Treasure Troves Close To Home
With the gas prices being as they are, and the airlines not only increasing ticket prices, but implementing policies and fees for checked baggage, many annual vacationers have opted for staying home. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t find other ways of getting the rest and relaxation you need-it just takes a little creative thinking.
First, ask yourself what destination you would choose, if you could pick anywhere in the world, and why would you select it. Once you’ve decided on a place, think about what your goal would be by traveling to that destination. Is it for relaxation? Is it for the scenery? The activities?
If you’re having trouble organizing your thoughts on this, you may want to try mind mapping. If you’ve never done mind mapping, it is simply tool to use to help you map out your thoughts into logical order. FreeMind is a free, open source mind mapping tool. This page contains valuable information on how to download and install FreeMind. Give it a try and see if it helps you with organizing your travel goals.
Once you have your destination and purpose, decide on a budget. Calculate the maximum amount you are willing to spend on such a trip, including air fare.
Now, are you ready for the creative part of this exercise? Look at what is available in your own state. If you’re near a bordering state, look there, too. Focus on places that would take about two hours, or less in drive time. I heard some of you readers grumbling when I suggested your own state, but I encourage you to keep an open mind. I’m going to give you some examples, so you won’t have to sacrifice that coveted yearly trip away from it all.
To begin, I live in Indiana, and my first thought in researching this article was to find what this state has to offer that is similar to where I’d like to be on vacation. Next, I pulled up a search engine, and typed in the key words “travel Indiana”. That search pulled in websites from touring Indianapolis, to horseback riding and travel packages for The Rawhide Ranch in Nashville Indiana, to cabin rentals and cottages in Perry & Brown Counties, both popular fall foliage destinations. However, one site caught my eye, and that was www.visitindiana.net. I knew this would have all the information I needed to get me started.
From this site, I did searches and clicked through links and found that my home state had just about anything I could possibly want regarding a vacation. Let’s say I want to be on the beach, or out on a boat. I don’t have to go to the ocean to do that. I can drive about an hour from my home and stay at Patoka Lake. Here, you can rent a cabin, or even a boat, for the day, or the weekend, and longer packages are available, too. It looked so appealing, that I had to check it out for myself. Once there, I became so engrossed in the beauty of the area, the fact I was so close to home completely slipped from of my mind.
Another option I noticed wasn’t far from Patoka Lake. French Lick Springs/West Baden Springs Hotel and casino. This one is a must do for Vegas enthusiasts, or even those in the area wanting to take a relaxing spa vacation. Built about a century and a half ago, this resort has seen its share of high profile visitors from Franklin D. Roosevelt, to Elvis and Lana Turner, to Harry Connick, Jr. and Michelle Pfeiffer, to name a few. But, the reality is, for the same price you’d pay for airfare to most destinations, you can purchase an overnight stay for two complete with golfing, Swedish massage, a signature Pluto Bath, and breakfast in the morning. Lower priced packages are available, and can run to the high end, depending on what you’re seeking. Check it out for yourself by going to www.frenchlick.com.
These are only a few of the many places I found nearby. Others include skiing, visiting historical landmarks, museums, zoos, beaches and even some fantasy hotels that offer a themed atmosphere to enhance your travel experience.
Now that I’ve given you some food for thought, what are you waiting for? Start searching today on your home state and see what hidden treasures you can find for a vacation getaway.
Tags: travel