What's in my Carry On Bag

I would consider myself an avid traveler, so packing a carry on bag for a plane ride is a piece of cake. Below are the things I normally take whenever I go on a trip.

Clothing & Accessories

A Jacket

If you’re like me, then you’re always cold. Having a jacket in your carry on, or space for a jacket, is always a good idea. You never know if your seat partner will love blasting the A/C the whole flight.

Sunglasses

I’ve almost forgotten to pack sunglasses so many times. Even if you’re not travelling someplace sunny, it’s always a good idea to pack a pair or two and don’t forget your reading glasses as well!

Food & Drink

Reusable Water Bottle

Fill this up after going through security to save yourself some money! I also find that I always feel really dehydrated while flying, so this is an essential for me.

Gum

Another flying staple; gum helps pop your ears while flying and helps keep your breath smelling nice. Not a fan of gum? Try a chewy candy and bring along some mints instead.

Snacks

Airport food is expensive. Save yourself a few dollars by bringing your own bag of chips or other snacks to munch on.

Electronics

Laptop & Camera

I don’t always fly with my laptop or camera, but when I do, I don’t feel comfortable leaving them in my checked luggage, so I always leave space for them in my carry on.

Charging Cables

Whenever there is a layover or downtime in an airport,
it’s a great opportunity to charge your phone, so you’ll definitely want one of these for your phone or other electronic devices.

Headphones

Whether it’s listening to music or watching a movie, you’ll want to do it without bothering your neighbors.

Toiletries

Chapstick & Lotion

Airplanes are dry! I always find myself reaching for some chapstick and hand lotion whenever I fly.

Deodorant

Trust me on this one. It doesn’t take up much space and it’s a lifesaver.

Makayla’s Favorites

Books

I love reading and being a mile high with no internet gives me the perfect opportunity to catch up on my reading lists. I always bring two books in my carry on, just in case. If you’re a student, like myself, this is also a good time to catch up on some schoolwork. I usually pack one of my school books too, especially for the flight home.

If you don’t like reading as much as I do, then bring along something else to keep you occupied and off your electronics (you’ll thank me later when you have enough battery to order an uber when you get off the plane). Sudoku and crossword puzzles are another personal favorite.

A Notebook

I love writing about my trips in my journal. I try to do this as soon as possible so I don’t forget details and flying home is a great opportunity. Additionally, if I’m using air time to catch up on schoolwork, I might need to write down some notes.

Pens/Pencils

If you have a notebook, then you’ll need something to write with! It also helps to have your own pen whenever you fly out of the country and need to fill out customs forms (blue or black ink only).

Blow-Up Neck Pillow

Space is a commodity when traveling! A neck pillow is a must for comfortable sleeping while flying. Get a blow up one like this to help you be comfortable and save space!


Don’t forget to add your ID, Passport, and some money, then you’ll be ready to hit the runway and head to your destination! Taking a trip soon? I’d love to hear about where you’re going and what your must-haves are in your carry on bag!

Chasin' Waterfalls

“Don’t go chasin’ waters” It’s an inconic song lyric by TLC that we’ve probably all heard at least once before. I’ve visited quite a few waterfalls this year and this was my experience at each.

Dunn River Falls, Jamaica

Nearly every year, my family and I get together with some friends from across the country and go on a cruise (MSC Seaside, if you’re curious). This year we stopped in Jamaica and decided to take part in climbing the Dunn River Falls. Most of us had been to Jamaica before and for many of us, myself included, this was our first time climbing the falls, even though it’s a pretty popular tourist attraction.

Photo courtesy of gojamaicatourism.com

Once we arrived, our guide went to buy our tickets while some of us changed into our watershoes and some of us put on sunscreen. After we made our way inside, we rented lockers, then made our way to the bottom of the falls where we met the guide that would be taking us up the falls and the videographer.

After the guide went over the instructions, we all held hands to make a human chain and started up the waterfall. Now, these falls look so intimidating. I was wondering if I would be able to get up them and how much of a struggle it would be, but these falls were essentially all bark and no bite. Everyone in our group was able to get up them (sometimes with a bit of help if it was a big step) and only one person fell. We also stopped along the way to try out a mini nature-made slide and take a jump into a deeper part.

Overall, our experience was very positive and we would do it again.

What to bring: Watershoes (preferably not sandal style), reliable swimsuit (nobody wants a nip slip), waterproof phone case, and sunscreen. Lockers are available onsite, but cost money.

Avoid if: Pregnant, have balance problems, broken/sprained limbs, dislike water, or you want to avoid the crowds (This is a top tourist attraction, so there will be lots of people).

The Cool Blue Hole, Jamaica

After we left the Dunn River Falls, we headed over to the Cool Blue Hole. At this site, we were able to jump into a natural body of water from tall heights. This place is known for have bright blue water, however, it had rained a few days prior, so it wasn’t very bright or blue.

Photo courtesy of
coolblueholeochorios.com

When our group first arrived, we followed our guides along a path to a large cement platform. We were all given the opportunity to jump from this high platform into the water. I can honestly say this was the highest platform I had jumped from before and it definitely got your adrenaline going. As with most scary, adrenaline-inducing activities, the faster you do it, the less time you have to think and back out. Nonetheless, some of our group opted to climb into the water from a nearby ladder.

This platform was right next to the waterfall and one of our guides jumped from it (definitely something I would have done if given the option).

After, we went over to a rope that we could swing from to get into the water. I found this lots of fun, but others in our group struggled to hold onto the bars.

Lastly, after getting out of the water we were also given the option to jump from a higher “platform”. It was really just an opening between a few trees and I was the only one who decided to jump.

Overall, I appreciated the thrills this place had to offer, but most in our group did not enjoy their experience. The people were very pushy, we felted very rushed, and the place smelled like weed.

What to bring: watershoes, reliable swimsuit (again, no nip slips, please), waterproof phone case (make sure this is very secure, someone in our group lost their phone when it became detached)

Avoid if: pregnant, you’re afraid of water/ open bodies of water, afraid of heights, dislike weed/the smell of weed.

Niagara Falls

One early Saturday morning me and three friends, who also happened to be co-workers, all piled into a car and set off on a roadtrip to Canada, more specifically, Niagara Falls.

We spent the night on the New York side of the falls, so we experienced this side first. After dropping our stuff off at the hotel and grabbing lunch, we headed over to Goat Island, which is where you can view the falls (Did not see any goats there, in case you were wondering).

There are numerous “extras” you can try to make the most out of your trip, like riding the ferry boat, Maid of the Mist, to view the falls, or walking near the bottom (with an option to stand under the falls) on the Cave of Mist tour. Our group was going to do the latter activity, but it was sold out. Instead, we just walked around the park and took tons of pictures.

The next morning, we took the Rainbow Bridge over to Canada to get a glimpse of the falls from the other side. From this perspective, you can truly see the might of the falls. Check out the vlog here.

Extra tip: park on Goat Island! It’s much more expensive to park in New York and walk to the island.

What to bring: comfortable walking shoes, clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet, and things to keep your electronics dry (depending on what you choose to do)

Avoid if: you don’t want to get wet (even the mist is unreal) or you don’t want to do a lot of walking.

Tahquamenon Falls

At the end of August, my family and I took a trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. While there, we took a day trip to Tahquamenon Falls. If you don’t know, Tahquamenon has two distinct sets of waterfalls: the Upper and the Lower.

First, we checked out the Lower Falls. You have to walk back through some trails to see it, but it’s pretty nice. People can get really close to the water.

There’s an option to walk between the two sets of falls, but it’s about three miles and we had a short time frame, so we decided to drive to the Upper Falls. You also have to walk a bit to see these too, but the picture is totally worth it.

Overall, these falls were beautiful, and I recommend checking them out, but they were a little underwhelming after visiting Niagara.

What to bring: a jacket and a nice camera.

Avoid if: you can’t do many stairs (there’s tons) or you cannot walk for a long period of time.


Have you visited any of these places before? Or seen a cool waterfall that I should check out? Leave a comment below!