When the house already has everything you need, these are the personal comforts we never leave behind.
**This Article Needed a Second Look**
Sometimes, after an article has been published for a while, I go back and read it with fresh eyes. That’s exactly what happened with this one.
Originally, I called it a list of the top 10 things to pack for a lake vacation. But the more I reread it, the more I realized I had overlooked something important.
Not all lake vacations are the same.
If you’re renting a cabin or lake house for the week, your packing list probably includes everything you’ll need because you’re starting from scratch.
But that’s not our story.
When we head to our family lake house, we’re returning to a place that already feels like home. The kitchen is stocked. There are towels in the linen closet, fishing gear tucked away, and years of family memories waiting for us the moment we unlock the door.
We aren’t packing to furnish a vacation home.
We’re packing the personal things that help us settle in, continue our traditions, and enjoy another week together.
These are the things that always make it into the car before we pull out of the driveway.
(But if you still want the checklist for vacationers, click below to download for free.)
1. Sunglasses
If there’s one thing I don’t want to realize I’ve forgotten halfway to the lake, it’s my sunglasses.
In fact, here’s a fun question:
Have you ever wondered how many pairs of sunglasses are resting on the bottom of lakes across America?
I’d venture to say…millions.
It happens in a split second. Someone leans a little too far over the side of the boat. A wave catches you by surprise. You jump off the dock without thinking. A Jet Ski bounces unexpectedly. Before you can react, your favorite pair of sunglasses disappears beneath the surface.
There’s usually a moment of disbelief, followed by everyone peering into the water, hoping they’ll somehow reappear.
Most of the time, they don’t.
Somewhere below, they’ll settle into the mud alongside countless other sunglasses that met the very same fate. It’s funny to think that lakes probably have their own little “lost and found” departments, quietly collecting sunglasses, fishing lures, hats, keys, and all the other things that accidentally slip away during a day on the water.
That’s one reason I always make sure sunglasses are one of the first things I pack—and, if I’m being honest, I usually pack a spare pair too.
Whether we’re riding on the Jet Ski, cruising in the boat, relaxing on the dock, floating in a quiet cove, or simply enjoying coffee on the porch, sunglasses quickly become one of the most-used items we bring.
I especially love polarized lenses because they cut the glare reflecting off the water. Not only do they make everything more comfortable to look at, but they also let you see beneath the surface much more clearly. Watching fish swim around the dock or spotting rocks below the waterline becomes part of the fun.
Of course, no matter how careful you are, there’s always the chance a pair will eventually join that silent collection at the bottom of the lake.
If that happens, just remember—you’re probably not the first, and you certainly won’t be the last.
That’s lake life.
2. Clothes for Real Lake Life
I don’t pack seven perfectly coordinated outfits.
Our lake house has a washer and dryer, so I pack practical clothes that can be mixed and matched throughout the week.
That means comfortable shorts, capris, T-shirts, and casual tops, along with one nicer outfit if we decide to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Most importantly, I always pack a few outfits I don’t mind getting dirty.
A family lake house always has projects waiting. Maybe it’s pulling weeds from the flower beds, mowing the grass, sweeping the walkways, or tackling a small maintenance project. Taking care of the place has become part of our tradition, and I actually enjoy knowing we’re leaving it a little nicer than we found it.
And of course, don’t forget a few pairs of shoes. Flip-flops, walking shoes, and something comfortable for evenings out all earn a place in the suitcase.
3. A Few Favorite Pieces from My China Cabinet
This may sound a little unusual, but before every trip I find myself standing in front of my china cabinet.
I don’t bring everything—just a few pieces that will help turn an ordinary meal into something memorable.
Maybe it’s a favorite serving bowl for a fresh summer salad, a beautiful platter for grilled burgers, vintage dessert plates for homemade pie, or cloth napkins that instantly make dinner on the dock feel a little more special.
Over the years, I’ve learned that creating beautiful moments doesn’t require elaborate entertaining. A simple meal served on dishes you love, with the lake stretching out in front of you and the people you care about gathered around the table, can feel every bit as meaningful as a formal dinner party.
One of my favorite things to do is create little “events” during the week. We might pack a picnic basket for lunch on the boat, set a pretty table on the dock for sunset dinner, or serve dessert by lantern light after everyone has finished swimming. Those moments don’t happen because we spent a lot of money—they happen because we took a few extra minutes to make an ordinary evening feel intentional.
That’s why I always shop my own china cabinet before we leave.
Those familiar serving pieces have been part of birthdays, holidays, Sunday dinners, and family celebrations at home. Bringing a few of them to the lake helps carry those traditions with us. Somehow, a favorite platter or set of dishes reminds everyone that this isn’t just another meal.
It’s another memory in the making.
Over the years, those meals have taught me something else. For so long, many of us have been told to save our good china for a special occasion. I’ve decided the special occasion is today. I’d rather use the dishes I love while I’m making memories with the people I love than leave them sitting behind glass collecting dust.
Beautiful things were made to be enjoyed.
And here’s a little secret—most of my favorite pieces weren’t expensive heirlooms at all. I found them at thrift stores, antique shops, and estate sales over the years. Their value isn’t measured by what I paid for them, but by the memories they’re helping create around our table.
4. Groceries for the First Day
We don’t try to grocery shop for the entire week before leaving. After packing the car, making the drive, and finally arriving at the lake, the last thing we want to do is turn around and head right back into town.
Instead, I make sure we have enough groceries to comfortably get us through our first day. That usually means breakfast for the next morning, something simple for dinner after we unpack, plenty of coffee and creamer, cold drinks, and a few favorite snacks.
Having those basics waiting for us allows us to ease into lake life. We can unpack at our own pace, sit on the porch for a while, watch the sun begin to set over the water, and simply enjoy being there without feeling rushed.
After we’ve had a chance to settle in, we’ll make a leisurely trip to the grocery store and shop for the rest of the week. By then, we’re relaxed, we’ve had time to think about the meals we’d like to prepare, and grocery shopping becomes part of the fun instead of another item on a long travel-day checklist.
Sometimes the best way to begin a vacation is simply to slow down.
5. Our Portable Drying Rack
One of the best purchases we’ve made recently has been a portable metal drying rack.
For years, we’d carry wet towels and bathing suits down into the yard to hang them on a traditional clothesline. It certainly worked, but it also meant walking through sandy areas, damp grass, and leaves every time we wanted to hang something up or bring it back inside. More often than not, we’d end up tracking sand, grass, and bits of leaves right back into the house.
A couple of years ago, we decided to try a folding metal drying rack that pops open right on the deck, and I can’t imagine going back.
Now, after a day on the water, we simply hang towels, swimsuits, and life jackets just a few steps from the door. The sunshine and lake breeze dry everything beautifully, and everything is easy to grab the next morning when we’re ready for another day on the lake.
It’s one of those simple purchases that doesn’t seem very exciting until you’ve used it. Sometimes the smallest improvements end up making the biggest difference in everyday life.
That’s become one of our favorite lessons at the lake—it’s often the little conveniences that allow us to spend less time on chores and more time enjoying the people we’re there to be with.
6. Our Technology Basket
Even though we’re escaping to the lake, we still bring along the technology that helps us stay connected when we need to.
Our laptops, iPads, phones, chargers, and streaming devices all have their place in the car. Over the years, we’ve learned that having a dedicated “technology basket” makes packing much easier because everything stays together and nothing gets forgotten.
The biggest game changer, however, has been our mobile hotspot.
Our family lake house is tucked way out in the boonies, where practical internet service simply isn’t available. For years, we relied on rabbit-ear antennas to watch television, and depending on the weather, we were happy if we could pick up a handful of local channels. It was part of the charm—but it also meant that staying connected for work or enjoying a movie together wasn’t always easy.
The hotspot changed all of that.
Now, if one of us needs to check email, work remotely for a few hours, look up a recipe, or video chat with family, we can. In the evenings, after a full day on the water, we can stream a favorite movie or catch up on a television series while relaxing together.
Of course, we still bring our Roku or Apple TV to make streaming simple. They take up almost no room in the suitcase, but they add a lot of flexibility to our evenings.
What I appreciate most is that the technology stays in the background. It’s there when we need it, but it doesn’t compete with what we came for. Most days are still spent on the dock, out on the boat, enjoying family dinners, or simply watching the lake. The hotspot doesn’t change the peaceful rhythm of the lake—it just gives us the freedom to stay connected without sacrificing it.
Like so many things on this list, it’s another small addition that has made our family lake house even more enjoyable.
7. The Jet Ski—and the Adventures That Come With It
Our Jet Ski isn’t just another piece of recreational equipment.
It’s one of the reasons we all look forward to getting back to the lake.
The wonderful thing about a Jet Ski is that everyone enjoys it in their own way. The younger members of our family love the speed, the splashes, and the excitement of zipping across the water. Others enjoy a little adventure, laughing as they bounce across the waves or following behind the wakeboarders—always keeping a respectful distance, but close enough to enjoy the rolling waves they leave behind.
Not everyone is looking for excitement, though.
Some of us prefer to take the scenic route, cruising slowly along the shoreline, discovering quiet coves, admiring beautiful lake homes, or simply enjoying the peacefulness of being out on the water.
Those slower rides often become my favorite.
We’ll find a quiet spot, shut off the engine, and pull out our floats. Before long, someone is inflating our floating charcuterie board—complete with cup holders for drinks—and suddenly we’ve created our own little gathering place right in the middle of the lake.
There’s something wonderfully relaxing about floating together, sharing snacks, talking about life, and watching the afternoon drift by without anyone worrying about what time it is.
Sometimes we’ll stay there for an hour.
Sometimes much longer.
No one is in a hurry.
Looking back, I realize the Jet Ski isn’t really the point.
It’s simply the vehicle that takes us to the moments we’ll remember most.
Whether it’s the thrill of speeding across open water, the laughter of chasing waves, or the quiet joy of floating together in a peaceful cove, every ride becomes its own adventure.
That’s why the Jet Ski always makes the packing list.
It’s not just something we bring to the lake.
It’s one of the ways we experience it together.
8. Our Dog
There’s one member of our family who would never forgive us if we left her behind.
Our dog absolutely has to be part of our lake adventures.
Over the years, we’ve been blessed with some wonderful lake dogs. Our beloved Boxers, Beatrice and Rascal, loved everything about the lake. They enjoyed riding in the boat with the wind in their faces, investigating the shoreline one interesting smell at a time, checking out the fish from the dock, and faithfully appearing whenever food was involved. Beatrice always kept us laughing by barking at the fish swimming in the shallow water, convinced they needed a good scolding.
Those memories are part of what makes our lake house so special.
Recently, we welcomed Harley, our Mini Bernedoodle, into the family. Since Poodles are natural water dogs, one of the things that appealed to us about the breed was imagining all the adventures she would someday have at the lake.
As I’m writing this, Harley hasn’t experienced her first lake vacation yet.
We’re excited to see how she’ll react when she discovers the water, rides in the boat for the first time, explores the shoreline, and becomes part of all the family traditions that Beatrice and Rascal loved so much.
If she’s anything like her predecessors, she’ll quickly discover that the lake is one of the happiest places on earth.
And somehow, I have a feeling she’ll fit right in.
Before long, I’m sure she’ll be racing down to the dock, supervising every outdoor activity, hoping someone drops a snack, and adding her own stories to our family’s collection of lake memories.
We can’t wait to introduce her to one of our favorite places.
9. Coffee for the Porch
If you’ve spent any time reading Chicks on the Road, you probably knew coffee would make this list.
To say we’re coffee fans might be a bit of an understatement.
In fact, we have an entire cabinet in our kitchen that’s dedicated to coffee. It’s decorated as a little coffee bar, complete with mugs, flavored syrups, special creamers, and even a chalkboard menu. We love trying seasonal flavors, creating our own specialty drinks, and making coffee feel like a small daily celebration.
Naturally, all of that carries over to the lake.
I always pack our favorite coffee, creamers, and a few flavored syrups because mornings at the lake deserve to be savored.
There’s nothing quite like stepping onto the porch with that very first cup before everyone else is awake.
The water is usually calm.
The birds are beginning to wake up.
The morning air is cool and fresh.
The only sounds are the gentle lapping of the water against the dock and the occasional fish breaking the surface.
The day still holds endless possibilities.
Those quiet moments have become one of my favorite traditions. Before the activities begin, before the boats head out, and before the laughter of family fills the day, there’s a little pocket of peace where it’s just me, a warm mug in my hands, and a beautiful view of the lake.
It’s the perfect way to welcome another day of making memories.
From the Porch
Looking back, I realized this article was never really about packing.
It’s about returning.
Returning to a place that’s been loved by our family for years.
Returning to familiar routines, favorite views, and traditions that have quietly become part of who we are.
The funny thing is, most of what makes our lake house special is already there.
The porch.
The dock.
The memories.
The stories.
What we pack are simply the little things that help us settle in and enjoy another week together.
Because in the end, we’re not really packing for a vacation.
We’re packing for another chapter in our family’s story.
And those are the things worth remembering.
About the Author
Sherri holds an AA in Anthropology, a BA in History and Religious Studies from Albright College, and an MA in Ministry Leadership from Capital Seminary & Graduate School. She is the founder of Chicks on the Road Publishing, where she creates faith-filled resources designed to encourage women in their walk with Christ, their homes, and their family legacy.
Through storytelling, Bible studies, journals, devotionals, and memory-keeping projects, Sherri hopes to inspire others to live intentionally, preserve what matters most, and pass their faith to the next generation.
Creating from anywhere. Encouraging everywhere.