The school year is winding down and we are about 4 weeks away before the final school bell rings. I’m looking forward to slower days, later wake up times, and summer getaways and day trips.

Over the years, I’ve perfected what to pack for these short summer vacays and our family of 4 can usually get by with one or two small bags depending on the length of the trip.

Here are five unexpected essentials We always pack for summer day trips and short getaways.

1. Scarf

Even though it’s summer and it’s hot outside, a scarf takes up very little space and can be used many different ways.

They can be worn if temperatures drop or if we are somewhere where the AC is on full blast (restaurants, malls and planes for example), can be used as a light blanket or sunshade if kids happen to fall asleep while in the stroller (we just tie the corners around the handles).

2. Baby Powder

If you’re heading to the beach, baby powder helps to remove sand stuck to your skin or clothing. Just sprinkle a bit of powder on anyone who is covered in sand (in our family that would be our kids) and gently brush the sand off. Your car and the hotel staff will thank you!

Baby powder can also be used as ant repellant. Use some around your picnic blanket and keep the ants away from your food.

3. Ziplock Bags

While you’ll see them on almost everyone’s vacation packing list, zipper top bags are great for short weekend getaways and day trips.

We pack a few into our day bag and use them to keep our camera gear away from the water and sand, pack extra clothes for our kids in case there’s a food accident and use them to store wet swimsuits.

I’m pretty sure we’re not the only ones who like to take a quick dip in the pool or splash pad before checkout or during a visit to an amusement park.

During the baby days, we would carry a few ziplock bags in our diaper bag. We would use them to store the stinky diaper(s) when a garbage can wasn’t nearby and to keep everything else in our bag from smelling!

4. Magazines

magazines are always in my carry-on when I travel – especially when there is no in-flight entertainment system. I rarely sleep on flights unless it’s a long haul one.

Next Issue Canada is the perfect solution for avid magazine readers or parents who don’t want to deal with the clutter or weight of paper versions in their bags or carry ons.

Next Issue partners with major publishing houses to provide Canadians with over 160 titles – there are few kid friendly titles – via their app available for iPads, iPhones, Android tablets and smartphones, and Windows 8 PCs and tablets. Download the magazines when you have internet connection and have them ready whenever you need them.

I’ve been using the app for several months now and there’s no going back! Aside from trips, I use Next Issue at the gym, while my kids are at their sports or art lessons, and before bedtime.

Since my husband and I have our phones with us (and travel with our iPad) magazines are always on hand – at the beach, poolside, on the plane, while kids are napping in our hotel room or when we’re stuck indoors because of rain (think camping, glamping or cottaging).

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*Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with Next Issue Canada. All opinions are 100% my own.

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