by David Reichman
http://www.TripWiser.com
©
2009
Instead of subjecting yourself to tedious New Year's
resolutions like "lose weight" or "save more", add FUN to
your year by pledging to use your Road Trip Planner at least once a month to explore
your world near and far.
Before you object by declaring,
"There's no way I can afford a monthly adventure!", bear in mind that
many itineraries can be filled with free activities. A road trip can be for as
little as one day; whether you're packing the car with a picnic basket, a backpack
or a 5-piece luggage set, if you're hitting the road, you're on a road trip!
Your
12 road trip itineraries might look something like this:
JANUARY
& MARCH: Imagine a perfect day trip within two hours of your home to an area
you've always wanted to explore more thoroughly but usually just pass by it to
and from your "real" vacations. Sometimes it's simply that city across
the bay or in a neighboring county. Perhaps you live on the West Coast and could
experience Day Tripping in Seattle or Exploring La Jolla Cove. If you're in the
East, then consider By Car, Cape Cod or Touring nature's green spaces, Niagara
Falls - New York. And for those you living in between, try the Scenic tour from
Dinosaur Ridge to Red Rocks Park, Denver or Walking Tour of Downtown, Memphis.
Even though the weather might be chilly, as long as you dress accordingly, the
fun factor's equal to the task. Walking along the beach in the winter is invigorating!
Grabbing the kids for some ice-skating is a blast! Just do a bit of road trip
planning so you'll have the addresses and directions on hand then fill your itinerary
with some activities in the area. Add in a restaurant and some shops and you've
successfully gotten yourself out from under the pile of household chores and into
an all-day adventure, definitely more fun in anyone's book.
FEBRUARY
& APRIL: An overnight stay is just enough time to let you taste the escape.
Here, your road trip planner might include an overnight stay in an 1860 Antebellum
mansion B & B in New Orleans (especially around Valentine's Day). Strolling
along a park under an umbrella big enough for two is romantic. Finding your gal
a filigree necklace in an antique shop earns you major points. Or you might find
yourself in the Tioga State Forest in Pennsylvania, staying Black Bear Log Cabin
with your kids just to get everyone outside and hiking along the trails.
MAY
& JUNE: Now the weather's warming up and you're digging in the closet for
your t-shirts and shorts. This might be where you go on a couple of 3-Day Weekend
Getaways as teaser vacations. Now your road trip planner might easily include
200-250 miles of road before getting to your destination but when you have 3 or
4 days set aside, 4 hours driving time isn't bad at all, especially if your route
is scenic.
JULY & AUGUST: This is the Prime Time of
vacations if you're north of the equator. This is where you do your best road
trip planning because you've got a 7-10 day itinerary to fill. Choose a National
Park for an outdoor vacation in July and then a cultural city like Boston or San
Francisco for August. This is also about the time you realize that while you're
working for a living, the living's mighty easy when you're on vacation.
SEPTEMBER
& OCTOBER: You can still get some Dog Days of Summer in September but for
October, pack some extra clothes to allow for weather changes. Dress in layers
and make sure you have that extra jacket or sweater in the trunk of the car, maybe
an extra pair of shoes. Your road trip planner might include checking out the
Fall Colors in the East, the desert in the mid-west, or the warm waters surrounding
the Florida Keys. Stretch your vacation out as wide as you can because the remaining
two months will most likely be filled with holiday travel. Campground choices
range family oriented ones like Martha's Vineyard Family Campground to luxury
cabins in the Smoky Mountains in Gaitlinburg, Tennessee.
NOVEMBER
& DECEMBER: Try grabbing an overnight getaway before mid-November. Once the
Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays grab a hold of your time, it won't let go
until January. So sneak away to a lodge with a fireplace, or get away for a golf
and spa weekend.
There you have it...a year's worth of adventure
to keep any road trip planner humming along the highways and byways. Enjoy the
rides!
