Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

I t's hard to believe winter is on our doorstep and the holiday season is just around the corner. so, it's no surprise that shopping for appropriate gifts is on everyone's mind. I am always looking for items that might appeal to travellers. here are a few I've come across. Every winter, many of us plan a beach holiday some- where warm. However, once we fi nd ourselves poolside or on sandy shores, security becomes an issue. Where do we safely stash our valuables while we take a refreshing dip? The inventors of aquaVault (theaquavault.com) thought long and hard about this and came up with this portable outdoor safe that attaches to almost any beach furniture as well as strollers and bikes. Made of durable high-impact aBs ther- moplastic and retailing for us$39.95 online, the lock box is roomy enough for wallets, watches, mobile phones, jewel- lery, keys and other valuables and, I am assured, can with- stand even the most aggressive attempts on your valuables. Travellers, in general, are often exposed to climates that can range from freezing to tropical temperatures, but it seems women in particular have a hard time dealing with the fl uctuations. The secret sweater (secretsweater.com) may be the solution without sacrifi cing fashion. It's perfect for lay- ering. Wear it over a lightweight blouse or dress or under a blazer when chilly. Made of high-quality cotton and blended interlock knit, it's soft and cosy and comes with its own pouch. I love mine. It fi ts easily in my purse and goes everywhere with me. It retails for $58 at out on a limb in Toronto or for us$39.95 online. airport security regulations often require us to remove our footwear for inspection. The Tsa recommends wear- ing thin-soled shoes (such as slip-ons or fl ip-fl ops) that come off easily and don't require additional screening. Nufoot (nufoot.ca), a lightweight, neoprene slip-on, fi ts like a sock but looks like a shoe. Put them on once you remove your foot- wear and feel comfortable walking away from the fray at security to someplace where you can reorganize yourself peacefully. anti-slip and water-resis- tant bottoms keep you safe and sani- tary. They're also handy for in-fl ight relaxation, in hotel rooms or yoga classes, and can be worn into show- ers used by the general public. Just slip a pair into your purse or pocket and be prepared. Prices start at $16.99 CdN. Kids today live in a tech-connected, high-defi nition world and are exposed to sounds from toys and entertain- ment systems. designed for ages four and up and micro- sized to fi t small ears, ETY-Kids safe-listening earphones (etymotic.com/customfi t) are engineered to limit maximum sound output delivered to the eardrum. By controlling the earphones themselves, it is not necessary to restrict the vol- ume setting on the devices. sound heard through these ear- phones never exceeds safe levels, so parents can rest easy. and since background noise is blocked out, kids are able to hear every detail and won't complain the volume is too low. Retailing online for us$39 a pair, they come in black, pink and yellow. Perhaps it's time for kids to put their gadgets away and engage in an interactive and fun way to explore our world. The children's activity atlas transports travellers of all ages on a journey across the globe. Featuring 13 brightly illustrated maps and a personal passport, the book is loaded with stick- ers, cutout postcards, quizzes and interesting facts, and takes readers on expeditions around the world. Priced at $18.95, it's recommended for children, fi ve and up. For fi ve and under, books in the Little Traveler Series written by abigail samoun retail for $7.95 to $8.50 each. Friendly characters take trips to different countries and cheer- ily engage with people in their native languages. Kids—and parents—will have fun trying out simple foreign words. From all of us to all of you, we wish you a safe and merry holiday season and a happy New Year. from my travel bag b y d o n n a s . v i e i r a 8 W i n t e r 2 0 1 4 / 2 0 1 5

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