Packing For Vacation

Now that vacation time is here it's time to start packing. What goes on a foodie vacation? Well besides the usual clothing ( always bring along the stretchy kind because we eat more when we're away ) and sunscreen, everything from sporks to spaghetti. It's always handy to bring some basics no matter where you're staying.

If you're driving to your vacation always make sure you have a cooler in the back seat. This is great for storing bottled water, soda and juice. Also think about stowing away sandwiches if you're on a budget. A cooler is also great for fruits and veggies. You can buy precut carrots,peppers and broccoli along with grape tomatoes for a travel snack. Fresh fruit such as plums, peaches and strawberries are other good on the road bites.

Every foodie should book a room with a mini fridge as opposed to a view (although that's nice too). Even when I make my pilgrimages down to Harrah's in Atlantic City, I always make sure there's a fridge in my room. Why? Just in case I want to store the salad I couldn't finish for lunch or have bottled water on hand. A mini fridge is also good for storing candy you may have bought as well (and in Atlantic City one always has to buy home made fudge). I also like it for those butter pats that come with my morning breakfast. Harrah's is always generous with theirs and I find I have too many. A room fridge is also good for keeping baby food as well as milk and juice for children cold. Yes, you can get boxed milk but somehow it just tastes better chilled. Again a room fridge is perfect for storing sandwiches or any leftovers you may want to snack on later.

Many foodies rent bungalows or motel condos for the summer. Usually these are an updated version of the old efficiency units from the Fifties and Sixties. They have coffee makers and maybe a few utensils. Bring along some plastic plates(Target always has these) along with plastic tumblers for beverages. Carry along a pot for boiling (hey, you may buy some fresh lobster where you are) and a small fry pan.You can bring along spatulas, scoopers, ladles and knives. These you can get at your local dollar store the day before you go. Remember to also pack family favorites such as crackers and cookies for the kids. Every resort town is an all year round one and they usually have a large supermarkets. Here you can buy the fresh stuff, like meat, locally grown fruits and vegetables along with daily baked breads and desserts.

It's important to pack the right stuff for your foodie holiday. Remember to also pack food and drink for your trip both coming and going. Throw in some cooking utensils and you're all set.