The Best Luggage, Bags, and Backpacks for Travel

As you know we are avid travelers. We love a good weekend getaway, but also cant get enough of our international travels, and we have come to realize, good luggage really is essential. For the holidays this year, we are headed to the UK with the whole family! Since this in not our first rodeo, we know what to pack, and how best to pack. With England’s (like most of Europe) busy and cramped public transport we always like to use the smallest luggage as possible. Over the years we have found some really great products that do the job, are good quality (you don’t want anything falling apart mid-trip!), and stylish. We have gathered them up for you here so you can be best prepared (and most stylish) on your next travel adventure!

Bon voyage!

xxx Ivy & Eve

1. Away carry-on suitcase $$$- Away carry-on suitcases are great for traveling to Europe where luggage space on public transport is slim, and great for weekend getaways! We love our bags for a number of reasons, they come with a battery that can charge your phone up to 4 times (amazing!), they are built to last a lifetime of travel, and they are stylish!

2. Lo & Sons camera bag- $$$ Eve has this pretty camera bag! It’s the perfect size for her camera and still fits all the essentials like her iPad, wallet, lip gloss, wine opener (wink wink) etc. Eve loves this bag because she can use it as either camera bag or purse.

3. THEIT Colt camera bag $$$- Ivy has this gorgeous bag and uses it for her large DSLR camera. The interior padding keeps her camera safe while still allowing her to carry a ton of other goodies! See our previous post with more details & photos of THEIT camera bag here.

4. Lo and Sons Catalina deluxe tote $$- Eve uses this tote most often along with her Away bag as her personal item. This bag has a trolley sleeve which slips over the handle of her suitcase so its secure while shes running through the airport or walking to the train station. It has a room for all her airplane essentials (see post here) and room for all her goodies she picks up on the trip!

5. Amazon Fashion tote & packing cubes $ -This very large sized tote and packing cubes are stylish and matching! This tote is great for travel with its suitcase trolley sleeve for comfort (give your shoulders a rest!). Plus it has a separate shoe compartment to keep all your clothes dirt free! We also love using packing cubes for organizing our suitcase, so this purchase was a no-brainer!

6. Imoshion weekender Bella $79- Perfect for a quick trip, this bag is roomy and stylish! We love how it comes with a shoulder strap too! (to purchase contact via DM on Instagram)

7. Target duffel bag $- Another great option for traveling. This duffel has a unisex color and style so you can surprise any of your travel friends with it! This bag also has a shoe compartment.

8. Lily & Drew backpack $- Ivy uses this backpack for all her travel trips now. This backpack is perfect for fitting her laptop, chargers, books, and other travel essentials (see her list here). Ivy has the 16” size for her huge laptop, but they also have a 13” and 15”. They are purchased through Amazon and available on Amazon Prime for speedy delivery!

9. Imoshion backpack Leslie $49- This gorgeous backpack is perfect for weekend getaways or trips when we don’t need our laptop or big camera. The details on the bag are amazing, and the quality is great! We have several Imoshion backpacks and love them all! (to purchase contact via DM on Instagram)

Playtime in Park City, Utah

A while ago, Eve went away on a long weekend trip with our mom to Park City. They felt like getting away to somewhere they could breathe fresh air, enjoy a new view, and relax. While looking at places to go, flight prices to Salt Lake City were really low so they decided to head to Park City, where we have spent many days on the slopes, skiing with our family growing up. This time though, there was no snow, only crisp mountain air, and sunshine (and a little….no, a lot of shopping).

xxx Ivy & Eve

Stay

Washington School House Hotel- This 12-room boutique hotel is in an old converted school house dating from the late 1800’s. Located a block off Main Street, you’ll enjoy a little peace an quiet (Main Street can be a bit boisterous at night) while still being close to all the action!

The Caledonian- This trip, we stayed at The Caledonian condos located right on Main Street. Most condos have balconies and hot tubs to enjoy post-hiking or while enjoying your morning coffee. Each condo is privately owned so they all have their own homey feeling. We loved being able to use a kitchen to prepare pre-dinner drinks and appetizers to enjoy on our balcony. We would definitely stay here again!

Deer Valley Resort- For a more luxe “resort” experience stay at any of the Deer Valley lodges or condos. Our family has stayed at several of the lodges and condos over the years as they are all ski-in ski-out locations which is REALLY important for us when we go skiing. There is a plethora of restaurants, bars, shops, and the Deer Valley spa, which we highly recommend post skiing. There is a free shuttle service offered to town which is just a short trip down the hill.

Eat and Drink

Atticus Coffee and Teahouse- Part cafe, part bookshop, Atticus was our go-to for breakfast and pick-me-ups during our trip. They have delicious custom tea blends (that you can also buy to take home) and coffee drinks as well as the most delicious peanut butter oat bars. The best part about ordering your drink is that they come in three unique sizes: Willow (small), Alice (medium), and Hagrid (large).

Collie’s Sports Bar- For casual dining, we’d recommend Collie’s. Perfect for drinks, lunch, or food while watching a game on TV. This place serves up lots of local beers and what we would call “fresh” bar food. The salads we ordered were delicious and wings in Collie’s “Bobby-Q'“ sauce were SO GOOD.

No Name Saloon- THE classic Park City establishment. Famous for their Buffalo Burger and strong drinks, this place is perfect for a drink and bite on their heated rooftop patio or grab a seat at one of their several bars. Perfect for people watching! (21+)

Fletcher’s- Delicious food all around. We went here for our last night’s meal and it definitely was the send-off we were hoping for. They have an extensive wine list with great bottles for all budgets and tasty cocktails to go alongside fresh, local dishes. The standouts of the night were the Short Rib Grilled Cheese, Grass Fed Beef Carpaccio, and the Blueberry Bread Pudding.

High West Saloon- High West is Utah’s first legal distillery since prohibition since they opened back in 2009. While the distillery is outside the city, the saloon is located just off Main Street and is the perfect place for a bite to eat, and lots of whisky! We had lunch and whisky tasting on our first day and came back for drinks again during our stay! Beware: the Bacon Caramel Cashew Popcorn is highly addictive! (21+)

Shabu- Self-proclaimed as “Freestyle Asian Cuisine”, Shabu serves up delicious sushi, Japanese, and Asian inspired dishes. The waitstaff was very friendly and guided us through the menu to help craft the most delicious and memorable meal! Standout dishes were the Jalapeño Yellowtail, Blistered Green Beans, and Chef’s Selection Hot Pot! They also have a great selection of sake!

Harvest- We wish we had gone here for breakfast earlier on during our trip because this place is SO good! Owned by Emma who hails from Australia, Harvest’s menu consists of on-trend Aussie dishes. Ivy can attest that Aussies are OBSESSED with breakfast foods (she recently visited friends there). This place makes breakfast feel like a happy, healthy, pretty, celebration on a plate! We loved our Avocado toast, Corn-Zucchini Cakes, Coffees, and warm Golden Mylk (coconut milk with turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and pepper).

Play

Hiking- Many of the ski hills turn into the perfect summer hiking trails. We took the ski lift From the Park City Mountain Village up the hill and hiked back down. You can also stay on the ski lift for a scenic view ride. There is also a lift up the mountain from right on Main Street for even more convenience!

Outdoor pursuits- There are many outfitters that you can hire for fishing, horseback riding, and other outdoor adventures. There are also loads of biking trails that you can (and should) take advantage of!

Shopping- Main Street is packed with outdoorsy shopping establishments like Patagonia, Gorsuch, and a plethora of ski shops. There are also loads of cute boutiques. Our personal favorites are Mary Jane’s and Olive and Tweed. Both had cute and relatively affordable women’s clothing, accessories, and shoes. We left with much heavier suitcases!

Park Silly- Durning June-September, every Sunday Main Street turns into a giant market full of artisans, food vendors, music, and even a Bloody Mary bar!

Egyptian Theatre- This small historic theater plays host to many well known musical acts, comedy acts, and plays. We happened to come into town when Al Jardine was playing so we (of course) bought tickets and sang along to our favorite Beach Boys songs all night long!