Entry bubble Vacation Close to Home This Year

By: Nancy | May 01, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Air travel, food and those gas prices we keep talking about—with everything getting more expensive, it might be hard to justify breaking the bank to go far away on a full-blown vacation this summer. But you really would feel better if you could take a break and get away, even if it's for just a day. So consider taking a mini vacation in your own town or discovering someplace within an hour or two away on a day trip.

There wasn't a whole lot going on in my town when I was a kid. But living in South Jersey put my parents and me within 90 minutes of some great day tripping destinations like the Jersey Shore, historic Philadelphia and the Amish countryside.

couple with map

Now that I live in the Washington, DC area, I have a lot of events to choose from and historic places to visit. But I still like to wander to towns I don't know very well.

With today's gas prices though, wandering aimlessly can be an expensive adventure. So before you go, visit your state's tourism web site to find out about places you never knew about or always wanted to visit and map things out. You can also find an abundance of links to historical sites, all kinds of great museums, parks and more in USA.gov's Recreation and Tourism section.

When I visit a town, I like to try to blend in with "the locals." And one thing locals know about is where to get good food, cheap. Learn about the best hometown and hole-in-the-wall restaurants around the country on RoadFood.com. One of my favorites not listed there is a cafeteria I found that's located inside a craft store in Woodstock, Virginia. For about five bucks, I can belly up to the lunch counter and get a big, hot roast beef sandwich and a cherry Coke—the real kind: the lady in the hairnet who calls me "Hon" puts the cherry syrup in herself.

Ready for dessert? Let's go berry picking! I have a favorite spot in Virginia near George Washington's birthplace where I pick blackberries and blueberries by the Potomac River. There are few places I feel more relaxed and at peace than in the middle of that berry patch.

What do they make in your region—a popular food or product? Consider taking a factory tour to see how things are made. Some places, like my childhood favorite, Wilbur Chocolate Factory in Littitz, PA give free samples.

If your interests take a quirky turn like mine do, you might want to explore the more playful side of America by visiting unusual landmarks like the world's largest ball of twine or the guitar-shaped building that I stumbled upon as I was driving through the Tennessee/Virginia border. Search RoadSideAmerica.com for more unique landmarks near you.

Wow. After all that, I'm ready to hit the road again. What have been some of your favorite day trips?

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