This has been my summer, or well my year of travel. So far I've gone to two states on opposite ends of the country, and one country.
Mexico and Florida were beautiful and wonderful. And maybe if people want I can upload how I packed for those trips. However I always feel like packing for warm weather is so much easier. Packing for Alaska, even Alaska in the summer. That was more challenging.
So here I am detailing what I packed and how it traveled. I'm going to warn you, I'm trying to learn how to pack minimalistically, which I still have bounds more to learn about but I went in a carry on and a day pack backpack. The back pack held odds and ends like my homework that had to follow me on this trip. But here are some pictures to show you how I went for 11 days in a carry on.
To start off I used REI's expandable packing cubes, the REI suitcase, and my L.L. Bean day trekker backpack to pack. Now I'm giving a heads up for warning my suitcase and day trekker are old, like several years so much that I couldn't find my suitcase but my family has alway found great products from REI, and the day trekker has gone under some serious renovation since I got mine.
Packing cubes have probably saved my life. I'm not joking either. I had my suitcase packed before I bought them and it gave me probably almost 1/2 of the suitcase back. My trick is to roll everything inside the packing cubes and it will help so so so much.
I packed one pair of jean shorts and did end up wearing them, but that was because we had unusually warm weather for Alaska. Because of that warm weather I was able to read out on the deck in my shorts. The one thing that I don't have on there is my outer layers. DON'T FORGET TO PACK A RAIN COAT! I took a winter coat as well and wasn't disappointed. That's because when we went to watch the glaciers I was able to throw on my winter coat, ear warmers and gloves and just stay outside and watch the glaciers. It was so worth it.
I was also on a lovely little cruise that only had 55 people on it. I recommend an un-cruise of the inside passage. We were able to go out hiking, sea kayaking, and follow whales. I'll do a follow up of Alaskan Dream Cruises because the cruise deserves its own post. However, one of the nicest things that they did was supply us rain boots and rain gear, so I'd check with the cruise you're taking because I was very happy to have rain pants when we went kayaking.
I hope this helps, I hadn't been too sure what to pack so I figured I'd share what worked well for me! My trick is to pack a lot of neutrals and then use the scarves to put more color into whatever you're wearing at the time. I may add my backpack and toiletries at a later time. Also the swimsuit was for the polar plunge which was actually one of my favorite memories!
Good luck packing!
