Haute on the Ranch: Ryley’s Road Trip Essentials

“To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen

Summer is the season of swimming, sports and…suitcases! With the kids out of school and vacation time built up at work, May through August is the perfect opportunity for a family adventure that will create lasting memories. 

Whether you’re getting away for the weekend or taking an extended road trip, there are certain essentials that are always useful during your travels. And how about packing your vacation wardrobe? Sometimes it’s difficult to know where to begin – a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear always comes to mind. ;-)

In this Haute on the Ranch blog, Savannah Sevens owner Ryley Wimer shares with you five items she can’t go without on her family trips. She’s also created a quick and easy shoppable collection of travel necessities that you’ll find helpful on the plane, in the car, or in an RV. Finally, Ryley reminisces about some of her favorite recent getaways, giving you a personal peek at candid photos and providing trip details so you can add these locations to your bucket list. 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

For the past few years, my family and I have trekked up to Wyoming to watch my nephews compete in the National High School Finals Rodeo {more about this experience below}. This year is no different – I’m so excited to hit the road with a pull-behind camper and spend some time both in and out of the grandstands.

While location and weather, scheduled activities, and length of vacation are always factors when packing for a trip, I do have a tried and true checklist that guides my suitcase style wherever I’m headed. I hope these travel tips can be as useful to you when wondering what to bring on your next getaway.

One Fresh Fit

While it’s totally not necessary to have a completely new wardrobe for a vacation {though imagine how fun that would be!}, I always like to purchase at least one new look. First, it renews my excitement for a trip that I probably planned months in advance and have been wearily counting down the days. It also allows me to take fresh family photos that can be posted on social or framed in my home without looking like previous trips. And I know whatever I put together, I can seamlessly integrate it into my current closet for lots of future use.

I generally choose one special outing that has been scheduled on the trip and pick out a new outfit for that event. It could be dinner on the beach with my husband, a group sightseeing day, or the final rodeo short-go. I select an experience I’m most looking forward to and purchase an outfit to match.

If you take a peek inside my Summer Road Trip Collection, you’ll see The Holland coral tank, The Dillyn High Rise Wide Leg Jean, and The Dacono sandals. I’m so excited to sport this elevated casual look during a day trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming! 

Comfort Zone

Comfort is key when traveling because you’re always on the go – driving in a car, running through airports, walking everywhere. With the rise of active/athleisure wear, you can dress relaxed and cozy without looking sloppy.

I love bringing a combination of shorts and pants, and both athletic tops and graphic tees to pair together so I have several style combinations. Especially when headed north, mountain nights can be chilly, so I also like to bring a light jacket. Having options is best because weather and plans always change.

In my Summer Road Trip Collection, take a look at The Talbot shorts, The Creston tank {built-in bra!!}, The Free Bird tee, The Surrey pant, and The Winfield jacket. I will be living in these pieces while driving up and back from Wyoming.

Stay Hydrated

So this tip is all about staying cool, but not in the style sense. You never want to be stuck without hydration and it’s important to consider that. What if your car or RV breaks down? How many outdoor activities do you have planned, like hiking, swimming and picnicking? At an afternoon rodeo, the sun is beating down on you and the line at the concession stand might be a mile long.

To keep your water {and other beverages} cool on your travels, I always throw multiple koozies in my suitcase or car console. In fact, I usually store them in several places so I’ll always have a few on hand. Another item that has been a life changer for my trips is a cooler backpack. It’s the ultimate combination! It’s so much easier to carry around, especially when walking long distances. I’ve got both items for you in my Summer Road Trip Collection!

No Bad Hair Days

In Kansas, we are known for our wind – when it comes whipping across the prairie, look out! So I have this one down pat; however, it’s easy to forget that on your travels, no matter how much time you have to flat iron or barrel curl your hair, unexpected weather conditions can turn your 30-minute masterpiece into bedhead.

I love traveling with hats. It’s easy to throw on a straw cowboy hat or cap and go! My favorite right now that I wear with almost all of my casual looks is the hand drawn beauty from Hdwest {and I’ve put it in my Summer Road Trip Collection for you}. In addition to preventing bad hair days, wearing a hat also helps keep the sun off your face for all of your outdoor adventures.

A Little Sparkle

It can be challenging to travel with jewelry, in particularly larger pieces. It’s nerve wracking to carry around valuable items like squash blossoms because they can get damaged or lost. 

I find the perfect compromise is petite gold jewelry. You can bring along a little bling that will accentuate your look and it’s generally very simple and safe to store in your suitcase. Petite gold jewelry can provide just the right amount of pop and because it’s timeless, its capsule nature allows it to pair with almost anything you pack.

Check out my Summer Road Trip Collection for the gold accessories I’ll be pairing with my vacation fits.

Next Stop: Rock Springs, Wyoming!

“No road is long with good company.” - Turkish Proverb

I’ve created a Summer Adventure Collection that contains road ready essentials, from books and games to a pocket knife to a makeup organizer. These items are perfect for a car ride, camping, barbecuing, swimming and so many more summer activities. Believe me, if you’re only a few hours into your trip, or a few days, thinking ahead and bringing certain necessities will make all the difference.

“It doesn’t matter where you are going. It matters who is beside you.” – Anonymous

If you know me, you know that family is everything. With our lives always being so busy and going in multiple directions, I’m so grateful that we have the opportunity to travel together. I cherish our time on the road, experiencing new destinations as well as reminiscing when we revisit a location. Sometimes, it even makes me feel like a kid again – camping with my parents, watching rodeos side-by-side with my brother. And then there’s the joy I get as a mom, watching my children’s eyes light up with each fun activity. It’s the best of both worlds!

As many of you plan to depart on a family vacation {or have already had the time of your life}, I wanted to share with you a couple of my recent trips with my husband and kids, mom and dad, brother, and nephews. I’m including both a longer road trip and a short, local getaway. I thought you might enjoy an inside look at the Wimer/Dent adventures and they could even inspire an idea or two of how to check off your bucket list!

Acorns Resort – Milford Lake, Kansas

This low-key trip was all about slowing down with my family and not going a million miles an hour with an agenda of must-see locations or landmarks. We rented a cabin adjacent to the lakeshore and enjoyed water activities like canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and boating. Acorns Resort also offers walking trails, paved roads for biking and a restaurant with live music that overlooks the cove.

What was truly special about this trip was we went Father’s Day weekend and cooked every meal on The Blackstone Grill, which was Michael’s {my husband} present this year. Our family joined us and we had a blast being together in a simple setting.

Acorns Resort is only about an hour away from our home, so it was a balance of a staycation without feeling like we were still in Kansas. And because my family are ranchers, it was very convenient to run home and check on cows and water.

National High School Finals Rodeo - Gillette, WY

My family and I have traveled the past two years to the NHSFR and are going again this year to watch both of my nephews compete. If you don’t know, this is considered the world’s largest rodeo with qualifiers from 44 states as well as four countries. 

I have been looking forward to this trip for so many different reasons! Let me tell you, it is non-stop rodeo entertainment with incredible competition! What an inspiration to see so many young people love the sport of rodeo and carry on its tradition. Sitting in the stands with my family, having my children watch their cousins compete, we’re creating so many lasting, core memories.

For the trip up and back, we decided to rent an RV and booked beautiful campgrounds in Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming to stay at. We also spent a few extra days sightseeing historic sites like Crazy Horse and the town of Deadwood. This year, we’re pulling a camper and plan to stop in all new locations. I can’t wait to see the country with the people I love and make all new memories.

Wishing you and your family a safe and exciting rest of the summer. Happy traveling! 

~Ryley Wimer, Savannah 7s owner