Spring Forward with Healthy, Beautiful Legs!
Allie Gainous
Client Experience Manager
In This Issue
MARCH 2025
Feature
Health
Wholebody Systems helps you recover well and adapt to stresses...................................................................................8
Talkin’ Sports
Let the March Madness begin..............................................11
Cover Story
There is no limit on what the students can do at North Cobb Christian.........................................................................15
Community Spotlight
CHOA and the Braves are elevating the fan experience.......21
Local Events
Mark your calendar for great spring events in Cobb County starting on page 22!..................................................................22
Finance
Check out why finance expert Andres Sandate says that Cobb is a great place to live, work, play and raise a family............26
Travel
Are you vacationing internationally this year? Heather Meliski has the must-know info for an amazing trip.......30
“Where flowers bloom, so does
hanging seasons is not always easy, especially in life. But after working in the media for over 25 years my advice has become, “the only thing we can really expect is change”. Easy for me to say, right? Well...actually no! As much as I try to talk a big game, I have to talk myself through change every day (especially right now as I am a mother of a soon to be graduating senior-eek!) So, want to know my plan? I will put on a smile and celebrate the moments, as you’ve heard me say a million times. (Why is taking our own advice so tough?)
Really in life the only thing we can control is ourselves, so let’s celebrate the moments together and enjoy this new season that is upon us.
Our Town is published and direct mailed monthly to prestigious homes in Cobb County. Opinions expressed by the editorial staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town reserves the right to edit and or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.
Entire contents copyright 2025 by Our Town.
Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without prior written permission from the publisher.
PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR
Tara Hill Hanover
EDITOR/SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Justin Hanover
GRAPHICS AND DESIGN
Jules Fandos
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
West Cobb
Sara Young sara@ourtownmonthly.com
Andres Sandate andres@ourtownmonthly.com South Cobb
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHER
M. Jae Photography
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kimberly Brinson
Kate Hartley
JRM Management
Heather Meliski OTM Staff PO Box 813610 Smyrna, GA 30081-8610 (678)337-7844
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At Northwest Pediatric Care, we believe that spring is a time for renewal in every way—even in your health. Whether it’s your child’s first physical exam, keeping up with routine vaccinations, or addressing general medical needs, our team is here to provide personalized, caring service in a welcoming environment.
Call us at 678-889-0487 or visit nwpediatriccare.com to schedule an appointment.
We’re here to help you—and your kids—thrive this spring and beyond.
It’s
Recovery That Makes You Super
You just smashed your workout. You are tired but satisfied. Happy you had the motivation to hit the go button. You are now on the other side of it. Check your data and mark that off the list of to-dos for today. Whatever your workout looked like, guess what, the moment you finished it, you are worse off. Your body has been damaged in multiple ways.
If you trained intentionally and the workload was appropriately challenging, your tissues have been stressed and are fatigued. Physically, Physiologically and Neurologically you are less fit. But don’t be scared, this is the real time to shine. Can we recover from these bouts of stress and come back stronger? YES, this is how gains are made.
When we recover well, we adapt to the stresses we have put on our body and enter what is called supercompensation. Supercompensation happens when we stress the body, fully recover to our previous base line and then move that baseline a little higher. Our body knows we want to continue to do hard things and wants to adapt to make them easier for us to accomplish. The body is wonderous!
How do we reach supercompensation? We look at the Five Areas of Recov ery: Rest, Sleep, Fuel, Blood Flow, and Stress Management. When these are all working in our favor the result is positive. (Getting us a little closer to Super human status) Let’s look at these 5 areas.
REST: Rest is sometimes described as doing nothing beyond what is nec essary, but a better definition is avoiding further stress on the areas you just worked. This is why workout splits are popular and active recovery days are usually included in workout programs.
SLEEP: Being sleep deprived will look different for everyone, but not getting enough duration or quality of sleep is going to impair efficiency of the repair process.
FUEL: Adequate intake of water, protein, carbohydrates, and micronutrients support cell function that is needed to heal the offended tissues. My clients probably get tired of me saying, “Okay! Good job today! We worked hard so make sure you get enough water, maybe an electrolyte, and some protein today!” Which they tend to reply with, “I know, Kim. Got it.” All with a smile, of course!
BLOOD FLOW: Increasing blood flow from baseline, increases the rate hydration and nutrients are moved to repair areas and aids in removal of waste products from those same areas. This is why Rest shouldn’t mean doing nothing at all, it also why foam rolling, power massage, traditional massage, as well as hot and cold therapies can be so useful. It is also one of the reasons we use Power Plate at our studio.
STRESS MANAGEMENT: This one can be hard. Your body is always going to work on what is most stressed-out first. If work, personal stuff, or just this thing called life is keeping you triggered and you haven’t developed techniques to pull yourself out of these heightened states, we may not properly recover and miss these powerful windows of supercompensation. Exercise is a great way to work on stress, but more care is needed during recovery if gains are to be made while dealing with chronic stress.
Supercompensation at its finest can look like what one of my clients shared with me last month. She is a high performer, serious about exercise and the benefits it gives her. She went to Utah and ended up spending nine days skiing while juggling work and family vacation responsibilities. She was happily surprised that she never got “sore” with this unexpected volume of novel activity and was able to take on anything she wanted to do during her time in on the slopes. This is really what all of this is about; being able to do exactly what you want to do and feel great about it after. Proper recovery enhances your results and helps to find that superhuman that is inside of all of us.
Talkin’ Sports
By Justin Hanover
The Madness of March Is Upon Us
The calendar has turned to March and that means one thing for any college basketball fan, March Madness! Terms like “Cinderella”, “the bubble”, “Selection Sunday”, “Sweet 16” and “At-large” have become synonymous with this time of the year. It’s college basketball’s final tournament, the NCAA Tournament, which begins in mid-March and this year will crown a champion at the Alamodome in San Antonio on a dramatic Monday night, April the 7th.
We will even get some Sweet 16 and Elite 8 action in our backyard at State Farm Arena, the home of the Hawks, on March 28th and 30th. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely that any of our Georgia teams will be playing as the Bulldogs, Yellow Jackets, Panthers and Owls have had their moments but probably not enough of them in the end.
The SEC Domination!
Well, we have certainly learned to take the Southeastern Conference seriously. Known for being the best football conference, the hoops version of the SEC boasts the likes of Auburn, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and a few others who have been in the top 10 to 15 almost all season long. This conference has been insane in 2025 dominating like we haven’t seen in a long long time. I’m hard pressed to believe that in the end the SEC will get 13 teams in the Big Dance but even just the remote possibility of it is astounding. 10 or 11 is probably the final number and that is remarkable in its own right.
What teams are looking to cut down the nets in the end?
Auburn has been the top team in the land for a good amount of the 20242025 season. Head Coach Bruce Pearl, who is a former college coach of the year and has been in the plains since 2014, is a masterful recruiter and a phenomenal overall head coach. 6’10” senior big man Johni Broom can do it all and is a double-double machine who can also get his fair share of blocks and assists.
Florida, Alabama and Tennessee have all been very close to the top spot this season. The Gators are probably the surprise of the group being as good as they are and have many reliable guys and a lot of depth. Walter Clayton, Jr’s team-high 19 points and 9 assists helped UF to that amazing win at number one Auburn in early February waking up any non believers.
The Crimson Tide can be a little hot and cold and are led by a star in Mark Sears. The senior from Muscle Shoals, Alabama is the glue to the team who leads the way in scoring and assists.
The Volunteers, like the Tide, seem to be up and down at times but are a perennial top 10 type squad. They opened up the season 14-0 which included very good non-conference victories over Louisville, Baylor and Illinois. Chaz Lanier, Zakai Zeigler and Igor Milicic, Jr. will need to continue to fill it up if they want to play deep into April.
Sensational freshman guards Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel lead a Duke Blue Devil team that is tall and long and despite being young are a squad that is relentless, both offensively and defensively. The pair are expected to be NBA Lottery picks with Flagg the probable national player of the year and NBA number one overall pick.
The Houston Cougars have been a really really good regular season team for awhile now. These guys are currently loaded and can blow out most inferior teams. But the Cougs have not found a way to go the distance when it matters most. Long gone are the days of Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler as evidenced by the school now playing in the Big 12. In the end L.J. Cryer and company are dangerous and good enough to beat anybody in the field.
Rick Pitino is back! Only in America can we see trials and tribulations like Ricky P.. The St. John’s Red Storm were great back in the 1980’s when known as the Redmen. Guys like Walter Berry and Chris Mullin and Mark Jackson and head coach Lou Carnesecca were perfect for the bright lights of New York. But things went south and this program has done little over the past 30 or so years. Things now are trending up with Pitino at the helm, as the Storm have high quality guard play with RJ Luis, Jr. and Kadary Richmond leading the way.
What can we expect from this season’s tournament?
As always, we can expect great basketball and a ton of wildly entertaining matchups that come down to the end. But after that, I have absolutely no idea!
There figure to be a bunch of worthy candidates who can win it all and as it usually does will all come down to who’s hot at the right time and whose draw is relatively favorable to survive the six grueling rounds.
Grab your popcorn and call in sick. One of the best times of the year is here!
Congressional App Design Winners!
NCCS students recently received notoriety for their innovative entrepreneurship from the United States Congress! Kameron Fournillier, Jason Osborn, Nathan Stinson, and Jade Zebrowski designed a budget and finance-tracking app, CTrack, which won first place in the 2024 Congressional App Challenge, awarded by Representative Barry Loudermilk.
The Congressional App Challenge is the most prestigious national honor for student computer science, with 12,682 students submitting 3,881 original applications nationally this year.
The first-place team from NCCS has been invited to showcase their app to Congress in Washington, D.C.!
SUCCESS STORIES
Giving Students an Entrepreneurial Edge at North Cobb Christian School
By Kate Hartley
I
f you could start a business—any business—what would it be? What unique gifts could you channel into a service or product? What needs would you meet in the community?
These are the questions posed to students at North Cobb Christian School through the school’s Business Academy—an innovative magnet program for high-schoolers that develops business acumen and entrepreneurial initiative. From developing a brand to analyzing profit-and-loss statements, NCCS students conceptualize and run actual businesses … with actual profits.
The success stories from the program are impressive: a humble hallway coffee cart is now a brick-and-mortar coffee shop … a hand-fired pizza company now sells dozens of pizzas at school events … and alumni who continued their businesses beyond graduation have used the profits to pay for college -- and then some!
“There’s no limit to what our students can do,” says Ryan Moore, Director of the NCCS Business Academy. “Two years ago, a group of students in my Entrepreneurship class brainstormed selling drip coffee from a cart in the hallway. Now, my students run our own coffee shop on campus.” NCCS offers five Academy options for high-schoolers: business, arts, STEM, exercise sports science, and ministry / education. “The Academies give students real-world experiences so they can visualize how their God-given bents could lead to a college major or profession,” says Ryan.
Current NCCS senior Isabella O’Connor says she joined the Business Academy because her friends in the program wouldn’t stop talking about it. “When I stepped into Mr. Moore’s class, I realized why everyone was so excited. The Business Academy isn’t just teaching students about business; it’s putting students within the business world itself, with hands-on experience in finance, marketing, and business law.” Through the program, Isabella launched Slaps Stickers, a custom sticker company that has taken off in the halls of NCCS and beyond.
One of the biggest successes for Isabella, however, is how the program has grown her confidence. “Before joining the Academy, I had never spoken in front of a crowd. Now, I know my value and how to communicate that to others,” she says. “My goal is to go into politics and make a difference with the homeless populations in my community.”
Isabella’s success is not an anomaly. NCCS class of 2023 graduate Finley Ross launched a car-detailing business, Finn’s Auto Detailing, in Mr. Moore’s class. Finley continued running his business even after starting college at The University of Georgia, and his licensed LLC now services over 20 cities around Athens and Cobb County, with 80-percent of his booming business coming from large corporate contracts with dealerships, schools, and business fleets.
“The business program at NCCS provided very in-depth coaching and instruction on every stage of starting my business—guidance that you really can’t find elsewhere,” says Finley. “Mr. Moore taught us that you aren’t going to succeed without getting the idea out of your head and into action. Even if you fail at first, you’ll learn how to improve. To this day, Mr. Moore still provides me with support on legal and tax matters.”
For Ryan Moore, watching his students succeed is the best reward. “I love my job, I truly do. NCCS’s mission is to equip students to impact the world for Christ, and that’s what the Business Academy is doing. Our students know how to take the gifts God has given them and confidently go out to make a difference in their world.”
Photo by Alex McKinley -- showing Rep Loudermilk with NCCS students Nathan Stinson, Jason Osborn, Jade Zebrowski, and Kameron Fournillier.
Photo credit M. Jae Photography
Isabella O’Connor started Slaps Stickers.
Higher Grounds student-run coffee shop.
Ryan Moore and Isabella O’Connor.
Ryan Moore oversees his students.
Photo
Structured learning for children ages 6 weeks - 12 years
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TELEVATING THE FAN EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES ACROSS BRAVES COUNTRY:
The Atlanta Braves Unveil a New Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park Ahead of the 2025 Season
he Atlanta Braves are gearing up for an exciting and historical year, both on and off the field. With unforgettable upcoming moments such as the team hosting the 95th Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 15 at Truist Park and participating in innovative experiences such as the MLB Speedway Classic at Bristol against the Cincinnati Reds, there is a lot for fans across Braves Country to get excited about.
game through the Hope & Will’s Sandlot, a kid-sized ball field with a scaled model of Truist Park’s outfield wall, and perfect their swing by jumping into the new collapsible batting cages.
This is driven by the Braves’ commitment to bringing top experiences to fans of all ages and demographics. One of the new developments ahead of this season reaffirms the Braves’ dedication to their youngest fans and families – the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park. In partnership with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, this expanded and reimagined family space will be located at the Left Field Plaza at Truist Park and will open ahead of the 2025 season. This area replaces the ballpark’s traditional Hope & Will’s Sandlot area and brings innovative enhancements and attractions for families to enjoy and create new memories in together.
Since the doors opened at Truist Park in 2017, the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Hope & Will’s Sandlot has been one of the most popular attractions at the ballpark and one that many fans have grown to include as an important stop in their game day experience. Looking ahead with innovation at the forefront for the Braves and the continued growth of fans across Braves Country, it was a priority to create a bigger and more comprehensive family space that would continue to elevate fan experiences for kids and their families alike. The Braves are proud to work alongside Children’s Health of Atlanta, which has been a long-time trusted partner across a variety of initiatives and activations, to bring this to the community. The new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park, along with additional ballpark renovations ahead of the upcoming season, are created in partnership with ROSSETTI, one of the nation’s leading sports and entertainment architects, as well as Impact Development Management.
The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park will stretch over 30,000 square feet, nearly double the size of the previously existing Hope & Will’s Sandlot, offering a spacious and safe environment to accommodate the over 3 million fans and their families who visit the ballpark every year. Among a myriad of interactive play experiences, fans can expect to reach new heights through the reimagined kids’ zone featuring a fan-favorite rock-climbing tower, practice their love of the
A massive, 480-square foot video board located on the Delta Deck, paired with the spacious new lawn space, will provide the perfect opportunity for families to relax and soak in the amenities of the park itself while never missing any of the Braves action happening on the field.
Braves mascot BLOOPER will also be included in a fun way through a dedicated spot branded as BLOOPER’s Clubhouse. Fans will be able to visit during games to meet and snap photos with BLOOPER.
Additionally, fans can expect expansive seating areas across the park, accessible restrooms, and plenty of designated shaded areas and cooling misters that are perfect to help beat those hot Georgia days. Packed concessions and kid-focused merchandise will also be available, among other features, rounding out the park to be the ideal and all-encompassing space for the ultimate family game day destination.
Year-round, the park will serve as a multi-purpose area and will be accessible from The Battery Atlanta for dedicated events and activations. Whether families are looking to make The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park their new Braves game-watching space or book the space for their children’s next birthday party, this space will serve as a hub and catalyst for cultivating community through baseball.
The addition of this enhanced family space is one of many kid-friendly Braves initiatives designed to create unforgettable experiences for fans of all ages. The beloved Braves Kids Club Program, for example, returns this season with fun, new enhancements, and the 2025 Kids Promotional Schedule promises exclusive, one-of-a-kind gate giveaways tailored just for young fans.
The Braves are thrilled to welcome fans back to Truist Park on Friday, April 4, for another fantastic season, and are looking forward to creating new memories with fans at the new Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Park as well as across Braves Country, together.
Saturday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday Noon-5:00 PM
DOWNTOWN KENNESAW
FREE Entertainment, Festival Food,Family Fun
Over 250 arts and craft booths
he Superior Plumbing Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival features over 250 Arts & Crafts booths, 25 food booths with all your favorite fair foods, an entertainment stage, Kids activities as well as live acoustic music in the Food Court throughout the weekend. Something for the entire family! Returning this year is the Georgia Grown Member Village highlighting goods and products from all over the state of Georgia.
Saturday, April 12th 10am-6pm + Sunday, April 13th 12-5pm
Downtown Kennesaw, Georgia -- Heading north on 1-75 take Exit #273 Wade Green Road, turn left (heading west) follow approximately two miles and you will run right into the Festival.
FREE Admission and FREE SHUTTLES: Shuttles will be running from Swift-Cantrell Park to festival grounds during event hours – both Saturday & Sunday.
Parking: Available at Adams Park, Kennesaw First Baptist Church, & Swift-Cantrell Park
Parade: A parade will kick off the festival at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday April 12th. Crowds line the streets of downtown Kennesaw to cheer on the more than 2,000 kids that participate. These kids represent every sports association and school in the area. Local businesses, the winners of various beauty pageants, and Allatoona, Kell, Kennesaw Mountain, Harrison and North Cobb High School marching bands also add to the festivities.
Entertainment: Peter Hart of Atlanta Puppetry appeals to everyone in the audience with unique marionettes and puppet characters that sing, dance, juggle, play fiddle, break apart and come back together, squirt water, and are even launched by catapult across the stage! Patrons will enjoy interacting with Peter & his puppets through musical and comical performances.
New in 2025: Ready Go Dog Show: Grab the family and head to the new Piedmont Bank Amphitheater to check out these world champion high-flying, high-jumping, frisbee catching pups. Then stay after the show to get up close and personal with these amazing athletes.
Acoustic sounds for your listening pleasure: Scott Thompson of Peachtree Station will be performing all the songs you know and love in the 1885 Grill food court. The 2025 Big Shanty Festival will also have additional music at the Piedmont Bank Amphitheater. Grab a beverage, sing-along, relax and enjoy great music with the family.
Local performance/dance groups, school choirs, & acoustic music on the big local entertainment stage at the south end of Main Street throughout the weekend.
www.kennesawbusiness.org
Find us on Facebook: Kennesaw/Big Shanty Festival Instagram: @kennesawbigshantyfestival
The Kennesaw Business Association in cooperation with the City of Kennesaw. Title Sponsor: Superior Plumbing Presenting Sponsors: Emerson Home Services, Georgia Grown, LGE Community Credit Union and Window World.
The Essence of Cobb County:
Education, Athletics, and Cultural Events
ByAndresSandate
Cobb County, Georgia, is a vibrant community that places a strong emphasis on education, athletics, and cultural events. Along with an active business community supported by many local associations and chambers, employers and developers are continually looking for the next opportunity. As I meet with families and clients, the topics of sports, weekend activities, and education are typically top of mind. Understanding the interplay between these aspects of daily life for many Cobb County residents and personal finance provides families (and our readers at OTM) with valuable insights into planning and investment. Going forward, I will dedicate this space to highlighting these three areas, which I believe contribute to making Cobb County a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
1. High School Sports Participation and Achievements Athletics play a pivotal role in the development of students in Cobb County. During the 2023-2024 school year, approximately 12,791 student-athletes participated in various sports programs across the county, demonstrating commitment both on the field and in the classroom. Shout out to the Lassiter High School Girls Swim & Dive team for securing their sixth consecutive state championship in February. The GHSA Boys and Girls Basketball Champions will be crowned March 5-8 and many playoff games including the semifinals and finals can be streamed live on the NFHS Network. Good luck to all area Cobb public and private schools participating in the playoffs.
Financial Insight: The discipline and teamwork exhibited by high school student-athletes and younger athletes working hard in rec and travel sports are essential qualities in personal finance. Families and coaches can encourage kids to apply many of the skills learned on the field of play to success in college, careers, and personal finances. Sports offer fun and physical activity while also offering plenty of experiences to learn about teamwork, delayed gratification, tradeoffs, and fiscal responsibility (particularly important in this age of specialization, year-round commitments, and rising costs).
2. Upcoming Spring Festivals in Cobb County Springtime in Cobb County brings a plethora of festivals that celebrate local culture, arts, and community spirit. Here are some notable events to mark on your calendar:
The Big Shanty Festival: Taking place on April 13-14, 2025, in downtown Kennesaw, this festival features over 250 arts and crafts booths, 25 food booths, live entertainment, and a parade. It’s a family-friendly event with something for everyone.
Smyrna Spring Jonquil Festival: Scheduled for April 26-27, 2025, at the Smyrna Village Green, this festival features over 150 arts and crafts booths, children’s activities, and live entertainment.
Taste of Mableton: Set for May 3, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the Mable House Complex, this event showcases local businesses, food vendors, and community organizations, offering a taste of what Mableton has to offer.
Financial Insight: Attending local festivals is an excellent way to support the community and enjoy affordable entertainment. Families can plan their budgets to include these events, ensuring a balance between family fun and leisure, time away from TVs, screens, and tournaments, with the chance to teach our kids about entrepreneurship, getting involved in the community, and financial prudence.
3. Educational and Career Opportunities: HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships plus a second CITA location
Georgia offers two prominent scholarship programs to support students pursuing higher education. The years go very fast, I remind clients. If they are in elementary and middle school today, they will be applying for colleges soon. Some families want to discuss how they can afford private tuition and college remains off somewhere in the distance. Education funding is a major topic for almost every family I meet with today so equipping yourself with knowledge is critical.
A second career academy (Cobb Innovation and Technology Academy or CITA) location is slated to open at Allatoona High School in 2026. According to CCSD, CITA applications have nearly doubled since the Osborne Academy opened in 2020. 150 open slots exist each year at CITA Osborne and well over 600 apply, leaving 75% of applicants without admission to their desired career training. Applications to Osborne Academy have come from every middle school in the District, according to CCSD. Eleven new pathways will add to the sixteen pathways currently available at CITA at Osborne in the three pillars of Community and Healthcare Services, Emerging Technologies, and Maker Industries.
HOPE Scholarship: This merit-based award provides financial assistance to students with a minimum 3.0 high school GPA attending eligible Georgia post-secondary institutions.
Zell Miller Scholarship: This scholarship offers full tuition coverage for students who graduate high school with a minimum 3.7 GPA and achieve qualifying scores on standardized tests (at least a 1200 on the SAT or 25 on the ACT).
Financial Insight: Families should familiarize themselves with Georgia scholarships and admittance requirements for CITA (and other related opportunities) much earlier in their children’s academic careers than I see happening. If CITA is in your child’s crosshairs begin learning about your options and schedule a tour. By maintaining strong academic performance, doing extracurricular activities, preparing for standardized tests, and learning about cutting-edge programs offered through career academies like CITA, students can significantly reduce the financial burden of college tuition or get a head start on a chosen career field.
Cobb’s Future
Cobb County’s commitment to excellence in athletics, community engagement, and education offers families a robust environment to thrive. By drawing parallels between these areas and personal finance—such as discipline, planning, and community involvement—residents can cultivate a holistic approach to financial well-being.
Engaging in local events, supporting student-athletes, and leveraging educational scholarships and career readiness opportunities are practical steps toward building a secure and enriching future for Cobb County families.
www.gpwealthadvisors.com
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I TRAVEL FLIGHT TIPS
f you have plans for an international trip this year then you will want to prepare to help make your flight the best experience possible. Here are my top tips for your next long-haul flight:
Hydrate
Flying dehydrates you so make sure to drink a lot of water both before and during your flight. I generally bring a few large bottles of water onto the plane with me so I always have something to drink throughout the flight. I’m also a big fan of LMNTs (Liquid IVs work, too) and I typically add a couple of these to my water throughout the flight.
Get up and move
Sitting too long can cause all kinds of issues – swelling, discomfort, and even blood clots - so make sure to get up and move at least every hour or two. You can also do simple exercises, like raising and lowering your calves or ankle circles, in your seat to move your legs and ankles to keep the blood flowing.
Compression socks
They may not be fashionable but if you’re prone to your legs, feet, or ankles swelling on flights, compression socks are definitely functional. I have a pair I travel with for any flight that is over five hours long. These help to minimize swelling and keep your legs from feeling achy. Compression socks will also reduce your risk for blood clots.
Bring your own entertainment
Make sure to have shows or movies downloaded onto a device, books or e-books (downloaded as well), and wireless noise-canceling headphones. Sometimes in-flight entertainment systems don’t work properly, so make sure you have enough to keep you entertained for the duration of the flight. Also, don’t forget a phone charger.
Sleep
I know it isn’t always easy to do, but sleeping on a long-haul flight is your best friend. You get some rest, it helps you fight jetlag, and you won’t be totally exhausted when you arrive at your destination. I’m a big fan of bringing a travel pillow, a wrap that also serves as a blanket, and an eye mask. A lot of people also love ear plugs but I prefer sleeping with my Air Pods in with the noise cancelling turned on. The window seat is also handy so you have something to lean on while you sleep.
Pack basic toiletries
Make sure that you have a toothbrush, toothpaste, contact supplies/glasses, lip balm, and deodorant in your carry-on. A lot of people also like to bring moisturizer or hand cream and face wash/wipes. Being able to take ten minutes in the restroom to freshen up a few times throughout the flight will make all the difference in how you feel when you land.
Dress comfortably and in layers
You’re going to be in the same clothes for hours and (hopefully) sleep in them as well, so make sure that you are comfortable. You can still look stylish and be comfy, so a great pair of leggings or joggers, a t-shirt, and a sweater or sweatshirt are perfect. Make sure to dress in layers so if you get hot or cold you can add or remove layers throughout the flight. I also recommend slip-on shoes or bringing a pair of flip flops for when you need to walk around the cabin. And please always wear socks if you take off your shoes – being barefoot on a plane is gross.
Happy travels!
Heather Meliski is a travel advisor and the owner of Yellow Shoe Travel. She specializes in vacations to the Caribbean and Mexico, Europe, Hawai’i, Australia, Africa, the South Pacific, Asia, and more. Heather lives in Smyrna with her husband and two sons.
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