I’ve always been one to feel the itch to travel and explore frequently. And I’m not sure what it is about this summer in particular but taming my hunger for newness has been extra challenging! I thirst to feel that overwhelming rush that consumes me when I’m on the road. I daydream about that moment I catch a wave of pure happiness as I stare at the beauty that nature is. I’ll blame all this on my free-spirit.. 😉
Since I’ve found myself exploring much more this summer, outfits fit for adventure are all I’ve been focused on. As a fashion enthusiast, you can bet I’ll never be the athletic shorts and tennis shoes type! (Sometimes, a girl’s gotta be comfy every now and again!) I find there’s a great middle ground to be found between functional and fashion forward. It’s this common struggle that I want to tackle today, as well as sharing what kind of essentials I bring along with me on days of adventure. Before you plan your next great escape, read a wandering girl’s outfit guide and essentials for a day of exploring. It’s a great read and I promise it’ll have you feeling uber inspired and ready to get out the door!
Other Recent Posts:
Your New Favorite Dress is in the Guy’s Section
How to Put Together a Boho Picnic on the Beach
A Wandering Girl’s Outfit Guide
and Essentials for a day of Exploring
// Before getting into this post, I just want to state that all thoughts and opinions within this post are my own. Today’s post is brought to you by Wolo WanderSnacks //
My Wandering Essentials:
1. Wolo Wander Snacks
If you ask any wanderer what they bring on trips, you’re more than likely to get the answer, “protein bars.” There are so many brands making these convenient snacks but few that cater to the average traveler. That’s why on all the adventures Stefan and I have gone on lately, we’ve been snacking on our Wolo protein bars. There’s a couple reasons why I feel like I may never eat another protein bar apart from them on the road…
First off, Wolo bars are made specifically for eating on the road, so they’re mess free. Yes, that’s right, 100% mess free and I can tell you that from personal experience. Not only can you leave them in a car all day without worrying about them melting but they also don’t break into crumbs. Another reason I’m all about these guys is that they’re actually low in sugar, coming in at only 5 grams of the sweet stuff with a hefty 15 grams of protein. This is key for me, as I try to keep the amount of sugar I consume pretty low.
2. A Wide Brim
It’s my favorite style hat and keeps my face protected from the sun for prolonged periods of time. Whenever I’m adventuring somewhere wet like a waterfall, it also helps keep my hair dry.
3. Bucket Bag
You need somewhere to stash away your essentials, so why not put it in something cute? I found my crochet bucket bag on sale at Pacsun.
4. Sunglasses
I’m sure this ones a bit obvious but I figured I’d include it as I definitely don’t go on an adventure without sunglasses. My favorite style sunglasses are circle frames. They give such a cool “she’s with the band vibe” that I can’t get enough of!
How I Craft a Look Fit for Wandering:
Step One:
The first important step is to determine where exactly you’re going! What’s suitable dress in one place, may not be so perfect for the other. Stefan and I explored one our favorite spots just an hour from home: Ohiopyle State Park home to the beautiful Cucumber Falls! Keeping this in mind, I made sure to bring an old change of shoes, a hat and I wore my bathing suit bottoms underneath my skirt. I knew we were in for a little water, so shorts or fancy shoes wouldn’t work out so well! Whereas if you’re going to be doing a lite hike or admiring an overlook, you could likely get away with wearing a cute pair of sandals.
Step Two:
Dress in a way that allows for a progression of wardrobe changes. What do I mean by this? If you know you’ll be out for awhile, a couple slight outfit adjustments may be needed throughout the day. This is when bringing along changes in shoes and dressing in layers will come in handy! I knew Stefan and I would be gone almost all day and that we’d be exploring a variety of spots around the park. This is why I brought multiple clothing options such as a change in shoes, pants and tops.
I also decided to wear this flowy maxi skirt because it looked cute but also allowed for me to easily bunch it up and walk around the rocks. (You can also easily make maxi skirts effortless to move in by tying them up in a ball at the bottom of the skirt) I wore a bathing suit bottom underneath too so I could easily take the skirt off if needed. (Which definitely happened after a bit of exploring was done..lol)
Step Three:
Decide what kind of footwear will be most suitable. As I said above, what you can get away with wearing will vary greatly depending on where your adventure takes you, so keep this in mind! And when in doubt? Just go barefoot! Honestly I love how free-spirited and fun a barefoot look can be. Since we were at a waterfall, I decided to totally forgo shoes and just embrace my environment. I feel like you can definitely rock the footless look, so don’t be shy to do it if needed!
Step Four:
Another thing to keep in mind, is that the accessories you bring along can be both fashionable and helpful. For example, hats will more than likely be an essential to bring along and why wouldn’t they be? Hello sun protection! I absolutely love a good wide brim to do the job. Not only does it keep my hair dry when walking under the waterfall but it also looks pretty darn good on! I assume like just about every other wanderer you’ll also need a bag to put other essentials in. My favorite type of bag to bring along is a small backpack or bucket bag. I had fun with the one I brought along and picked a white crochet bag to stash away some goodies in. I find that these types of bags are both functional and come in many cute styles!
More About Where we Went:
Stefan and I visited Ohiopyle State Park and specifically hung out around the Cucumber Falls waterfall. It was a pretty spur of the moment decision, a habit we find to be quite common with us! Most of our day was spent admiring the beauty of nature and of course soaking up the summer sun and swimming. We’re always so surprised how tiring a day of adventure can be, so fueling up throughout the day is super essential.
For a midday snack, we brought along our Wolo bars and enjoyed a little pick me up after exploring the waterfall. Stefan’s favorite is the Cocoa Crunch while mine is a mix up between the Mint Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter. It’s a tough call! After taste testing all the flavors, we’re definitely a fan of them all. For bars low in sugar, they sure do have a satisfyingly sweet taste. I find that protein bars like these are a great healthy snack for long days out. You certainly use a lot of energy, so convenient snacks like these are kind of an essential to keep you going!
