Unpacked by AFAR

Wendy Mak, the author of The Capsule Wardrobe: 1,000 Outfits From 30 Pieces, shares how to pack with ease by using the philosophy she mastered to help countless clients create capsule wardrobes. From how to create your own capsule travel wardrobe, no matter the weather to multifunctional footwear and space-saving essentials—conquer your packing woes once and for all.  How To Create a Travel Capsule Wardrobe.  In this episode you’ll learn:  How to take the principles of a capsule wardrobe and streamline your packing process.  Wendy’s travel must haves—from her favorite shoes to carriers for toiletries and jewelry.   A stylist approved travel outfit and tips for carry-on essentials. Packing Tips For Every Kind of Vacation.  [06:46] Think separates: Packing guidelines for a sunny vacation.  [08:00] Overpacking need not apply: functional footwear and funky fall weather. [15:24] Lipstick panties, hat clips and other stylist-approved hacks.  Resources Read the full transcript of the episode.  Buy the "lipstick" underwear, Twoobs sandals, On sneakers, and Bon Maxie toiletry bag Wendy mentions. Buy Wendy’s book, The Capsule Wardrobe: 1,000 Outfits From 30 Pieces. Explore Wendy’s other travel tips on her website.  Read other Afar packing tips, like this story from frequent travelers and this one about packing more efficiently. 

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen. Can a train be a travel destination? Welcome to “Amtrakistan.” On a quest to cure his chronophobia and calm his anxious mind, Eric Weiner, the bestselling author of The Geography of Bliss, books a roomette on an Amtrak train that travels from Washington D.C. to Portland,Oregon.  Crossing the Country in a Caboose On this episode you’ll learn:  What it’s like to take a four day trip on an Amtrak train.  The benefits of train travel for the anxious mind.  What it’s like to stay in a roomette with the best views.  Are Train Trips Worth It? Don’t miss these transformative travel moments:  [01:28] Can a train trip cure my chronophobia?  [06:06] Time: the abundant resource of Amtrakistan.      [09:03] “You’ve got to dance with the train,” she said.  [13:41] Lessons about time, brought to you by Amtrak.  “My Mind Slowed to the Speed of Life” The New York Times best-selling author, Eric Weiner, never left the train during his four day journey— but he discovered a new world. After traversing 2,806 miles, 12 states and four time zones, the compulsive watch checker finally learns to slow down.  In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, step into the world of slow-train-travel and discover how one traveler found peace and connection aboard.  Resources:  Read Eric’s original story. Buy Eric’s book, The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Place on Earth.  Watch the docuseries, Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss.  Check out Eric’s other work.  Explore Afar’s tips for train travel.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Can a scary story inspire you to travel? The hosts of National Park After Dark have been spooking listeners into enjoying the outdoors for years. In this episode of Unpacked by Afar, Cassie and Danielle share the stories that continue to haunt them, what it’s like to stay in historic hotels with ghostly reputations, and how these morbid stories created a community of better prepared travelers.  What Can Go Wrong In National Parks? In this episode, you’ll learn:  How these stories can empower travelers to enjoy the outdoors.  Cassie and Danielle’s favorite hikes in U.S. national parks What it’s like to go on a group trip with NPAD and where they’re headed next.  The Cozy, Creepy Vibes of Haunted Hotels  Don’t miss these moments:  [02:57] How National Park After Dark began. A love for the outdoors and a morbid curiosity.  [11:53] Storied stays in haunted hotels: The Stanley Hotel and the Crescent Hotel.  [17:46] Community stories about the weird and creepy things that happen outside.  [23:09] Danielle and Cassie’s favorite national parks.  “Enjoy the View, But Watch Your Back,” For Cassie and Danielle, it was their shared morbid curiosity and separate passions for wildlife and history that led to the creation of National Park After Dark. From the way large predators get a bad rep to the brave, outdoorspeople who made a lasting impact, this episode will inspire you to do your own morbid research and lean into the darker side of national parks.  Resources Read the full transcript of this episode. Visit the National Park After Dark website or follow them on Instagram.  Explore 7 of the most haunted hotels in America.  Plan a trip to Grand Teton National Park or hike the Skyline Trail in Mount Rainier.   Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, is so much more than its gorgeous beach. This week, follow Unpacked by Afar host Aislyn Greene as explores the 14 communities that make up the Grand Strand, a coastal community in South Carolina. She tours Myrtle Beach's food, music, and culture scenes and drives down the Grand Strand to see the gardens and parks that beckon visitors away from the sand. In this episode, you’ll get off-the-beaten path and gain insight to plan your own unique vacation in Myrtle Beach.  What Is Myrtle Beach Known For?  In this episode you’ll learn: More about the Grand Strand: the 60 miles of beach and 14 communities beyond the boardwalk.  Where to get the best food in Myrtle Beach: from Calabash buffets to red velvet waffles and Jamaican cuisine.   The preserved history of Myrtle Beach, the birthplace of shag and America’s first sculpture garden.  On The Storied Side of the Beach Don’t miss these moments:  [08:28] A historic trolley tour of Myrtle Beach legends, from Alabama to Charlie’s Place.  [15:08] Where to eat in Myrtle Beach (the best food is off-the-beaten path). [33:10] The Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail: learning a culture, uplifting a community.  Legends and Lands Beyond the Boardwalk In this episode, Aislyn Greene peels back the layers on Myrtle Beach to help travelers get to the heart of a popular vacation spot.  She chats with locals about the best places to eat, visits America’s first sculpture garden, learns the history of Charlie’s Place, where Black swing musicians jammed, and connects with the Grand Strand’s most foundational communities.  Meet this week’s guests Stuart Butler, chief marketing officer for Visit Myrtle Beach Kathryn Hedgepath, the creator and narrator of the Myrtle Beach History Trolley Tours Retro Myrtle Beach Guy, YouTube travel creator Jamie Daskalis, chef at Johnny D’s Waffles and Benedicts  Andre James, freelance food writer Ann Wilson, interpretive park ranger at Myrtle Beach State Park Paige Kinnery, president and CEO of Brookgreen Gardens Marilyn Hemingway, CEO and founding president of the Gullah Geechee Chamber of Commerce and the Gullah Geechee Chamber Foundation Resources Read the full transcript of the episode. Book one of Kathryn’s four trolley history tours.  Explore Retro Guy’s Myrtle Beach videos. Dine at Johnny D’s (don’t miss the red velvet waffles).  Visit Myrtle Beach State Park. Tour Brookgreen Gardens. Read the Eater guide to Myrtle Beach.  Explore the Gullah Geechee Seafood Trail. Explore more Afar stories about Myrtle Beach, like this food and drink guide and this guide for travelers with disabilities.  Go to Visit Myrtle Beach, for deals, events and guides during your tip.  Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us

This podcast episode is part of Afar, A Retrospective. As part of Afar’s 15-year anniversary celebration, this episode from our sister podcast, Travel Tales by Afar, was selected as one of our favorites. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do—and stay tuned for more archival Travel Tales episodes from September - December 2024. Explore more of our favorite stories over the years at afar.com/fifteen. A day in the life of a rent-a-friend can run the gamut of fake romance, crying at funerals and a 30-second selfie with a teenager. In this episode of Travel Tales by Afar, contributing writer Chris Colin travels to Tokyo to rent a friend.  At first, he expected nothing but kitsch. But as he navigates his newly forged—and reasonably priced—friendships with Miyabi,Yumi and Yusuke, what he learns changes the way he views Japan and his friendships back at home.  A Day In the Life of A Rent-A-Friend In this episode you’ll discover:  The values and issues of Japanese society that created Client Partners, a rent-a-friend company.  The various reasons why Japanese locals are renting friends.   How you can rent a friend in Japan during your next solo trip. Kodoku: The Lonely Gap  Don’t miss these memorable moments:  [06:11] Real life fake engagements and other rent-a-friend scenarios.   [10:47] Hikikomori and a nation’s spiritual health: A conversation with Client Partners’ CEO.  [16:22] Clarity, okonomiyaki and a genuine connection with a professional friend.  A Cultural Phenomenon or A Cure for Loneliness?  When writer Chris Colin first rented a friend in Tokyo, he was expecting something kitsch and wacky, like a cuddle or owl cafe. Instead, he found genuine connection and clarity about the elusiveness of friendship in his own life.  What are the issues in society that create a commercial market for friendship and what does this reveal about the connections we are able to create? Resources: Read Chris' original story and check out his other work. Explore Afar's travel guide to Tokyo. Learn more about Client Partners, the rent-a-friend company that Chris visited. Be sure to subscribe to the show and to sign up for our podcast newsletter, Behind the Mic, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode. And explore our second podcast, Travel Tales, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us.