Paris is one of the most vacation-worthy cities in the world. The history, the culture, the art, the wine! You name it, Paris has it. It’s just one of those cities you have to experience before you die. But if you want to do Paris right, be sure to bring these must-have items!

POWER ADAPTER

One of the most potentially frustrating parts about traveling in Paris is the power outlets there. They’re completely different than ours in the states! So if you have anything that needs to be plugged (which, at this point, how could you not??) you’ll definitely want to invest in a power adapter. The good news is, it’s not that hard to find one once you’re actually in Paris.

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Obviously one of the best parts about a trip to Paris is the food. Honestly, Paris might very well be the best culinary city in the world. You’ll easily have 4 or 5 of the best meals of your life just in one week in Paris. But you’re going to want to make sure you hit as many of the best spots as you can. So be sure to bring a handy restaurant guide with you everywhere you go!

WINDPROOF UMBRELLA

We’ve all seen these somewhat funky looking umbrellas before. But aside from the potential stylish appeal, these umbrellas are actually very functional as they’re windproof! And that can be crucial to staying comfortable while walking around Paris. Not to mention, if you grab a transparent one you can keep yourself completely dry while not affecting your view of this beautiful city!

COMFORTABLE SHOES

This should be a no-brainer. One of the best ways to really experience Paris is just to walk around and take it all in. There’s an energy about the place that is just unmatched. Plus there are endless options out there when it comes to comfortable shoes, so you can still be stylish while you’re at it!

A TRAVEL BAG WITH HANDLES

While we obviously appreciate the benefits of rolling luggage, the convenience of it kind of goes out the window when you’re Paris thanks to all the narrow, cobblestone streets. Not only do they make rolling your suitcase to and from your hotel difficult, but they could actually just break the thing! So go out and find a durable bag that still has enough room to bring everything you need.

CELL PHONE TRIPOD STAND

Look, I know. Selfies can be very obnoxious and selfie sticks can be downright offensive. But don’t deprive yourself of the fun of taking tons of pictures just because you don’t want to look like an annoying teenager! Paris is a beautiful city that needs to be photographed and if you’re not actually in the photographs were you ever even in Paris?! Exactly. So invest in one of these handy cell phone tripods so you can get some great pictures without them blatantly looking like selfies.

A CORKSCREW (THAT’S TSA COMPLIANT)

What would a trip to Paris be without lots, and lots of wine? It would be pointless, that’s what. Did you know you can even drink wine in Paris’ public parks until as late as 4 p.m.? I know! So you’ll definitely want to have your own corkscrew on you at all times. Just make sure it’s TSA compliant so you don’t get arrested before even getting on your flight.

There’s no point in fighting it at this point, we are living in the retro-age. It’s all about vintage and throwbacks and reboots. And as annoying as it can be, there is still some really cool vintage stuff out there. And what’s more vintage than cute, little roadside motels? Here are some of the coolest ones out there.

SANTA FE MOTEL AND INN – SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

The Santa Fe Motel and Inn epitomizes the energy and style of the Southwest. From the classic adobe-style architecture to the colorful and rustic interior of the lobby, this place is as New Mexico as it gets. And the awesome Santa Fe Plaza is just about a seven minute walk away. They also offer a deliciously Southwest breakfast for their guests.

THE STARLUX – WILDWOOD, NEW JERSEY

Enjoy a proper New Jersey experience at the StarLux motel as it is just two blocks from the beach and the awesome Wildwood Boardwalk. One of the biggest motels on this list, it has a whopping 45 rooms. Plus they really lean heavily on the vintage vibe with lava lamps in the rooms, fake palm trees by the pool, and actual real-life Airstream trailers for guests to stay in.

PALM SPRINGS RENDEZVOUS – PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

This adorable motel first opened in 1938 and was apparently the motel of choice for the one and only Marilyn Monroe when she visited Palm Springs. There are only ten rooms in the motel and they all have unique and awesome themes. Like the Rebel Without a Cause room, the Shake Rattle and Roll room, and Marilyn’s favorite, the Pretty in Pink room.

BLACK HAWK MOTEL – WISCONSIN DELLS, WISCONSIN

This picture perfect motel looks like it’s right out of a postcard. The best part about this vintage spot? How close it is to awesome attractions! There’s a popular tourist strip just a ten minute walk away, and Noah’s Ark Waterpark and Kalahari Indoor Theme Park are a short drive away. The motel even provides free passes to all its guests!

THE MOTOR LODGE – PRESCOTT, ARIZONA

This quaint little spot was built all the way back in 1910. It was originally just a small collection of summer cabins. It’s changed a lot over the years thanks to multiple owners, but now it’s considered an awesome boutique motel located right around the corner from Whiskey Row and a historic downtown. Guests can also enjoy a complimentary glass of wine when they arrive, a homemade cookie when they leave, and plenty of bikes for borrowing.

RED CABOOSE MOTEL – RONKS, PENNSYLVANIA

This place is an absolute must-see. Literally made from 19 25-ton train cabooses all the way back in 1969, motels doing get any more vintage than the Red Caboose Motel. Guests will literally stay in the cabooses, with some of them big enough to support a whole family, and one honeymoon caboose with a queen sized bed and a romantic whirlpool bath. It also includes a petting zoo, a miniature train ride, and free movie nights in the barn.

If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably tired of running the exact same route every time you decide it’s time for you to get some exercise. You pass the same houses, cross the same streets, get barked at by the same dogs. It just gets so boring! Exercising is very hard to stick to when it becomes monotonous. The best way to stay fit is to look for ways to keep your exercise interesting and what’s more interesting than traveling the world? You will find it hard to zone out when you’re running in one of these races halfway across the world.

So lace up those shoes and stretch those hammies, as you prepare to go on these incredible destination races around the world.

TOUGH MUDDER, PHOENIX, AZ

The Tough Mudder is one of the toughest races we’ve ever done. It isn’t just a ten to twelve-mile run, it also has a ton of obstacles along the way. Now you can run, climb, crawl and get shocked all while enjoying your vacation in beautiful Phoenix. This race is the definition of rewarding and you will marvel at your ability to get all the way through when you sit and gawk at the course you just finished. Just make sure you have a nice place to shower afterward, because trust us, you’re going to need it.

TIMBERMAN HALF IRONMAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE

This triathlon is truly a lot of fun. The bike ride is hilly so the 56-mile ride is a blast thanks to all of the downhill you have to look forward to. Also, New Hampshire is usually a little chilly which means you will be able to wear a wetsuit when swimming making it easier to float. Sure, packing for a triathlon might be a pain, but once you experience New Hampshire in all of its glory you will know that all that packing was worth it.

RAGNAR RELAY, CHATTANOOGA TO NASHVILLE

Experience the South the hard way. Running from Chatanooga to Nashville is an amazing way to experience Tennessee from the big cities to its rural paradise. Nashville is the music city, so be sure to save enough energy to check out it’s hopping nightlife afterward because Nashville has a scene that you don’t want to miss. But the scenery on your run from Chatanooga to Nashville will be breathtaking as well. Plus, all that running will lead to a guilt-free Southern food pig out.

THE NORTH FACE ENDURANCE CHALLENGE, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

The reason this race is great is its flexibility. You can run anything from a 5k to a 50k so run as little or as much as you want, not that 5k is anything to scoff at. You are also running around the spectacular San Francisco which is sure to amaze and impress anyone no matter what they’re doing around town. You actually get to run across the Golden Gate Bridge in this race which is a must for any true runner. This race proves that Ricearoni isn’t the only San Francisco treat.