Howdy, amiga (and amigos)! I have some family visiting today from out of town, both my parents from the East Bay and El Hub’s parents from Redding, California, so I’ve been on daughter/daughter-in-law duty, which has involved some sightseeing and, of course, some eating (which apparently is what my family does best!).
Here are five simple summer sightseeing essentials I like to have on hand…
1. A cross-body purse
Yay for keeping your hands free! 🙂
I like cross-body purses for handsfree sightseeing and other summer excursions because you never know when you’ll bump into a friendly kitty who needs a little loving, or shopping bags, cold drinks or ice cream cones that will need a little holding.
2. A cute hat
I’m a huge fan of wearing hats to go sightseeing because not only are they good sun protection for my face and hair, but I can also use them to hide under when I’m not in the mood to wear any makeup or do my hair!
3. A comfy pair of shoes
You know it’s true: comfy footwear. Even though the allure of strappy sandals or shoes with heels is sometimes overpowering, you can’t go wrong with shoes that can handle a variety of sightseeing terrains and situations, like city streets, grassy parks, sandy beaches, etc. — because you never know where adventure will take you. 🙂
4. Band-Aids!
Buuut, sometimes even the comfiest shoes can rub in the wrong places, so keep a couple Band-Aids with you just in case (seriously, they come in handy all the time).
5. Emergency snacks
One thing about sightseeing with groups of people is that everyone is almost never on the same schedule, and you never know when everybody will be ready to eat.
This can be VERY annoying, so I always try to bring a healthy snack with me, just in case I need to tide myself over during the 45-90 minutes it can take everyone to figure out if they want pizza, Thai, Italian or burgers…
The struggle is so real!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. What are some of your summer sightseeing essentials?
Hmmm…my sightseeing essentials…
You have my vote for comfy shoes, snack, and hands-free bag. I also like to bring spf, sunglasses, and bottled water.
Ditto on the bottled water! I fill up my bkr and bring it with me, and then I refill as the day goes on. 🙂
Do you have any comfy shoe brands to recommend, Maggie?
Hi Karen!
Keen gets my highest recommendation for comfy shoes even though I’m not sure Keen’s quirky up-turned toe and wide tire-tread sole is your thing (I seem to recall a post discussing comfy shoes and a certain aversion to lunch lady shoes).
After being on my feet in Keen from morning to evening–my feet are only tired–but never sore or hurt! (I’ve actually never needed band-aids for feet bc of Keen–which is why it never occurred to me include them as a sight-seeing essential).
I especially recommend Keen for flat-footed ladies with slightly wide to wide feet. I’m not sure which specific models in the current line-up are best (I stocked up on a Keen sale a few years back and am still working through some presently discontinued models) but the Waimea sandal and Targhee II have been around and seem here to stay.
Your tootsies look adorable in those shoes, and families that love eating are the best!
I use a large Pacsafe crossbody purse that cost me about $54.00. I’m surprised that you carry a $298.00 purse around; pricy brands are known to criminals. It is really beautiful, though.
This one is really helpful. Whenever I am outdoors, I always carry my water bottle. It does make my bag heavier, but the dehydration I otherwise get makes me sick.
I love your shoes.
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Cross-body purses for the win! They are the unsung heroes of the accessory world.
Being from Southern California, my sightseeing is usually beaches, L.A., and various theme parks. Comfortable sandals, lip balm, and sunscreen are a must, because it’s always sunny in SoCal. I also carry gum and a mini perfume rollerball; it’s nice to smell good. 🙂
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Comfortable tennis shoes with good padding are #1 on my list. My physical therapist recommended New Balance tennis shoes for me, because of the back injury I got from a six-pack pickup and trailer/roach coach rear-ending my little compact car.
Also: A camera; hair elastics or rubber bands (for sudden wind, wet weather/activities, and to keep broken things together); band-aids; mini hand sanitizer; packet or 2 of facial tissues; lip balm; sunscreen; granola bars; gum; small bottles of ibuprofen, tylenol and benedryl; ashthma inhalers (exercise induced for me; I need them for hills and stairs), an ink pen (signing guest books, or filling out park payment forms for rural/nature sightseeing); water bottle; sunglasses; a couple zip-lock baggies; a couple of plastic grocery bags.
YES YES YES to the cross-body bag! I was stuck hauling around a big sweaty backpack in France earlier this month because I didn’t have a cross-body bag and it SUCKED. Didn’t look very fashionable either… I finally found a nice bag in the sales the other week. So happy!
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I have a quirk in that I require being hands-free, no matter what I am carrying.
My sightseeing essentials are my paint box, my camera, those band aids really are essential, sunscreen, and paint. I know I said paint already but it is that important.
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Yes to band aids and a snack! But I’d add a bottle of water to wash it down. And some SPF. I burn so easily without!
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My #1 sightseeing accessory is the Hubs because he carries everything. HAHA! Between his cargo pants with 100 pockets and the occasional backpack, I’m always hands-free. 🙂 Absolute musts are sunglasses, sunscreen, bugspray, a light jacket, a smartphone and a credit card, though. You know, with me, running shoes are a given whether I’m sightseeing or not.
Blister band-aids are the absolute best — much more effective than regular ones!
Otherwise, I totally agree with you on the cross-body purse. I also bring a microfiber glasses cloth, lip balm, eye drops, my prescription sunglasses in their case (so I can switch between those and my regular glasses), and an umbrella if it might rain. A refillable water bottle and snacks are also essential.
Ah yes…the bandaids…
I require crossbody in any purse I buy, basically bec the handsfree thing is just so much easier. And I also am a bandaid fiend bec all shoes just rip me a new one!!!
I agree with the crossbody bag, comfy shoes, and snacks. I always have those 3 things when sight-seeing. I bring water for the ride in the car because I’m to lazy to bring it with me. I also bring a small first aid kit with me too
Everything about your purse is fabulous!!! The color, size, crossbody…everything!!! Love, love, love!!
Like the crossbody bag! I agree about the snacks especially when you are traveling with other people. And comfortable shoes any day!
These are great tips. I’m planning a trip to the amusement park to highlight my summer. I’d add, remember to take sun screen, sunglasses, a water bottle (a small one so its not too heavy & can maybe fit in your purse), & a selfie stick (for impromptu photo ops with your cell phone). Enjoy your fam 🙂
That is the prettiest cross body purse. I love that red. Love a comfy pair of shoes and a sun hat for sight seeing. I only keep band-aids in my wallet for cuts and scrapes. For blisters I prefer to use plasters like these. https://www.compeed.co.uk/compeed-footcare/blister-medium-plasters or these http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=79971&catid=59963&aid=338666&aparam=79971&kpid=79971&CAWELAID=120142990000060574&CAGPSPN=pla&kpid=79971. I feel like they have more cushion and protection from further rubbing. Plus they stay on a heck of a lot better.
Lovely crossbody bag. I would wear sunglasses and sunscreen for sure.
Great item choices.
My must haves include many of the above along with hand sanitizer and lip balm or lipgloss.
Powder facial sunscreen from Thoms Roth available at sephora it works great as it applys over makeup, just found it this year!! Apparently there is an spf setting spray by coola but I cant find it in Ontario, Canada. Also sunglasses and a hat and water, woo hoo family time is great!!
If anyone knows about the Coola setting spray spf30? please let me know where it can be purchased or if you have tried it, thank you
I only ever do cross body bags anymore! So convenient! Hats are great too, especially for those of us prone to sunburn!
agree on all points, sometimes a bacpack if hiking or visiting a food fest – need both hands AND space to lug purchases.
also sunglasses and a bottle of water would be handy….
love your cherry red bag, karen!
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I save Sephora samples of sunscreen so I can have wee ones to take with me for reapplication. Have fun with the ‘rents! 🙂
Cute bag! I always have my water with me. But last week when my niece was visiting and wanted to do all the LA photo ops, I completely forgot it. And it was hot! So definitely bottled water, snacks, extra sunscreen and wipes. I pretty much always have these in my car, just in case. btw, my dad lives in Redding (well actually Cottonwood, 20 miles south.) Small world, huh? Have fun with family!
I love your choice for the cross-body purse :). I have the Cobble Hill small Devin in navy. That and my Sperry top-siders/Toms, and i am good to go, lol. Not to mention band-aids-if I ever wear a new pair of shoes, I need band-aids :(.
Sunglasses, a hat, maybe a small h2o bottle just in case. I totally agree with the cross body bag, very useful and keeps the hands free. ?