Solo Day Trip Ready: What I Keep in My Car and Purse
Solo day trip essentials are something I’ve thought a lot about, because this kind of freedom, planned or spontaneous, near or far, is one of my favorite things. You get to choose and that’s the luxury we have. I live in MA and so am fortunate enough to be able to select from many beaches, mountains, woods, trails and state parks all within a couple hour’s drive.
The ubiquitous water bottle. We all have them. Mine’s nothing fancy. It’s always there for when I may need water, usually to drink but sometimes to clean. It’s metal and stays covered. Hard pass for me on disposable plastic water bottles. No straws or flip tops, I don’t like those. Recently I looked at the screw cap of a water bottle I had. I had always kept it clean, I thought. I noticed one day something black in the cap. No matter how much I scrubbed it, it wouldn’t come off. I assume it was mold. Needless to say, that got tossed. I bought a new one, but this time I was sure there was a cover that could easily be cleaned. So, consider this when you get a water bottle.
The “always in my car” list isn’t just a water bottle. I keep sunglasses in my car (more than 1 pair) I suppose this is pretty common. I have some at home too. There are also the pervasive lip balms. They live in my car console, a couple in my purse and essentially every room of my house you will find them. I never have enough it seems and I’d never want to be without one, especially the SPF ones during the summer.
You know what you never want to be without? Tissues. Imagine a sneezing fit during allergy season, you go to reach for a tissue and it’s not there. It’s a desperate feeling. And if you’re in a remote-ish area, it feels even worse. Always keep change, pencil and paper in your car. Sometimes you need to feed a meter, take a note, or even give someone a note. Always keep a rag or small towel, adhesive bandages, and safety pins in your car. Have you ever had a button pop off or zipper break? You may need a way to keep your pants or top closed. Ask me how I know.
In the summer I keep a beach chair, sun block and towel in the trunk. Helps when being spontaneous. If you’re still figuring out how to plan your day, check out my post on how I structure a solo Saturday. I haven’t mentioned the most important thing. I wear prescription glasses. I wear them 90% of the time. Without them I’d be legally blind. If anything were to happen to the glasses I was wearing, I’d be stranded. I keep a permanent pair in my car and another in my purse when I wear my contact lenses.
Now for day trips specifically, it really can vary. I may bring a snack, usually nuts. One fun aspect of day tripping for me is the discovery of new restaurants. So, I don’t mind bringing an appetite. Depending on the season and weather, a sweater/jacket is in the mix. Sometimes a backup pair of shoes. I also keep a power bank; enough juice for photos, and essential if you’re somewhere with spotty cell service and navigating by phone. Now this may be controversial, but I bring pepper spray. I actually carried it on my key chain for many years. Thankfully I’ve never needed it. I removed it recently because it becomes cumbersome. But it gives me a feeling of security.
These solo day trips make me feel empowered. If you’re near me, I also created a Benable list of places I love, a great companion to these solo day trip essentials. Maybe you can enjoy them too. Even if you don’t remember everything, it does not matter. Enjoy the moment. You can go at will, as the mood strikes and end it when you want. You are on no one’s schedule but your own, and that is sweet.
