What I Pack for a 2-Day Coastal Escape
Okay—so you know how sometimes you don’t need a full-blown vacation? You just need 48 hours, a car ride, and maybe a different kind of light coming through the window. A little coastal escape?
That’s what Charleston is for. Or sometimes I’ll dip down to Florida if I’m feeling like a little mix-up. Doesn’t need to be far. Doesn’t need to be fancy. I just need the reset.
And packing? That’s part of the ritual now.
I don’t throw stuff in a bag and hope for the best anymore. I pack with intention. What I bring sets the tone. It either says “we’re easing into this,” or it screams “why did I pack four pairs of shoes for a weekend?” (Been there.)
What’s in the bag:
- One linen dress. It works for everything. Dinner, coffee, porch-sitting, existing.
- Matching set. This has become my personality. It’s soft. It’s easy. It’s giving “I didn’t try, but I still look like I showered.”
- A sweater. Always. Even if it’s 88 degrees. I don’t trust restaurant air conditioning.
- Slides. My ride-or-dies. I’ve worn them into the ground and will keep wearing them until they fall apart.
- Swimsuit + cover-up. Just in case. Even if I don’t swim, I like the option to be that girl.
That’s the capsule. Not because I’m trying to be trendy, but because I finally realized I only ever wear the same 4 things anyway. Might as well make them good.
Here’s what I don’t bring:
- Extra outfits “just in case.” I was notorious for overpacking every where I went. I am talking about 2 carry on suitcases for a 3 day trip because for some reason I needed 17 outfits.
- Makeup I’m not going to wear.
- Hair tools I will resent the second I plug them in.
- The guilt version of myself who thinks she needs to hustle on a weekend away.
If it doesn’t feel like ease, it’s not coming. A coastal escape about being present, not plugged in.
The real essentials:
- My Bible. Always. That doesn’t go in the suitcase—it goes in the tote.
- One physical book. Not an iPad. Not a Kindle. I want a spine I can crack and pages I can underline.
- My supplements. The ones that help me feel steady. Not the full lineup—just my top few.
- Light makeup. Tinted SPF, brow pencil, maybe a lipstick if I’m feeling flirty.
- My claw clip. It lives in the bottom of every bag I own. Comes out for wind, porch swings, and impromptu errands.
- Fun fact, I have a claw clip in every bag I own, every room of the house and mine and my hubby’s car. Calling it my go to accessory is not an understatement.
I pack like I’m creating the weekend I want. I don’t need to look like I’m escaping my life. I want to feel like I’m living it—just slower.
And if you’re like, “Okay… but I want that vibe too.”
I made you something.
It’s called the Coastal Club Starter Kit. It’s free. It’s simple. It’s basically a soft launch into living slower.
Inside:
- My exact summer capsule wardrobe (the one from this post—yes, really)
- My go-to martini recipe (fresh, easy, a little dramatic)
- A few hosting rituals that don’t require a tablescape or a theme—just people you love and maybe some paper plates
It’s the start of the slower life. The softer one. The one where you still get stuff done, but you also light the candle and text your friends to come over.
Save it. Screenshot it. Share it with your girls. It’s meant to be passed around.
Because at the end of the day, what you bring matters. But how you feel when you arrive at your coastal escape? That’s the whole point.
