What to pack for North America

Luggage and bags: My packing rules for travel in North America are not much different than for travel in Europe. Namely - Pack light! The fact that you will probably be traveling by car means that you could get away with a bit more stuff. Still, if you can avoid hauling more pounds or kilos than necessary, do it. One small bag per person at the most, or one big bag for several people.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Pack light. One good pair of shoes should do. Don't worry about bringing the workout shoes or clothes, you will have a workout enough walking through the cities of North America each day. And besides, you're on vacation! A couple pair of pants, 2-3 shirts, and 1 light sweater will suffice for a two-week trip. Plan on washing your clothes 1-2 times on your trip. Bring a jacket, which can double as a rain coat - particularly if in the Pacific Northwest. The ONE pair of shoes that you bring should be all weather, durable, and comfortable.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: Bring just the necessities. Most hotels and B&B have hair dryers. Ask ahead of time just to be sure. Pharmacies abound throughout North America, so there is no need to bring the whole emergency medical-care kit.

Photo Equipment: Don't skimp here. Bring a small camera and lots of film. Your pictures will tell your tale later. Besides, you need to have pictures to build your VT pages! If you are up to it, bring a small video camera. Don't worry about looking too much like a tourist. There are times to bring a camera with you (such as visiting the Grand Canyon) and times to leave it back in the hotel (such as going to the theater or to a nice restaurant).

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: There are wonderful places to camp in the great outdoors throughout Canada and the USA. In fact, if you neglect to spend some time camping in the National Parks of these two countries - you have missed a big part of what this place is all about. Tents can be rented if you are traveling from abroad. On a road trip you should pack the tent in the truck.