Rome has always been our favorite place to begin a European adventure. This June, I'm upgrading my daughter from "Rome Lite"—fewer museums and extra gelato breaks—to the full Roman experience. Armed with stories of Romulus and Remus, gladiators, and ancient Rome from school, she's finally ready for the Colosseum, the Vatican, and even a mummy hunt at the Gregorian Egyptian Museum. Whether she's ready for the walking and lines is another question entirely. Fortunately, Giolitti's watermelon gelato may be enough to keep both of us moving through the Eternal City.

Everyone recommends expensive noise-canceling headphones for travel. I used to carry them too.

Then I started traveling as a single parent.

After hauling my own backpack plus whatever bag my daughter no longer wanted to carry, I realized I preferred simple wired headphones. They weigh almost nothing, never need charging, and I can't lose one earbud while the other disappears into an airport void.

Travel has taught me that the best gear isn't always the fanciest. Sometimes the simplest option is exactly what you need.