Summer travel doesn't have to feel like an endless organizational headache. Some of the best trips we take are the ones we almost didn't bother planning at all – a drive to a lake an hour away, dinner at a restaurant in our neighborhood we’ve been meaning to try, a weekend at a family member's house that turns into memories we talk about for years. What all of these have in common is a decision: to put the magic back into the mundane. To make ordinary outings feel extraordinary with a little bit of intention and a whole lot of presence.
So in that spirit, today in the journal, we put together ten destinations worth adding to your summer travel plans. Ranging from a day trip to a cross-country flight, these can be big destination trips or small excursions, but you can make each one even more meaningful by wearing an intentional, symbol-rich KIM+ONO kimono robe and make the most of it. Here they are.
Photo by Ashley Streff
1. A Beach You've Never Been To
Don’t go to your usual spot, find a new one! This is the beach you've driven past and always meant to try. It’s a new stretch of coastline, or a lake beach that someone mentioned once and you saved for later. The Washable Silk Yuri Kimono Robe, in 22mm, 100% silk, works beautifully as a beach cover up kimono layered over a swimsuit. It's machine washable at home so you don’t have to keep it away from the saltwater, but as a cover for the walk from the car to the water or lunch afterward at a patio restaurant, it's the most effortless thing you'll reach for all summer.
2. Your City's Rooftop Pool
Most cities have one and it’s easy to forget! A rooftop pool on a weekday afternoon, when the crowd is smaller and the light is good, is a version of vacation that costs almost nothing and takes less than an afternoon to reset and relax. The Charmeuse Kimono Robe in our 22mm poly-charmeuse blend is a kimono robe that’s easy to wear poolside. Lightweight, fluid, machine washable. Throw it over your suit, slip on sandals, and get used to taking a swim in the middle of the workweek.
3. A Restaurant a Few Towns Over
It doesn’t take much to create a special moment. Sometimes all it takes is a short drive. Head to a neighborhood slightly outside your orbit for dinner and it makes an ordinary Thursday feel like a planned vacation. Bring it to the next level by simply dressing for it. The Washable Silk Kimono Robe in 22mm, 100% Grade 6A Raw Mulberry Silk, belted over wide-leg trousers and a cami, is exactly the kind of kimono outfit that works for an easy dinner where you feel put together but comfortable. It's machine washable on cold in the delicate cycle so you can enjoy yourself without the worry.
4. A River You Haven't Sat By Yet
Rivers are underrated summer destinations. Pack a blanket, a book, and lunch, and find a stretch of riverbank you've never been to. The Charmeuse Kimono Wrap, with its double lining and in-seam pockets, is a beautiful choice here. The pockets keep your phone close (but not too close!). The velvet trim keeps you comfortable and warm as you relax along a riverbank with your shoes off.
Photo by @mirandatillinghast
5. Family Across the Country
It’s time to take the trip you keep meaning to take. Book it this summer and make some memories. When you're flying, a silky robe becomes one of the most important things you can pack. The Washable Silk Kimono Robe rolls flat in your carry-on or functions as a lightweight, breathable layer on the plane, a cover-up at the hotel, or morning wear at your family's house without taking up much space in your suitcase. Pack one kimono robe and get at least three uses out of it.
Photo by @mirandatillinghast
6. A Botanical Garden or Arboretum
Most cities have a botanical garden or arboretum that goes undervisited by the people who live there. A few hours walking through a garden in summer, especially in the early morning before it gets crowded, is one of those experiences that genuinely rejuvenates. A floral kimono robe worn over a sundress makes the experience feel immersive, adding depth and delight to the day. Our Printed Silk Kimono Robe collection includes prints designed by hand at the Silk Village in China, patterns you won't find anywhere else, inspired by the beauty of nature – a perfect sartorial complement to your time in the garden.
7. A Fancy Hotel Lobby Bar
You don't need to be a guest to enjoy a good hotel. A hotel lobby bar on a summer evening, in a city you live in or one you're passing through, is an entirely accessible form of treating yourself well. Ladies silky robes feel like a natural fashion in the hotel world: the weight and drape of a silk robe over an evening look makes getting dressed feel sophisticated and elegant. The Handpainted Silk Kimono Robe, made from 16mm, 100% Grade 6A Raw Mulberry Silk, is the one for a night like this. Each piece is handpainted by our artisan partners in China’s Silk Village so no two exactly alike. This piece is part of our Archival Collection with limited inventory remaining. It is the definition of a wearable work of art.
Photo by @mariacalderon.art
8. Retracing a Trip With Your Partner
Relive your memories and while you’re there, make some new ones. Whether it’s the town where you got engaged, the beach from your first vacation together, the city you lived in before you moved, revisiting your old stomping grounds can bring new life into your everyday. The purpose isn't nostalgia for its own sake, but rather reconnection, to a place, to each other, and to all you’ve done to grow and change over the years. Wear something that makes the trip feel like an occasion. The Washable Silk Twill Kimono Wrap in 18mm, 100% Grade 6A Sandwashed Silk Twill, has the weight and texture of a piece that feels like home.
9. A Neighborhood Farmers Market You've Never Tried
Don’t go to your usual spot, pick a neighborhood across town and change up your Saturday morning. Bring a bag, buy something you don't know how to cook yet, and follow your curiosities around the market. This is the kind of errand that becomes a pleasant experience with just a little bit of extra intention. A lightweight floral kimono robe over a linen set is the most natural outfit for a farmers market, breathable enough to keep you feeling cool in a crowd, put-together enough that you feel ready to go for the rest of the day.
10. Somewhere Entirely New, Just for One Night
A one-night trip is underestimated. Drive two hours in a direction you don't usually go, find a small inn, eat at the one restaurant the town is known for. The Charmeuse Kimono Robe is what we'd pack for a trip like this. It rolls to pack easily, weighs almost nothing, and works as a morning robe in the hotel room before you head out or as a lightweight layer at dinner. When you're looking for ladies silky robes that function as beautifully as they look, a silk-alternative charmeuse is a great answer. The 22mm weighted drape gives it the feel of silk at a more accessible price point, and machine washing means one less thing to think about.
Summer is a short window, but you can make the most of it by simply looking out at the world around you. The trip you keep thinking about making is worth making. Wear something that celebrates the adventures you’ll take this summer and make new meaningful memories to last a lifetime.
