Hi folks!
I'm here today with my first piece of advice on traveling.
Disclaimer: I am not a travel guru and I definitely have not been to nearly as many places as popular travel bloggers. I just enjoy seeing new things, living new experiences, and sharing what I learn!
So, the first tip I have for those who like to travel is... DO NOT BE AFRAID TO EXPLORE YOUR BACKYARD.
What I mean is that traveling shouldn't be a word we use to only explain exotic or foreign travels. Exploring your neighborhood is so much fun too! No matter where you are (even in a small mid-western town like me) there are many many many places to explore, sites to see, people to meet...
Certainly your dreams of traveling the world are important, but putting in the effort to discover your town/state/region can be MEGA rewarding!
Whenever we talk about traveling, most people assume we mean leaving the area and spending several days away from home.
I'm here today to tell you that when I met my husband I was not as spontaneous as him. It was actually *kinda* H U G E to me that he would be willing to drive an hour or more just to go to a fun swimming hole he heard about just because he was bored. (ok I was 15 then but even as the years went on it took awhile for me to get on board with his last minute planning).
Now the tables are turned and I am always begging him to come with me to local markets, craft fairs, microbreweries (I owe him thanks for introducing me to good beer), museums, and even REST STOPS. Yes, the rest areas you pass on the highway. Maybe you've stopped at some for a quick break when you're on a road trip.
But did you know that they are a great hub for finding information about things to do in your area? Just this weekend we stopped at a rest area and picked up SO MANY magazines, brochures, and coupons for hotels, restaurants, zoo tickets, etc. Also, if you're into Geocaching, rest stops are a great place to find park-n-grabs!
Taking day trips (and sometimes just a quick evening trip) has been one of the best things for our relationship, too. Choosing to spend so much time together gives us the opportunity to learn more and more about each other. We laugh and joke, and we also take the driving time to talk about important things going on in our lives. Honestly, if we didn't travel around our area as much as we do, we would probably be annoyed with each other 24/7 :)
What are your tips about local travels? Have you ever stopped at a rest stop just to explore? Let me know in the comments!