If you are looking to take yourself on an adventure this holiday season, cities are treasure troves for the curious: sprawling parks, bookstores, museums, best-kept-culinary-secrets, local haunts. Whether you’re Downtown San Diego, Midtown NYC, Stumptown Portland, or Gastown Vancouver, B.C., you can lose yourself in the romance of a city’s hustle bustle. Well thought out gear will keep you comfortable, and free to follow whim and inspiration. Equipping yourself with the basics will make the day effortless.

The Perfect Tote

Don’t leave home without it. Next to comfy kicks, this is your most important tool in the city. Choose one that is roomy but still easy to carry. Words to live by: Your bag is a smart accessory, not your smallest piece of luggage. Queen Bee Creations are made with smart-girl-on-the-go fashion sense. (They also have stylish baby-on-the-go gear for mom and dad.) Check out “other views” on this Edith Re-wool bag to see the roomy construction, over-the-shoulder-coziness, and inside pockets for lip gloss, earbuds, wallet and maps.

Comfy Kicks

Warm and walkable boots are key. You want to style the street while forgetting they’re on your feet. Look up urban wear made by walking and hiking shoe companies, like Merrell and Ecco.

Lip Care

Chapped lips exact particular agony and make for a long day. Tuck lip balm in your pocket and gloss in your bag. The key to happy lips is quick accessibility to the balm. Kiss My Face gives you all organic softness in yummy flavors.

Healthy Pursuits

Hand sanitizer is, hands down, the cheapest investment you’ll make in your health in any city. Through a day of public transit, door handles, handshakes if you’re friendly, and street vendor purchases, a little hand sanitizer goes a long way to keeping you well in winter. Burt’s Bees makes a great natural alternative to the mainstream anti-bacterial products. Slip it in your purse next to your lip gloss and use it all day.

Room for Growth

If you’re prone to buying books, open market produce, shiny bangles at curbside tables, or souvenirs, stash an Envirosax pouch in your purse. Collapsed, it hardly takes up a corner. Opened up, it gives you stylish, sensible expansion, and you get karma points for saving the environment with one less bag.

Gear up, get out, and let inspiration lead the way. Did I leave any out? What essentials build your basics for your day in the city?

Photo by Idea-Listic.