Have one custom-made for a honeymoon, dream or pet destination, and bingo! A perfect string of Sunday afternoons for your favorite map nerd.

I’ve been dying for one of these. For. Ever. In my dreams, I stumble upon it in a grungy old salvage warehouse, successfully bargain its crusty owner down to double digits, then clean it up to use as a liquor cabinet in my office. Ah, well. It stands as further proof that Flight 001 offers all that’s cool in travel stuff.

Daytime sunshine charges an internal battery, which powers low-level LED lamps at night. Voila! Sun in a jar.

With the high cost of gas, air travel and, well, everything right now, the term staycation has been springing up. I say, hooray for exploring close to home! (That’s called “being positive.”) This journal reminds you where to best spend those hard-earned dollars on your getaway-minded local dining splurge.

I’m pretty psyched about the arrival of camping season, as well as my new camp-out essential. It’s a weather, AM or FM radio; LED flashlight and emergency phone charger, all in one easy-to-hold, eco-friendly little package. Uses energy generated via the hand crank, solar panel or USB port.

Keep juiced-up batteries in this inexpensive unit to charge your USB-enabled devices (camera, iPod, etc.) connection-free, wherever you are. Plug it into a wall or vehicle outlet and it powers up rechargeable batteries, too. Comes with a pair each of rechargeable AAs and AAAs, making this an easy first step if you have yet to transition your household from traditional batteries.

This big, breathable, slightly stretchy travel blanket actually feels cool against your skin. It folds into its own little nylon drawstring pouch, so it’s easy to bring anywhere. Could even work as a wrap or sarong in a pinch.

Turn your vacation photos into mantle-worthy works of art.

BEACH WEEK 2008
Last year, my friend and her husband skipped their yearly trip to Mexico and visited us in Minnesota instead. We rigged up a piñata in the living room and made Mai Tais topped with cocktail umbrellas. With this boxful, you could make every beverage from here until spring feel like a tropical vacation.

TrustyPony Mai Tais
1 oz. light rum
1 oz. dark rum
.5 oz. orange curacao
.5 oz. amaretto
splash Rose’s lime
splash pineapple juice

Shake together and serve over ice. Garnish with fresh fruit and a cocktail umbrella. Bendy straws are nice, too.

While waiting for my ride at O’Hare last weekend I noticed a girl balancing a cupcake caddy on her luggage. How sweet that she arrived bearing homemade goodies for her host? They nestled nicely in a single-tier tray like this one, appropriately sized for toting on the plane. Her caddy had handles, but for the life of me I couldn’t find a similar one online (she didn’t know where her mom bought hers). I’d probably fashion a set with tape and ribbon.