North America What to Pack

  Cooling off my feet
by gilabrand
 
  • Cooling off my feet
      Cooling off my feet
    by gilabrand
  • Conrad peers at the cherry blossoms
      Conrad peers at the cherry blossoms
    by AKtravelers
  • T-shirts for sale on Lexington Ave
      T-shirts for sale on Lexington Ave
    by toonsarah
  • at the airport
      at the airport
    by machomikemd
  • Water to drink
      Water to drink
    by grandmaR
 

Most Viewed What to Pack in North America

1.

Dress for Weather / to Impress   Las Vegas

Dress for  Weather / to Impress, Las Vegas

 28 Reviews  I went in mid to late October a few years ago. It was warm to hot during the day (85-95 degrees), but by 8:00 - 9:00 pm it usually dropped back into the 70's and even into the 60's towards midnight. I... 

 See All 129 What to Pack in Las Vegas

2.

Clothes For Layering   San Francisco

Clothes For Layering, San Francisco

 42 Reviews  I cannot stress this enough: layer. It's true that San Francisco can be very cold and foggy, and fog often makes way to light rain, so rain jackets are a must 9 months out of the year. However, if you... 

 See All 127 What to Pack in San Francisco

3.

Shoes   New Orleans

Shoes, New Orleans

 6 Reviews  The luggage you bring will depend on your mode of transportation. By air, travel as light as you can. Never go anywhere, especially someplace where there is as much walking involved as in New Orleans... 

 See All 38 What to Pack in New Orleans

4.

What To Wear   Los Angeles

What To Wear, Los Angeles

 11 Reviews  If you are coming during the winter, be prepared for generally, sunny days and cool evenings. The best way to dress is in layers. When it does rain, it is chilly. So be prepared and do bring a warm... 

 See All 30 What to Pack in Los Angeles

5.

Pack For Weather   Boston

Pack For Weather, Boston

 16 Reviews  Always pack some sort of slicker/shell/waterproof jacket. I was visiting over the first weekend in May, after the hottest marathon day ever, and it was POURING RAIN and FREEZING. Like, 40 degrees... 

 See All 33 What to Pack in Boston

6.

Casual / Light   Key West

Casual / Light, Key West

 14 Reviews  Ladies: Sundress Shorts Light Jacket (it cools off when the sun goes down) Sandals Guys: Shorts Button down camp shirts sandals (but please - no socks) hat Sunscreen! Aspirin (for when you have been... 

 See All 33 What to Pack in Key West

7.

Warm clothes   Montreal

Warm clothes, Montreal

 17 Reviews  Many people think about keeping their "core" warm, but what about the lower half? There are some really great fitting and comfortable jeans available that keep you warm. They are called Winter Blues... 

 See All 40 What to Pack in Montreal

8.

rain gear   Vancouver

rain gear, Vancouver

 23 Reviews  I walked out of the airport terminal and into a light rain. As we got downtown the rain was getting heavier, but the locals weren't even hurrying to get out of it. Most of them hadn't even broken out... 

 See All 56 What to Pack in Vancouver

9.

Travel Light / Layers   Seattle

Travel Light / Layers, Seattle

 10 Reviews  Comfortable Shoes, Sweatshirt/Blazer, and lightweight pants/shorts. We always travel in August or September, which in all reality is truly the perfect time. It's a bit warm still but there is... 

 See All 45 What to Pack in Seattle

10.

Chilly Evenings   San Diego

Chilly Evenings, San Diego

 6 Reviews  Even though San Diego is warm and sunny, it's right on the water and can still get chilly. If you go to the baseball game, bring a blanket or warm clothes! It was a hot and sunny day here, but we were... 

 See All 32 What to Pack in San Diego

11.

Beachwear & Sunscreen!   Honolulu

Beachwear & Sunscreen!, Honolulu

 14 Reviews  Bring flip-flops with you or plan to buy some when you arrive. See my Local Customs tip. Pack clothing suitable for tropical weather. The young women in this photo, with their black stockings and... 

 See All 33 What to Pack in Honolulu

12.

Clothing   Mexico City

Clothing, Mexico City

 25 Reviews  I brought a very small carry on travel backpack for my trip. If you are planning on taking the subway to and from your hotel this is all you will want to take because there are TONS of stairs and... 

 See All 74 What to Pack in Mexico City

13.

Packing Lists   Philadelphia

Packing Lists, Philadelphia

 8 Reviews  Comfortable walking shoes. It's best to explore this great old town on foot. Wide angle is great for shots of buildings but a zoom is fun for sneaky people shots. Thanks to D for getting me to... 

 See All 12 What to Pack in Philadelphia

14.

Winter, summer & rain gear   Quebec

Winter, summer & rain gear, Quebec

 17 Reviews  Quebec City is one of Canada's snowiest cities. On average, we receive 3 m of snow every year but the 2007-2008 winter was our snowiest ever, with about 5.6 m of snow!! It is not rare to see the first... 

 See All 27 What to Pack in Quebec

15.

Weather   Ottawa

Weather, Ottawa

 13 Reviews  Waterproof shoes, don't forget weatherproof paste. Waterproof coat etc; you will have make your car ice/snow-free more than once. Anti-flu, anti-cold stuff (I prefer Fisherman's Friend). Some... 

 See All 21 What to Pack in Ottawa

16.

Comfortable Clothes   Atlanta

Comfortable Clothes, Atlanta

 3 Reviews  During my trip this year, the temperature remained in the 70s, although this seemed a little warm than I would expect for Atlanta at this time of year. I would probably recommend bringing warmer... 

 See All 6 What to Pack in Atlanta

17.

Toiletries/Medical Supplies   Miami Beach

Toiletries/Medical Supplies, Miami Beach

 4 Reviews  Really all you need to bring is a light travelbag or medium-sized backpack.,because the clothes you will pack to visit here will not take up alot of space. Tank tops,light summer dresses and bikinis... 

 See All 10 What to Pack in Miami Beach

18.

Weather Related Clothing   Houston

Weather Related Clothing, Houston

 4 Reviews  It's hot. It rains. That's just Houston. There are two seasons: Summer and Spring. Spring is about January-April. After April, until December, it's hot. Make sure you bring plenty of sun screen. Let... 

 See All 10 What to Pack in Houston

19.

Miscelaneous   Miami

Miscelaneous, Miami

 2 Reviews  Casual is the key. Miami is incredibly laid back and most places allow shorts, tanks, bare shoulders/arms and even flip-flops. People wishing to "Be Seen" on Lincoln Road may wish to dress up some.... 

 See All 10 What to Pack in Miami

20.

Clothing/Luggage   Puerto Vallarta

Clothing/Luggage, Puerto Vallarta

 10 Reviews  OK....you've planned a family vacation to Puerto Vallarta. The tickets were reasonable, the weather is perfect, now what to bring? First let me say check with your airline regarding your baggage... 

 See All 21 What to Pack in Puerto Vallarta

21.

What to pack   Cabo San Lucas

What to pack, Cabo San Lucas

 12 Reviews  You really only need 2 small pieces of luggage - a regular size carry on and a backpack or beach bag. If you're planning to spend most of your time on the beach or the water, you only need to bring... 

 See All 15 What to Pack in Cabo San Lucas

22.

Beach Attire   Fort Lauderdale

Beach Attire, Fort Lauderdale

 5 Reviews  You'll need layers during the Spring. It was warm to downright hot and sunny during the day...so Swimming Suits and shorts will do. However, a sweater or the appropriate coverage is needed for night.... 

 See All 6 What to Pack in Fort Lauderdale

23.

Car Insurance   Tijuana

Car Insurance, Tijuana

 1 Review  If you drive across, stop and purchase car insurance at any of the booths. Most car-rental companies do not allow you to take a car into Mexico, so check first. Head south on the Ensenada Toll Road... 

 See All 8 What to Pack in Tijuana

24.

Weather Related Clothing   Dallas

Weather Related Clothing, Dallas

 3 Reviews  Although you can probably leave out your snow boots, I would suggest being prepared for almost any other kind of weather (especially in spring)! You can never tell what the weather is going to be... 

 See All 9 What to Pack in Dallas

25.

Warm Clothes / Hiking Shoes   Yosemite National Park

Warm Clothes / Hiking Shoes, Yosemite National Park

 6 Reviews  This being one of the top backpacking destinations in the US, a backpack might be a good thing to bring along. There is such a big network of trails, you just couldn't see them all day-hiking so... 

 See All 22 What to Pack in Yosemite National Park

Comments

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Telephoto Equipment (not just photography)

by glabah

Unlike the way these tips are designed to be used, this tip is about telephoto equipment. Not being able to write a general equipment tip for all locations, I've put this here as the equipment is available in North America, but may not be available elsewhere.With all lenses, it should be noted that the larger diameter of the lens on the end of the device (camera, scope, binoculars, etc.) the more light it captures. The greater the magnification, the morelight is required to actually see what you are looking at, and small diameter lenses at large magnification become difficult to use in anything but the absolutely best lighting conditions.This is what I have been using, and found useful:Binoculars:Vortex Viper 10x42: these may be used with or without eye glasses. Generally, writers of optical reviews insist that you don't want magnification above 8x in binoculars, but I have found that...

vortex viper 10x42 binoculars
3 more images
Get a cooler

by mafootje

If you are going to drive around in the US it's always smart to have something to drink with you, especially if you're going to drive in the heat in not so populated area's.If your car breaks down, the airco does so to and your bound to get thirsty then. It can be smart to buy a cooler, you can get the simple styrofoam ones for about $ 2,00 if you fill this with ice cubes at the hotel or buy a bag at a grocery store you could keep you drinks cool up to two days, even the melted ice keeps your drinks cool. We always carry one or two gallons of water (about $0,60 cents a gallon) and a small refilled bottle in the front of the car. It's much cheaper as buying bottles and as i said earlier you can keep your drinks cool when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere.Oh and another tip don't drop a gallon of water in the elevator, you and the elevator will get soaked :-).

Cooler behind the driver seat out of the sun.
Packing List

by Luthorkeeper

Carry on bags are a good idea in this day and age . You can buy ANYTHING you need here . Again you can buy ANYHTING you need here . If you can't buy all new clothes , be aware , we have SEVERE variances in weather here , Again , do your homework ( no shorts in Michigan in February ) . Any and all styles of clothing and shoes are fair game here . We midwesterners can spot a euorpean from a mile away . Many medical supplies are available by prescription only , so bring what you need , or be prepared to go to Mexico or Canada .If you have a specific medical issue , you should call ahead . All hotels and motels are fully stocked with a bewildering supply of toiletries . We never neglect our asses here . Most all showers are first rate . We do like to bathe . Often . Again you can buy ANYTHING you want . The whole country is wired for 110 volt service . So bring converters if you need them...

Packing List

by Gehrman1

Food, sodas, snak, sandewis, shorts, sandas, tshorts 1 ID, asspin, bandis, diarea medicin, alcohol, 1.00$ cash. GO get somes clams,fishing, pot crab esleping in tents when is very cool, blankest,(mantas) eliping bag, (bolsas de dormir) air matters,Jakets (abrigos)

Packing List

by mongooser

Ok none of the categories really apply.i prefer softish luggage as there is some conpressability to them. Be sensible - back potentially fragile stuff in the centre and dont be too fussed about everything being neat when you get there - just iron it again ok?If you can't fit it in a small backpack DONT take it as walk on luggage. In economy there isnt much room.Notebook computers just annoy other economy class passengers - there ISNT enough room ok.. get back to business class where you belong.Don't try to pack for every emergency - stuff is cheap enough in USa that you can buy what you need if caught out For LA..Its warm most of the time. The heat isnt as muggy as,say, Sydney or Brisbane. So dress pretty much like you expect it to be hot because even when it isnt you wont be too bothered.shoes.. nikes etc - you're gonna be doing a lot of walking so be comfortable FIRST not stylish -...

Packing List

by aveloy

The plane took six and a half hours Iwent on air Canada so take things to occupy the kids also wet wipes to freshen up in your hand luggage Comfortable shoes a light maybe fold away mac if it rains If you like your own brand of anything take it with you British items imported tend to be rather expensive if you go self catering and like H.P sauce take one with you it costs out there It;s cheaper to get your fims done at home

Packing List

by kb0wzh

All weather is possable. Bring close for what you want to do. Once again bring what you need. The west and S. West does have some of the best doctors in the USA, but have health insurance. This is a must. Don't over do it but good photo equip. is a must. Once More, pack for what you want to do. HAVE FUN!!

Packing List

by DCgirl

If you plan to visit the nicer bars and clubs in the city, whether its in Georgetown or downtown, pack a few nice clothes and shoes- nothing too dressy, but leave the sneakers in the hotel. Black always works, ladies - it isn't Manhattan here, and there won't be as many velvet-rope establishments with a diva-at-the-door checking out if your ensemble is worthy of admission before turning you back to T-Neck New Jersey, but its still nice to look stylish.

Packing List

by voodoochild6

back pack tough clothes nothing nice unless you want to go somewere nice tiolet paper and first aid kit i guess camera and lots and lots of film. america is beutiful most every where. except for in the city so in other words the less the population the prettier it is.well i gess some citys are cool lookin but think what you like dont listen to me. towels, sun block or tan lotion and, tents, rain proof tents

Packing List

by laylaune

COTTON CLOTHING AND NOTHING HEAVY TO CARRY in the Summer, as it is HOT! Wear good sturdy comfy sandals that are broken in. Closed in sneakers are ok, but HOT. Bring a visor or a ball cap and .... A WIDE BRIMMED HAT. WEAR SUNSCREEN, bring also a hand towel and towelettes if you have them, as it is HOT in the summer and you will chafe from the sweat. I purchased a portable water bottle that is insulated that has a strap to carry like a purse/bag. It was a MUST. SUNSCREEN, BUG SPRAY, COTTON TSHIRTS, COTTON UNDIES PURCHASE A CAR REFLECTOR/SCREEN and crack the windows.... THE SUN in the SUMMER IS HELL! ALSO, remember the song? ITS WINDY at times!!!

Top 3 Hotels in North America

Casablanca Hotel  New York City

 1 Review and 2422 Opinions  This is a Hotel /Bed and Breakfast. It is a oasis in the middle of Times Square. It is quiet inside... 

 Hotels in New York City

Show Prices

Argonaut Hotel - A Kimpton Hotel  San Francisco

 4 Reviews and 2406 Opinions  There's no doubt this hotel, provides a level of luxury and convenience, that many travellers will... 

 Hotels in San Francisco

Show Prices

Four Seasons Las Vegas  Las Vegas

 9 Reviews and 1862 Opinions  Amazing hotel! Everything about our stay was excellent. Our room was gorgeous, service was... 

 Hotels in Las Vegas

Show Prices

North America What to Pack

Reviews and photos of North America what to pack posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for North America sightseeing.
Map of North America

North America Members Meetings

May 26, 2013 
Vacation amongst greater southerners!
Jun 08, 2013 
My Great Test Meeting
Jun 20, 2013 
it will be brief
Jun 22, 2013 
Come Explore the Burbs

see all North America member meetings