Top 10 Travel Writer's On-the-Road Travel EssentialsI log thousands of miles each year driving around New England and New York State researching travel destinations for the books and articles I write. Ever wonder what travel gear a travel writer takes on the road? Here are some of the essential things that go with me on every trip, whether I'm stalking moose in Maine or sleeping in an elegant mansion. I always unpack my suitcase when I return from a road trip, but I never unpack my toiletry bag. That's because I own a Freedom Bag, which allows me to tote around full-size bottles of the hair care, contact lens and other toiletry products I use. I love it that I don't have to mess with refilling tiny travel-size toiletry bottles after every trip. The Freedom Bag is durable and amazingly lightweight and compact. Its clear pockets allow me to find whatever I need at a glance. As a writer, particularly one who writes for the Web, I'm never far from a computer. When I'm on the road, I rarely leave my Dell Inspiron Notebook behind. I've had my Inspiron 8500 for more than three years now, and I've been impressed with its dependability and functionality. Current Inspiron models offer even more options, and I know that when the time comes to replace this laptop, I'll be shopping for another Dell. Badger Sleep Balm is made in Gilsum, New Hampshire, by the W.S. Badger Company. I'll admit that I was a bit skeptical when I bought my first tin of this sleep enhancer, which contains essential oils of ginger, rosemary, bergamot, balsam fir and lavender. Now, I don't travel without it. I rub a bit of balm on my lips, temples and shoulders, and the comforting fragrance soothes me to sleep without fail, even when I'm in a strange bed away from home. I own two L.L. Bean Comfort Fleece Cardigans, and I'm always sure to grab one when I'm headed out the door. It's the perfect extra layer for cool New England days and nights. It's also the softest and most comfortable fleece jacket that I have ever owned. It's not as bulky as some fleece tops, so it hangs nicely and feels light and easy to wear. However, it provides ample warmth so that I'm prepared for whatever surprises the New England weather has in store.
What a difference an SLR digital camera makes. I've been really pleased with the quality of the shots I'm getting with my Nikon D50, which I bought in December of 2005. It's compatible with my old Nikon lenses, too, which made it economical for me to abandon my 35mm camera. My D50 has accompanied me on all of my trips this year, capturing everything from a lobsterman at work to zuchinnis soaring through the air at Vermont's annual Zucchini Festival. This photo gallery from the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village will give you a sense of the quality of the images the D50 produces. My lower back often aches after long stints in the car, so before I had to drive to Niagara Falls from my home in Connecticut, I invested in a Tempur-Pedic Lumbar Support. This proved to be a wise move, as I had no problem with lower back pain throughout my eight-day trip, even after one 11-hour day in the car. My doctor suggested I bring the lumbar pillow in from the car and use it when sitting for long stretches in my office chair, as well. I don't know why I didn't think of it! When you're traveling along the backroads in remote places, it's not always easy to find a good radio station. My husband bought me an iPod for Christmas in 2005, and it's been with me on every trip I've taken since. With 20GB of storage, I'm able to take my favorite tunes on the road, and for long stretches of highway driving, I download audio books to help pass the time. Of course, in order to listen to my iPod while I'm driving, I need to use an FM transmitter that works with my car radio. The TransPod plugs into my cigarette lighter, so it also charges my iPod while I'm on the road. I treated myself to a pair of Kensington's noise cancellation headphones early in 2005. I must admit--the headset burns through AAA batteries, which I never have on hand, so I often use it without the noise cancelling feature. I find these headphones incredibly comfortable to wear, so I use them at home when the neighbor is blowing leaves while I'm trying to write, as well as when I'm trying to catch some zzzs in a noisy hotel. Yes, I'm an email addict. And with my T-Mobile Sidekick, I can stay in touch without having to fire up my laptop. I don't use the Sidekick for its cell phone capabilities because T-Mobile's coverage area is somewhat limited in places where I travel, but for less-crucial data, I love the convenience of this portable device, which slips easily into my purse. The full QWERTY keyboard, hidden beneath a flip-top LCD screen, makes reading incoming messages and dashing off responses a breeze. | 
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