Only have a night in London? Don't worry, you can still check out many of the major tourist attractions at night. The plus side? No crowds and a different view that what you typically see!

I was in London briefly for a conference and only had a few free hours after dark to go sightseeing. Below are the places I visited.

1. Buckingham Palace
Although you won't get to see the changing of the guards, the palace is well-light and looks lovely at night.

2. Big Ben
It was difficult to capture in photographs, but the illuminated faces of Big Ben are a very nice sight.

3. Palace of Westminster

4. Westminster Abbey

5. Wander the Streets
I did a lot of general wandering between tourist attractions. So many of the buildings look spectacular at night.

6. Red Telephone Box
While wandering the streets, you are sure to come across an iconic red telephone box. I feel like no trip to London is complete without a photo with one.

7. Platform 9 3/4 -- King's Cross
If you are a Harry Potter fan then you do not want to miss a visit to Platform 9 3/4, located inside King's Cross Station. The station is open until the last train. I stopped by a little after midnight. During the day there is typically a long line to get your photo taken. On this night, there were two other people besides myself.

There are many other attractions, such as Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral, which I would have loved to see if I had more time.

Today I would like to share a brief overview of my road trip across New Mexico and into Colorado. We camped along the way, which helped keep the cost of the trip extremely low.

Day 1:
Quick stop at the Heritage Walkway in Artesia, NM

Camping and hiking in Lincoln National Forest

Day 2:
White Sands National Monument.
We camped overnight  and it was an amazing experience.

Day 3:
The National Solar Observatory
White Sands National Monument

Day 4:
Ojo Caliente Hot Springs
Camping in Carson National Forest

Day 5:
Camping in San Isabel National Forest

Day 6:
Fossil Beds
Camping in Pike's National Forest

Day 7:
Brunch at the Broadmoore
Garden of the Gods
Manitou Springs

Last summer I had a 10-week internship in Colorado. Because I don't like dealing with a lot of luggage and waiting around at the airport to claim my baggage, I decided to pack light. Very light.

1.) Figure out exactly what you will be taking. If feasible, I suggest picking clothing items that are made of thin fabrics. Select items that can be mixed and matched for the widest range of outfit options.

2.) Don't fold. Instead, roll all your clothing. This will save you a lot of room and your clothes won't wrinkle as much.

3.) Now start putting your clothing into the suitcase in layers.

4.) I forgot to take a photo, but all my solid beauty/personal care items were placed in a makeup bag that I put in the center of the suitcase with a "wall" of clothing on all four sides. Any liquids were placed in a ziplock bag and put into the front pocket for quick retrieval. Don't bring items that you can inexpensively purchase at your destination (such as sunscreen and toothpaste).

5.) I put my notebooks, folders, and tablet on the top since flat items tend to fit really well here. I wore my bulky shoes with me to the airport. The white shoes shown in above photos were placed on top of the notebooks.