon Vinyasa Wrap

Versatility is key when you travel and this is a perfect travel wrap.  I have the Lululemon Vinyasa Wrap in Coco Pique Black White.  It’s the snaps that make this wrap/scarf so different from others.  I’ve worn it hiking the trail in Utah to strolling the streets shopping in San Francisco. Besides being able to wear it multiple ways, I also love that it isn’t bulky.  It’s easy to stash in your bag or backpack.

Just Jam:  Ultimate Ears Wonderboom

My former co-host on “Houston Life” Derrick Shore introduced me to this one.  I’ve used the Wonderboom he gave me at home and in hotel rooms when I’m road tripping.  Crank up some tunes, draw up a bath, and relax after a day of adventure. You can also use it by the pool or campfire.  The portable bluetooth speaker is waterproof!  Mine is the Subzero design.

Stocking Stuffers:  Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, Burt’s Bees Pomegranate Oil Lip Balm, and Emergen-C Immune+

All three of these are ALWAYS in my travel bag.  Simply put – sleep, lip care, and an extra immune system boost are important when traveling.

 

Gifts I Gave Myself This Year:

EBags TLS Mother Lode Weekender Convertible – I’m heading to Cambodia this month with my cousins and needed a travel backpack.  After tons of research, I decided on this one.  Can’t wait to road test in Cambodia this month!

BATTOP iPad Mini Keyboard – Also for the Cambodia trip, I got a bluetooth keyboard for my iPad mini.  Traveling as light as possible, but still wanting to be connected, I taking my iPad mini instead of my laptop.  Like the travel backpack, I did a ton of research and decided on the BATTOP one.  One reason for my decision, I read a lot on my iPad and like that this one swivels so you can only see the iPad screen (covers keyboard).  Plus, it’s no bigger than the iPad case I’ve been using!