Kids, sleeping, and packing on the road

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 09/01/02

		Destinations  Where they went  Travel gear  Student travel  Sensible traveler

Your all-purpose purse

You can fit everything you need for a night on the town or a day of sightseeing in this handy little bag from Baggallini. The 9-inch-wide, 7-inch-high, and 1-inch-thick black microfiber bag functions as a wallet and organizer, with plenty of pockets (three of them zippered) for your cell phone, sunglasses, and odds and ends. Best of all, it can be worn several ways – even on your belt as a fanny pack. The Baggallini Wallet Bagg II costs $46.85 (a smaller version is $29.95) and is available through the Magellan's catalog (telephone 800-962-4943); and online at www.magellans.com, www.packinglight.com, and www.ebags.com.

A children's page-turner

Klutz offers a range of new products that are wonderful on long trips. One winner is "Kids Travel: A Backseat Travel Survival Kit." It has pages of activities and games, from connect-the-dots and crossword puzzles to everything you need for coloring, Cat's Cradle, and dice games. It sells for $19.95 at most bookstores, including Brookline Booksmith and Barnes & Noble, and online at www.niftycool.com, www.kidstravelzone.com, www.thesavvytraveller.com, and www.klutz.com.

On your own sheets – everywhere

If you're allergic to harsh detergents or don't quite trust those hotel sheets, DreamSack has a solution: a sleeping sack made of soft, washable silk. SleepSack also works well as a sleeping-bag liner, adding an extra layer of lightweight insulation. It is available in several sizes, colors, and styles (top-opening and side-opening, for one or two people) and comes with its own drawstring travel bag. It costs $49-$130, depending on size, and is available at LL Bean stores and through the LL Bean catalog (800-441-5713); TravelSmith catalog (800-950-1600); Solutions catalog (800-342-9988); and online at www.travelgearnow.com, www.momslinenchest.com, and www.bagit.com. For more information, log on to www.dreamsack.com.

Lylah M. Alphonse's e-mail address is lalphonse@globe.com">lalphonse@globe.com.