1.
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006, with GPS Locator. 
This popular
mapping and travel-planning program now comes equipped with a GPS
device that offers hands-free, voice-prompted directional
information intended to keep you on the straight and narrow -- that
is, until it is time to make a sharp left or right. In addition to
a personalized route planner and highly detailed, customizable
maps, Streets and Trips features a Reroute From Here button that
recalculates directions if you inexplicably veer off course. $129;
www.microsoft.com.
2.
LTM6 Airflo Hat. 
Lightweight and
broad-brimmed to provide the maximum in sun protection, the Tilley
LTM6 incorporates mesh in the crown to increase air circulation for
you hot heads out there. Guaranteed for life (a Tilley standard),
insured against loss (another Tilley endurable), rain repellent and
machine washable (this is no shrinking violet), the Airflo weighs
only about 3 ounces. And you dont have to go hat in hand in the
wind: The topper ties on behind the wearers head and under the
chin. $69; www.tilley.com.
3.
One Night Stand. This aptly named overnight bag from the Duluth
Trading Co. 
is designed to carry the
essentials: a change of clothes, a toiletries kit and a pair of
shoes. Nylon panels on three sides allow you to lay clothes flat
and wrinkle-free, and then fix them in place in zippered sections.
Once packed, you are ready to roll -- literally -- as the bag rolls
up tightly and clips closed, allowing easy access to overhead bins
while fellow passengers do bench presses with more-traditional
carry-ons. For true minimalists, the side bags for toiletries and a
pair of shoes are detachable. $44.99; www.duluthtrading.com.
4.
Pac & Go Baby Blanket.
Just the thing for families on the go, this product is a security
blanket for parents intent on seeing the world -- the short-haul
version of the world, that is -- with infants in tow. Waterproof
and lightweight, this well-designed item from Chubby Cheeks Baby
Products (isnt that just too cute?) features hidden, waterproof
pockets capable of holding diapers, wipes, pacifiers and an Infant
iPod (if there isnt yet such a thing, Apple will soon offer one).
$14.99 to $24.99; www.chubbycheeksbabyproducts.com.
5.
The Traveler Guitar Escape Steel. First things first. This is not a
toy or a cheap, pretend musical instrument sold in your local
big-box retail outlet. The Traveler Steel, while compact at less
than 30 inches in length and lightweight at less than 4 pounds,
features a full-length scale, alder body with mahogany satin
finish, maple neck and a Pao Ferro fingerboard. Pickup, pre-amp and
equalization allow for easy and discreet listening through included
earphones, with the option of hooking up to a portable amp. Fits
under an airplane seat or in the overhead bin. Aspiring Eric
Claptons shouldnt leave home without it. Also available: nylon
strings and left-handed model. $499; www.travelerguitar.com.