In defense of the day trip – The Mercury News

As the times get longer and the sun gets hotter, we frequently find ourselves leaving home and traveling further afield, or we stay calm and wait and plan our trip for the upcoming change of seasons.

But what about that charming town just an hour north, or that lovely nature reserve even closer to home that you just haven't visited yet despite hearing amazing things about it?

This summer, let's rediscover the enjoyment of visiting latest places closer to home. Let's have a look at the familiar world around us through the enthusiastic eyes of a traveler. Who knows? You might find more to love than you expected.

Day trips are short, often full-day or half-day, excursions that a traveler can complete in a single day. They may last several hours or simply a half-hour drive, but in any case, they encourage locals to get to know places, parks, cities and sights which are unfamiliar to the traveler.

Since my first trip to Europe, I see my world here with latest eyes. I even have grow to be more curious and need to go to places near me that I even have never been before, comparable to Port Washington, a small port town in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan that’s home to the primary artificial harbor within the Great Lakes and is completely enchanting in the summertime.

After spending a day strolling along the harborfront, visiting historical sites, practicing my photography, and drinking coffee in the town's charming cafes, I used to be left with only one query: why hadn't I visited this place before?

It's a form of traveler's blindness. As travelers, we focus a lot on moving further and farther from home, convinced that the farther we travel, the more miles we cover, the more we'll learn, the more we'll enjoy it, and the more refreshed, renewed, and yes, much more respected by our fellow travelers we'll return.

You get my point. How lots of you’ve gotten ever heard someone modestly brag about their trip to an exotic location, as if traveling all of the solution to Vietnam, Greece or Argentina makes them a greater person?

The sad truth is that this desire to go to the places most different from our hometown blinds us to the enjoyment of discovery we feel here, at home.

However, I imagine we will have a look at the world around us with the identical eyes we use to explore a few of the world's hottest travel destinations.

A couple of weeks ago, Orange Cone Season (the colloquial term for summer in Wisconsin) forced me to take an unexpected detour on my solution to a close-by town I've been visiting for some time to work a couple of hours from home. For a protracted time, I had no idea where I used to be going, but without that detour, I’d never have discovered the last covered bridge still standing in Wisconsin, hidden in an enthralling rural park.

When was the last time you bought in your automobile and hit the highway, but headed east as an alternative of west, just out of curiosity to see where it’d take you? When was the last time you left your county since you desired to attend a close-by summer festival you'd at all times heard about but never thought of going to? When was the last time you made the choice to drive somewhere you'd never been before – without ever leaving your property state or spending an evening in a hotel?

Make some extent to take at the very least in the future trip this summer, either spontaneous or planned. I guarantee you won't regret the experience.

Reasons why it is best to take a day trip

It's good for you. While I don't have any psychological statistics to back it up, I do know that visiting latest places, whether near or far, increases our curiosity and makes us happier, more fulfilled people. Plus, it creates memories, especially once we do it with other people. So what are you waiting for? If you’ve gotten a automobile, nothing's stopping you!

It's good to your local economy. If you reside somewhere not known for its tourism economy, then domestic (intrastate) tourism might be the important tourism driver for most of the places you visit. Even in the event you're just taking a day trip, with every purchase, meal, and experience you're supporting your local parks, business owners, and restaurant owners, and that contributes to the general health of the communities you visit, which is pretty awesome.

It's short – on time. Even in the event you don't have flexible hours, you possibly can still take day trips in your free time. Since the times are longer in the summertime, you possibly can get away from work within the afternoon and revel in several hours of daylight in a close-by location before heading home. And why not enjoy a pleasant meal on this latest place whilst you're at it? Or if you must lower your expenses, you possibly can plan a visit to a free park and pack your personal lunch or dinner to enjoy whilst you explore.

Maybe you'll find yourself liking your corner of the world. I do know, I do know, all of us prefer to poke fun on the place we live, but there's a lot to find and appreciate! Local farmers selling the freshest produce, pretty historic landmarks, charming towns and villages, native wildlife, fascinating cities and stunning parks. No matter where you reside, there's sure to be something that can broaden your horizons, expand your worldview and possibly, just possibly, offer you a brand new appreciation to your little corner of the world.

So, what do you’re thinking that? Do you fancy a day trip?

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