Do you overpack when it comes to planning for a vacation? Sometimes it’s difficult to decide what to pack and what not to pack, so you just pack everything. While you may be comforted knowing you have absolutely everything from your closet in your bag, it’s really not easier to have all the extras. We have laid out some helpful tips that will guide you through packing a little lighter for your next vacation.
(See Related: How to Plan the Best Pigeon Forge Vacation You’ve Ever Taken)
Choose the Right Bag
Whether you’re visiting the Smoky Mountains for a weekend or a week, you probably don’t need a huge suitcase. If you intend to pack in a larger bag, you will fill the space. So, plan to pack in a smaller suitcase or bag, and just minimize the number of items you will take. Don’t let oversized luggage ruin your trip, and don’t let overpacking cause you to be stressed and exhausted.
Only Pack a Book or Two
Of course, when you visit the Smoky Mountains, you probably imagine yourself sitting on the porch with a hot cup of coffee, reading a novel or flipping through a magazine. While this happens for many people, you don’t need to pack your entire library. Narrow down your options to 1 or 2 books or magazines. You will save so much space by having fewer items with you, and chances are, you probably won’t read through more than a single book or magazine while you’re away.
Pack for What You’re Doing and Where You’re Going
This is an easy concept, but many people don’t follow it. When you plan out your vacation, you should have a pretty good idea of what you’re doing each day. When you pack for each specific activity, you will know exactly what you’re wearing each day. When you pack generally for visiting the Smoky Mountains, you will end up with a lot more clothes and shoes than you will wear. So, pack for exactly what you’re planning on doing.
Minimize the Number of Shoes
Shoes tend to take up the most space in luggage. When you pack more than a couple of pairs of shoes, you end up with an entire suitcase of shoes. Choose shoes that work with multiple outfits. This way, you can wear the same shoes each day. Of course, don’t forget to pack your hiking boots or tennis shoes if you plan to spend time hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park!
Give Yourself Time to Pack
The key to packing lightly is giving yourself enough time to pack. Start by figuring out your vacation plans, then give yourself a day or two to pack and gather your items. When you have a couple of days to pack, you will be able to pack specific outfits for specific days. When you pack in a hurry, if you’re anything like us, you’ll just throw a bunch of things into a suitcase. This doesn’t help with saving space, and will only leave you stressed about which items you ‘may have forgotten’ for your trip.
The Perks of Packing Lightly for Your Smoky Mountain Vacation
Less to Worry About Losing
When you vacation with a lot of clothes, shoes and accessories, you are more likely to leave an item or two behind. You may lose a shoe under the bed or accidentally misplace a tee shirt. When you have less baggage to rummage through, you will know exactly what you’re missing.
Choosing Which Outfit to Wear is Easy
It may seem tedious to plan your outfits day by day, but it’s helpful, we promise! This way, you know exactly what you need to wear for each outing. Going hiking? Wear your hiking outfit. Spending the day shopping at our area’s great stores? Wear something comfortable with comfortable shoes. It’s that easy, and you won’t be stressed out debating what you should wear each day.
Packing is Easier, Unpacking is Even Better
Packing is so easy when you keep it to a minimum. When you know exactly what you want to wear, you can pack those specific outfits and not have to worry about packing so many extras. What’s even better than that is unpacking. When you know exactly what you’re wearing, most of your clothes will be ready to be washed when you return home. Of course, you can also wash clothes in our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals, too. Either way, when you get home, you have less you really need to worry about unpacking. Most of your items can probably go straight into the laundry basket!
Are you ready to start planning your Smoky Mountain vacation? Each of our Smoky Mountain cabin rentals is unique and has something special for your trip. Give us a call at Amazing Views Cabin Rentals if you have any questions that our reservation staff can help you answer.
