Spring break is coming up, but I am not traveling anywhere warm. Being from Florida, I need to grab a jacket if it gets below 80 degrees, so how I am going to survive over a week in Alaska? Since I am going from the southernmost state to the northernmost state, I did a bit of research on staying warm. Here’s what I found:
- Layers!!
It is so important to dress in layers in the cold. This means thermal leggings or long johns under jeans and long sleeves under sweaters under sweatshirts under jackets. Packing this way can make it difficult for everything to fit in a suitcase. To save suitcase space, wear the largest and heaviest jacket on the airplane and remember that sweaters and jackets as well as pants can be reworn multiple times, especially since it is an outer layer.
- Protect your hands, feet, and head!!
This means wearing gloves, thermal socks, or multiple pairs and a hat. Having your hands and feet warm helps keep your entire body warm. Hands and feet have a lot of blood vessels which means heat can escape easily through your hands and feet. When your hands and feet are warm, your body can circulate blood easier and keep your entire body warm easier. Wearing a hat keeps your head warmer than just simply wearing the hood of a jacket because it lays tighter on your head. Keeping your hands, feet, and head warm allows for your body to use more energy to keep your torso and internal organs warm.
- Boots!!
The ground will be frozen up north and there will be snow on the ground. Boots not only help to keep your feet warm but they also help with traction on the ground to help you avoid slipping. It is also important to make these boots weather-proof. This means spraying them with a water resistant spray so no water or snow can get in your shoes and make the rest of the day uncomfortable.
- Moisturize!!
This last one doesn’t relate to being warm, but it is very important. Cold weather is so drying to the skin and lips, so having plenty of lotion and chapstick on hand is important. The last thing you want to happen on a vacation is being uncomfortable with cracked and bleeding lips and knuckles from the cold and dry air.