Your mind is likely running. What’s there to pack? Who’s coming with? You’ll need the travelling essentials, emergency backups, the trailer essentials, food, supplies, clothing, and bedroom items, so on and so forth. It can be, frankly, overwhelming, and it’s what deters a lot of travelers from getting out more often. No sweat! We’re here to alleviate some of the weight of that stress and have compiled a detailed guide of what to pack for your next road trip.

First of all – get insured.

OK, granted, this one isn’t exactly on the “packing” list, but it’s essential! Travel trailer insurance in Ontario is critical, even if it isn’t mandatory, because it protects you from the unexpected, like if your trailer broke down unexpectedly, if there was a fire, theft, vandalism, etc. Travel trailers aren’t motorized, so they don’t actually require insurance according to Ontario law, but that doesn’t make this coverage any less necessary! Travel trailers are huge investments, ranging upwards into the tens of thousands of dollars. Moreover, no one wants to cancel a trip partway through. Having insurance can save you from some serious headache, not to mention the significant monetary loss that could ensue.

Remember the essentials!

Each trailer will have different needs. Obviously, a motorized trailer is very different than a non-motorized one. Travel trailers are towed, not driven, so there’s a few things you don’t have to worry about. However, your essentials list should include the following:

• Drinking water hose
• Electrical cord and adapters
• Water pressure regulator
• Fire extinguisher
• Jumper cables
• Shovel
• Tire pressure gauge
• Extension cords
• Emergency road kit
• Wheel chocks
• Black tank chemicals

Bring anything that is needed for general upkeep as well as for emergency.

Bring the kitchen supplies!

A lot of people enjoy the “roughing it” aspect of camping – and you can do that with a few supplies! Make sure everything you bring can be washed easily and/or recycled. Consider the following list of kitchen supplies:

• Water bottles
• Dish soap
• Tongs
• Utensils
• Cutting board
• Bowls
• Plates
• Cups
• Camping griddle
• Plastic wrap
• Garbage bags
• Napkins
• Can openers
• Skillets
• Disinfectant wipes
• Cooler
• Food storage container
• Matches and lighters

Pack the food staples!

Food is critical. It’s a good idea to pack as much food as you can that is preservable and healthy, to prevent having to go get takeout or eating majorly unhealthy options for the duration of your trip.

• Dried fruit and nuts
• Cereal
• Oatmeal
• Drink mix packets
• Grill meats
• Eggs
• Seasoning – salt, pepper, etc.
• Packaged snacks
• Cooking oil or spray
• Peanut butter
• Bread
• Condiments
• Canned foods

Don’t forget the bedroom and clothing items!

What will you and your family be wearing? What do you need to feel comfortable? Here’s a list of some clothing and bedroom items to pack:

• Socks
• Underwear
• T-shirts
• Pants and shorts
• Sweatshirts
• Jackets
• Raingear
• Hats
• Shoes – an assortment, like sandals, hiking boots, sneakers, etc.
• Towels
• Clothing hangers
• Sheets and blankets
• Pillows

Include personal items and toiletries!

Obviously, toiletries are an essential, whether you’re sleeping in a hotel or in a trailer. Ensure that anything you bring is portable, and that you bring enough to last the duration of your traveling. Things like cash, credit cards, ID, etc. should be stored in safe, secure locations, and you should always know where they are. Valuables can get lost very easy on these kinds of trips! Here’s a list:

• Chargers for phones
• ID
• Wallets, cash, credit cards
• Confirmations for any reservations
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Soap
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Toothpaste and toothbrush
• Hairbrush and comb
• Sunglasses
• Glasses/contact lenses
• Batteries
• Medications and prescriptions
• Hair ties
• Shaving gel
• Nail clippers
• Razors
• Makeup
• First-aid kits

Misc.

Finally, here’s a list of the miscellaneous supplies you may want to bring to ensure that a good time is had by all:

• Cameras
• Camping chairs
• Hammocks
• Soccer balls, frisbees, volleyballs
• Puzzles and board games
• Binoculars
• Fishing gear
• Laptops and electronic devices
• Headphones
• Flotation devices
• Swimming gear

Hopefully, this list has cleared your mind a little and alleviated some stress about what to pack! Be sure to take your time when making a list, account for the time you’ll be spending away, and have fun!

The post Here’s Your (Detailed) Guide of What to Pack for Your Next Road Trip in Ontario appeared first on Of Revolt.

They say all roads lead to Rome, which is great, because swapping busy city life for a sun-soaked Italian road trip couldn’t be easier. While it would take a lifetime to get to know all of Rome, renting a car online gives visitors complete freedom to see the rest of Italy in all its glory. Whether it’s hiking across craggy coastlines that drop away to brooding seas below, or wandering through color-splashed villages – dotted with blooming flowers – an Italian road trip can offer something for everyone.

There are two main options when setting off from Rome on a road trip – north or south? Starting with the northern option, take the E35 road – which becomes the A1 – and drive up to Florence. After a smooth two and a half hour drive, cutting through emerald green countryside, visitors will arrive at one of the world’s most beautiful cities. This UNESCO World Heritage site is known as the birthplace of renaissance art, and people from across the world flock to see Michelangelo’s Statue of David, which stands defiantly in the Accademia Gallery. Magnificent architecture waits around every corner, with the cathedral providing the highlight – with an incredible, wrinkled façade, and the world’s largest brick dome. Climb to the top for an unbeatable view over the city’s red roofs – the 414 steps also help visitors to burn off excess calories, after overindulging in pasta and dark red Chianti Classico wine.

Reluctantly leaving Florence behind, continue the road trip by driving west to Pisa, where photo opportunities with the Leaning Tower await. By this point, the jaw-dropping Cinque Terre coastline is also within easy reach. Leave the car in the town of La Spezia before hopping on the local train and trundling into the forested mountains that hide the coastline’s five famous towns. Clusters of pastel-colored buildings perch on the Cinque Terre’s stunning cliffs, and the lack of road access lends the isolated towns an authentic feel. Hikers can move between the five towns in around an hour and a half, and feel the spray from turquoise waves crashing against dramatic cliffs as they walk.

Another option is to drive south from Rome, towards the sprawling city of Naples. Sandwiched between the brewing Campi Flegrei volcano and the ominous cone of Mount Vesuvius, the city’s spectacular natural setting is only beaten by its contribution to Italian culture. Wander through the narrow streets of Europe’s largest historical city center – another World Heritage Site – before biting into a slice of simple but stunning margarita pizza, drizzled with freshly pressed olive oil, in the birthplace of the pizza.

Visitors to Naples are also perfectly placed to discover Pompeii’s volcanic history, and can walk through the eerie remains of the Roman town, which was buried under ash in 79 AD. If some sun, sea, and sand appeals, the Amalfi coast is a 30-minute drive away. The town’s crescent shaped beach is an idyllic spot to lie back with a dripping ice cream, and watch as colorful fishing boats bob gently on the water. 

Post by Luke. Thank you so much for contributing to Of Revolt! // Photography Credits: 1 and 2.

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All right, all right. So Maryland and West Virginia aren’t really “The South” as we know it from TV, what with its charming drawls and sprawling antebellum architecture. But it’s south of New York and besides, “Scenes from a Few of the Mid-Atlantic States” just doesn’t have the same sexy ring to it.

Anyway, Dan and I took a road trip to these two states back in August and because this year is LITERALLY FLYING PAST ME (I know that this is not just me. Everyone agrees that 2013 shall go down in history as the year that could not wait to be over. And yet, I’m having a super great year and I don’t really want it to be over. Odd-numbered years are sort of my jam), I am just now getting around to blogging about it. 

So here she blows! Photos and recommendations from our long weekend, two months ago. Enjoy.

^^ Tootsies on the dash and the open road. My nail polish looks fabulous, if I do say so myself. (Color is Jelly Apple by Essie.) ^^

^^ Arriving in historic Thomas, West Virginia. Most towns call themselves “historic” because they have no better claim to fame, but Thomas is, quite literally, historic – walking down the main (only!) street feels like stepping back in time. It was a coal mining boom town in the early 1900s, and while it’s a sleepy little place these days, the shops along East Avenue have been lovingly and carefully preserved. ^^

^^ Miners & Merchants Bank, the only bank in town. ^^

^^ We stayed at the Purple Fiddle Hostel & Guest House (again, the only one of its kind in town, which you’ll notice is a trend around those parts). Don’t you just love the giant red faces on those beautiful sunflowers? ^^

^^ Snacks at Tip Top Coffee Bar, which were almost painfully delicious. When we arrived in Thomas, we stopped first at the Purple Fiddle Cafe, where Dan was playing, figuring we could drop off his equipment and grab a coffee there. We asked for coffees at the counter and the girl goes, “You don’t want our coffee. Go to Tip Top, out the door and to your right, about 40 paces. They make the best coffee in town, like a real Brooklyn cafe.”
The reasons I loved that were twofold: one, because every store in town can be described by the number of paces to get there. And two, because it was literally the best coffee I’ve ever had outside of Paris. Far better than any Brooklyn cafe. ^^

^^ This gave me a throw-my-head-back, deep belly laugh. Who needs a glass when you can put the citrus right on the can? Heretofore referred to as, “West Virginia style.” ^^

^^ My cute guy doing his thing at the Purple Fiddle. In addition to seriously delicious sandwiches and a whole heap of craft beers, the cafe serves what they call “karma soup.” Anyone who’s hungry and doesn’t have money to eat can ask at the counter for a bowl of karma soup and it’s free, every time, no questions asked. Good karma, indeed. ^^

^^ Frederick, Maryland was all pretty town house after pretty town house. I loved this one especially for its crimson door and Mini Cooper (my fave!) parked out front. Every time I pass a place like this I think, I could live here. ^^

^^ One of the coolest things about Frederick was the abundance of murals gracing the sides of its buildings. This one actually startled me at first, when I turned a corner and came upon it. The painted man has “Mona Lisa eyes”: you know the ones, they watch you and move when you move. The white shapes behind him aren’t ghosts; they’re his wings. And if you haven’t read the Gabriel García Márquez story “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings,” you should just stop whatever you’re doing and go read it because it will break your heart in all the right ways. Go ahead, we’ll wait. ^^

We stayed overnight in Thomas because of Dan’s performance schedule there, but both Thomas and Frederick are perfect towns for lingering in for a few hours and then passing through. The shop owners keep regular hours and they all do only one thing, but they do that thing very well. Towns like these are small and simple and lovely, like a daydream you had on a cool, cloudy day, and it’s not easy to find this kind of America anymore.

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