It’s baaaaack — another holiday shopping season. Now you need some solid ideas for those travelers on your gift list. Check out the following suggestions:
Another Portland, Oregon,-based enterprise, 3 Green Sisters, fashions designer bags of all shapes and sizes from “up-cycled,” re-purposed fabrics. Sources of the fabric include scraps and samples from upholstery and drapery shops, vintage clothing and even material from church pews. Each purse or bag is handcrafted and sturdy. Check out the bags and other Sisters fabric products at HYPERLINK “http://3greensisters.com/” http://3greensisters.com/. Courtesy photos
“How to be a Space Explorer” is ostensibly for kids, but adults also will find the facts within fascinating. Did you know that Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus has huge ice fountains that spout out of volcanoes? And that in the early 1500s, an official of the Ming Dynasty became the first astronaut? He strapped himself into a chair and was propelled into the air by the attached 47 rockets. (You’ll have to buy the book to find out what happened.) Illustrated with colorful and fun graphics and real photos of the cosmos, this Lonely Planet publication is fun just to peruse, but don’t skip over the text. You’ll learn a lot of great stuff that you never did in school. Hey — we just landed on a comet! Hardcover; $17.99. See this and other mind-expanding books for kids at HYPERLINK “http://www.lonelyplanet.com/kids” www.lonelyplanet.com/kids.
I’ll get straight to the point: I love the Talk & Charge battery by myCharge. It’s small, lightweight, convenient and efficient, and it charges not only cell phones but laptops, tablets and anything with a USB port. I’ve been in a slight panic more than once in an airport when my cell phone battery indicator was showing red. Now I’ll panic no more. The Talk & Charge is slim enough that you can use it while you’re talking on your cell phone. The battery provides up to 18 hours of talk time. About $60. Visit HYPERLINK “http://www.mycharge.com” www.mycharge.com
I didn’t know it, but I’ve been waiting for this gadget for a long time. I cringe when I think of all the dollars I’ve spent on mini-tubes of toothpaste that fit into my travel bag and also pass inspection by the TSA. Now there is Toothpaste 2 Go, a reusable, refillable, BPA-free tube. Refill from any size toothpaste so you’ll always have your favorite brand with you. Available at the Container Store for $6-$8, or visit HYPERLINK “http://www.toothpaste2go.com” www.toothpaste2go.com.
When it comes to reusing and recycling, the Torrain bag collection wins a prize for style and for being earth-friendly. The wallets, clutches, shoulder bags, handbags and totes are made of pages from used Cambodian newspapers and magazines, so patterns are endless. The bags are laminated with recycled melted plastic. The collection is designed in Portland, Oregon, and manufactured in Cambodia by people who have been displaced by land mines or who have polio. Suitable for both world travelers and those who go only to the store and back. From $12. Read the company’s story and see the entire collection at HYPERLINK “http://torrain.org/” http://torrain.org/.
For the person-on-the-go, the Wojo Wallet is a handy compact place to carry credit cards, driver’s license, cash and a key. The neoprene-lined sleeve is grunge- and water-resistant and it floats. The minimalist design lets you tuck this wallet into narrow or hidden pockets for safekeeping. Comes in four colors and soon will be available featuring college logos and colors. $12.99. Visit HYPERLINK “http://www.wojowallet.com” www.wojowallet.com.
Cut the plastic-water-bottle habit and still get great tasting water with ZeroWater Tumbler, a 26-ounce, BPA-free portable container with a five-level filtration system. The filter removes all of the dissolved solids that are in most tap waters. Perfect for those long road trips, but if you fly, remember to fill it after you pass muster at the TSA checkpoint. Available at Bed Bath & Beyond. $14.99. Courtesy photos
E’Louise Ondash is a veteran, award-winning journalist who was an investigative reporter, feature writer and columnist for the Times Advocate and the North County Times. She has written travel features for The Coast News since 2003.
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