If you’re a history buff on a budget, there is no place more loaded with readily accessible and inexpensive-to-see  American history than Boston, Massachusetts, and environs. Summer or winter in Boston is an adventure, although winter doings will likely be more the indoor kind. Walking Boston is a cinch, especially with the Freedom Trail to guide you, but there are Segway tours, duck boats, the T, and buses or taxis for alternative means to see what’s to see.

Photo credit David Paul Ohmer

S Hooks:

When you travel light, it usually means you end up carrying most of your belongings near or on your person. A side effect of this is that during the course of your excursion, you’ll need to create hanging space where none exists. For my money, the best way to do this is with an s hook. You can get large ones at the hardware store, but the ones with the wider curves tend to be thicker and heavier than necessary. I like to pick mine up at Ikea in the kitchen section. They’re thinner, still sturdy, and have a wide enough s curve to accommodate shower poles, restroom stalls, door knobs and the cross bars on a Southeast Asian tuk tuk. They also have the flat versus the round variety, which provides greater flexibility in my opinion.

Electrical Adapters:

Speaking of travel gear you can buy at hardware stores, electrical adapters are another extremely flexible vacation or business travel item. While the adapters that allow you to switch from a European plug to a North American one are helpful, what I’m talking about here are the adapters that allow you extend a single outlet into one that allows you to charge three or more items. This comes in handy during an airport layover when outlets are scarce. If all the outlets are taken, it’s no big deal to ask someone to unplug their machine for a second while you expand the power access.

Bandanas:

Thin, quick-drying and easy to pack, the travel uses for bandanas are many. Use one for a small picnic surface, to wash your dishes and even as a wash cloth. Of course, they also make great napkins for inexpensive street food purchases. If you have room, consider packing several. You’ll be surprised how often you’ll need them once you get used to having them around.

Lip Balm:

Aside from its obvious use, lip balm can serve a number of uses on the road, saving you money and luggage space in the toiletry department. The key is to purchase an unscented balm with no color tinting. Once you do, you can use it for a variety of skin care tasks. Rub some on your finger to treat dry spots on your heels and elbows. Your balm will remain sanitary for lip use, and you’ll have fewer cosmetic items to pack. The same idea applies if you need to moisturize the inside of your nostrils in dry weather conditions such as high-altitude villages or desert climates. Another great idea is to use your lip balm as a cuticle treatment. It saves having to pack nail oil, and doesn’t need to be included in your one-quart bag of liquids required by airport security.

Bobby Pins:

Sure, bobby pins can help you have great hair for less. French twists, bang management and more can all be accomplished with hair pins in a color that coordinates with your natural shade. But have you considered allowing them to do double duty as bookmarks, emergency zipper pulls and on-the-fly paper clips? All these things are possible with bobby pins. They can also help you securely close bags of food in your hotel room, and are much more space efficient than chip clips.

When trying to travel light, packing multipurpose items that don’t take up a great deal of space is crucial. These five items are among my favorites. What do you use to create a more streamlined life on the road?

Photo Credit: Lastonein

Glass:

The Chrysler Museum’s glass collection and state-of-the art glass blowing studio have literally made the venue a center of learning for the craft. For those with even a casual interest, be prepared to be blown away. The collection itself is every bit as expansive as the erotic pottery collection on display in Lima, Peru and includes everything from Tiffany lamps and stained glass windows to art nouveau pieces and items from ancient Egypt. There are some wonderful modern pieces as well.

The glass-blowing studio, located in an entirely separate building from the original Chrysler Museum, is state of the art. Students pursuing their Masters of Fine Arts degrees, renowned glass artists, families, tourists and local school groups can all benefit from the program. Freed from the budget constraints similar programs might experience, the studio offers free daily demonstrations to the public and a chance for visiting master artists to mentor the student interns participating in the program. For those who would like a more intimate, hands-on experience with the glass, the studio offers paid classes and workshops with limited class sizes focusing on everything from decorative beads, cold work, inclusions and even fusion.

Diversity:

In addition to the Chrysler Museum of Art’s extensive glass collection, you’ll find roughly 30,000 objets d’art spanning 5,000 years of human history. Examples are on display of European and American painting and sculpture, art nouveau furniture and pre-Columbian art as well as Islamic, African, Asian and numerous ancient Egyptian pieces. There’s even a notable photography program.

One that struck me in particular about the Chrysler Museum is the number of interactive opportunities there were for a museum that focuses mainly on older, more traditional art forms. In addition to the expected reflection benches in various gallery spaces, paintings of importance have soft couch seating in front of them. This invites longer, more introspective analysis of the works and makes a struggling art student’s life just a bit more comfortable. Also, in the neoclassical sculpture exhibit, there’s a place for youngsters to sit with sketch chalkboards and try their hand at capturing the essence of a variety of classical pieces.

Rotating Exhibits:

For those who visit regularly, fresh viewing opportunities are worked into the schedule at the Chrysler Museum of Art. At the time of my visit, the big draw was the 30 Americans show, featuring works from 30 different African American artists using a variety of styles. There was also an interesting black and white photo show featuring images from the deep south. Other works of note featured on a rotating basis include items by such artists as Norman Rockwell, Rembrandt, Andy Warhol and more.

Historic Homes:

Within walking distance of the Chrysler Museum, and part of its overall program are two period homes of note. First, the Moses Myers House. Built by one of Norfolk’s prominent families after the Revolutionary War, the home contains an extensive collection of the family’s personal belongings over several generations, as well as a number of art works owned by the Myers.

Additionally, the Willoughby-Baylor House is also affiliated with the Chrysler Museum and is currently home to the Norfolk History Museum. The building contains several private works of the Chrysler family as well as a number of other items donated by private citizens to represent an accurate picture of the history of Norfolk. The garden was specifically designed to represent the most specific understanding available today regarding the look and feel of Colonial architecture.

The Chrysler Museum of Art if free to enjoy for all who would like to visit, although memberships are available for those who would like to provide additional support for the venue’s mission. When you are done sampling all of the food adventures the city of Norfolk has to offer, then this museum is a great way to incorporate a bit of culture into your vacation itinerary.

Photo Credits: Trek Hound

Traveling as a family can be an intimidating pile of logistics.  What type of trip do we take? Do we make it an educational trip? Maybe one for science geeks?  Or maybe we should make our destination a one-stop shop. A family resort of some type. There’s bound to be something for everyone in that environment!  Or maybe an adventure vacation is the ticket.  Load up the family and take a bike tour of this or another country! Whatever your decision and however it all goes, the memories created by family vacations are lifelong. Everyone benefits in one way or another, and stories are lived and repeated.

Photo credit Demoshelsinki

Try though we might to minimize what we take with us when we travel, as women, we just require most stuff.  Like ways to deal with menstrual issues while traveling. Then there are the issues of hair care, in general, and dressing up face and clothing for nights out.  All these can be managed with a little savvy and creative thinking, so we can be both road warriors and elegant women while traveling and be comfortable in both roles.

Photo credit lululemon athletica

We’ve been traveling with canine friends for nearly a decade — short trips and several trips that crossed numerous state lines. One learns things along the way. The biggest thing, for any length trip, is what we call the doggie diaper bag — a bag that carries stuff to cover just about every eventuality, including food and/or snacks, leash, harness, poop pick-up bags, and so on. Which brings us to the next key point, if highway travel is involved, consider public rest stops as ideal doggie pauses, too.  The more natural environment makes the trip a little more fun for them AND you! Finally, if overnight or extended accommodations will be involved, do your homework first! Pet friendly hotels and motels are not around every corner, and they are not alike. Some charge extra, offer doggie daycare, and have outdoor play areas. It’s worth the legwork, if you’re considering Fido as part of your family vacation.

Photo credit Driving the Northeast

While you’re in England checking out the 2012 London Olympics, be sure to consider the city and environs, too. You may know the standard tourist destinations — Big Ben, Picadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace — but to get tips on lesser known, maybe less crowded, but just as interesting sites, check with London’s version of a Visitor’s and Convention Bureau. They know stuff even the best travel books may not.

Photo courtesy Dimitry B.

Feet: A network of national walking trails already exists to tempt fitness-minded tourists in search of the perfect photo op. However, the completion of the Wales Coast Path – scheduled for May 2012 – will make it the only country in the world with an entirely walkable coastline. Vacationers interested in exploring the new path, 85 percent of which is within the national parks, will enjoy roughly 70 sweeping beach vistas, 15 picture-worthy ports and a number of secret coves. Also of note is the Cistercian Way, a long-distance trail which takes travelers on walking tours through a network of abbeys and churches located in the Welsh interior.

Festivals: Who doesn’t love a good party? Fun-loving travelers have a number of options when visiting this part of the UK, including the National Eisteddfod of Wales. With origins traced back to the year 1176, it is the oldest cultural festival of competitive music and poetry in Europe. With thousands of registered competitors and hundreds of scheduled performances, it is arguably the country’s premier artistic event. Additionally, the Hay Festival offers merriment in the form of music, comedy, gastronomy and more. The event celebrates its 25^th year in 2012, and is scheduled to take place in early June.

Food: One of the simplest ways to experience frugal fare in Wales is by ordering the fixed price lunch option. It’s a common practice at many of the pubs and eateries, allowing to you affordably taste test home-spun traditional favorites such as Welsh cakes, toffee waffles, Cawl Cennin – a leek soup – and Gower lamb. ( See also: Fun Picnic Lunch Ideas for Travelers )

Frugality: Priced as low as $21, the Cadw pass provides pay-once access to sought-after tourist sites, including the castles of Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech and Beaumaris. Is free more your speed? National Museum Cardiff, and the National Coal Museum both offer complimentary entry.  Regarding accommodations, various camping options are available in the national parks, along with numerous boutique hotels if you’re interested in an affordable splurge. Examples include the cliff-top St. Brides Hotel Spa in Pembrokeshire, and the Parc Hotel in Cardiff, located within walking distance to both Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Castle.

Photo Credit: Duncan

If you travel by air at all, you will encounter delays and forced time spent at the airport.  There are ways to turn that to delay to your advantage.  Frequent flyers know that this time can be spent productively, like reading Priority Pass Lounges or putting that knowledge to use and visiting one.  How to Handle Flight Delays like a Pro is also a pertinent read with immediate application while dealing with a flight delay.  To break up the time and move around some, do a little impromptu exercise could be just the trick.

Photo credit Ugg Boy

As well-seasoned travelers, my husband and I have all the necessary gear for time on the road. We’ve discovered a couple unexpected and useful additions and resources over the years.  We go nowhere without a sarong or bandana, for example.  Both are useful far beyond the expected. As far as where we shop, an amazing source of adventure travel gear is your local hardware store.

Photo credit Mat Honan