Traveling for vacation is a great way to enjoy some time off and see new places. However, not everyone has the money or time to travel far from home. Fortunately, there are plenty of exciting destinations that don’t require you to spend hours on a plane to get there. Luckily, you can find some great destinations near you.

1. Visit a Local Park

There are many fantastic parks located near major cities. These parks offer great hiking trails, beautiful scenery, nature reserves, and plenty of relaxing places. Pack a lunch and find a good spot.

2. Visit a Nearby City or Town

If you’re looking for a change of pace, consider visiting a city or town that’s located close to where you live. You will find museums, historic sites, and nature attractions, such as aquariums. For example, check out things to do in Gulfport, Mississippi. There are many great cities to visit within driving distance of major American cities. Some interesting destinations include Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Boston.

3. Take a Road Trip

If you’re looking for something more adventurous, consider taking a road trip. There are many great destinations to explore within driving distance of your home. Exciting options include the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and the Rocky Mountains.

4. Attend a Local Fair or Festival

Many towns host street festivals throughout the year. These are great places to eat delicious food, see live music acts, and simply have fun! Examples include the Minnesota State Fair in Minneapolis and Taste of Chicago in Chicago.

5. See Some Live Theater or Concerts at an Entertainment Venue Near You

There are many theaters and concert halls located throughout North America where you can enjoy all sorts of performances for a reasonable price. Good examples include Carnegie Hall in New York City, Massey Hall in Toronto, and The Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco.

6. Visit a Nearby Historical Site

There are many sites of historical significance located near major cities. These sites offer great tours explaining their history and providing interesting facts about their construction. Examples include Mount Vernon in Washington, D.C., Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, and Chichen Itza in Yucatan, Mexico.

7. Go Camping or Hiking at a Nearby Park or Forest

Many parks and forests across the United States host campsites and trails for people to enjoy nature and get away from it all. Some great locations include Yosemite National Park in California, Cincinnati Nature Center in Ohio, and Zions National Park in Utah.

8. Attend a Free Lecture or Event at Your Local Library

Libraries offer a variety of free events and lectures throughout the year. These are great ways to learn about new things and meet new people. A few examples include author readings, cooking classes, and history lectures.

9. Take a Day Trip to a Nearby Amusement Park or Water Park

If you’re looking for a fun day trip with your family or friends, consider visiting an amusement park or water park that’s located close by. There are many great options to choose from, and most parks offer discounted tickets if you purchase them in advance. Good examples include Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio, Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois, and Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Texas.

10. Take a Day Trip in a National Park

Take a day trip to go hiking or sightseeing at a nearby state or national park. If you’re looking for something more adventurous, consider taking a day trip to one of your local state or national parks. There’s so much beauty outside of our doorstep, and it’s essential to take advantage of it as often as we can. Some great examples include Yosemite Park in California, Acadia National Park in Maine, and Olympic National Park in Washington State.

11. Take a Guided Tour of the City You Live In

Most cities offer free guided tours for people interested in learning more about their history. Some good examples include Gracie Mansion Tours in New York City, Angels Flight Railway Tour in Los Angeles, and Ghosts and Gravestones Historical Pub Crawl in Savannah, Georgia.

12. See a Play at Your Local Theater Company

Many theaters across North America host plays throughout the year. These are a great way to support your local arts community, and most plays are very affordable. Examples include the Toronto Centre for the Arts; Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, New York; and Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

While it can be challenging to find the time and money for expensive trips, the secret is simple: live well within your means. This allows you to save up enough money for these short getaways throughout the year. Make a list of places you would like to see. Consider seeing new places from this list each month. Safe travels!

There’s nothing akin to the experiences you can have when you are traveling the world. These 8 countries are incredibly stunning and each offers its own unique experiences.

Iceland

If you ever want to climb a glacier in one of the most breathtaking countries in the world, then look no further. The landscape of Iceland is beautiful with volcanic black sand beaches and some of the most epic waterfalls to behold. There is also the possibility of seeing the northern lights if you are there at the right time of year and get lucky.

Cambodia

The Kingdom Of Wonder is home to many ancient temples, most famously the Angkor Wat Complex which is just outside of the small city of Siem Reap in the north-western area of the country. The country is rich with history and many guided tours are available to educate on the often tumultuous history of the Kingdom.

Ireland

Affectionately known as the Emerald Isle, Ireland has been a favourite destination for many world travelers. The cliffs of Moher in Galway should be one of the destinations on the list with its more than impressive scenery. If you get up to Northern Ireland you can visit the Giant’s Causeway or the Dark Hedges that was featured in the TV Show The Game Of Thrones.

Australia

Among the multitude of things to do and see, horse racing is one of the highlights of the sporting world in Australia. If you can get information on The Championships betting tips, for example, you have a better chance of scoring a win during the Sydney Autumn Festival which is one of Australia’s most popular horse racing events.

Egypt

One of the most ancient civilizations in the world, Egypt is home to the world-famous Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. That alone should be enough to get you there. However, there are a lot of other things to do while you are there. Perusing the markets is great for an experience as well as visiting the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.

Thailand

Thailand is known as the Land of Smiles for good reason. The country is a lot more geographically diverse than you might think. Up north in Chiang Mai is a revered mountain known as Doi Sutep, while down south hosts multiple islands that have been a haven for backpackers.

Italy

Italy has spawned many geniuses throughout its history. So, if you are a history buff Italy is the place for you. Rome especially has a prolific history that is well documented. Take yourself to Rome where the colosseum still stands after nearly 2000 years or you can make your way up to Pisa to see the world-famous Leaning Tower. Travel further north and visit Venice while you still can and take a ride on the gondolas.

Mexico

Even if you don’t speak the language you can experience a great adventure in the country that should no doubt include Chichen Itsa, aside from the cheap tequila and stunning beaches. Diving is a major drawcard for Mexico with Tulum playing host to incredible cenotes that cannot be found anywhere in the world.

Every type of travel offers inspiration so whether you choose one of these countries or something else that holds an appeal for you, the important thing is getting out there to explore the world in the first place.

There are dozens of ways to travel if that appeals to you. If you own a vehicle, you can drive it across the country to visit relatives or take that much-deserved vacation. You might go solo, or perhaps you want the whole family to come with you.

You can also fly, which gets you where you’re going faster than most other options. You can be on the other side of the country in about six hours, flying from coast to coast. You might also use an RV, bike, or many other options.

In this article, though, we’ll talk about some less conventional travel methods. We’ll also talk about some potential drawbacks and benefits of each one.

Tour Buses

Tour bus travel appeals to some people, and not so much to others. One nice thing about tour buses is that if you decide you want to take one to a destination, you don’t have to drive. If you’re not the most confident driver, handing over the duty to someone else might appeal to you.

You can also meet some friendly people on tour buses. The group seems to form a loosely-knit family unit for the days you are together. You might even meet some lasting friends that you stay in touch with long after the trip concludes.

If you’re single, you might find a new significant other while on a tour bus. You also have plenty of opportunities to see sights along the way. Many tour buses stop at natural wonders, like the Grand Canyon or Mount Rushmore.

You also might get on one that goes to Vegas or Atlantic City. Senior gambling junkets like this are very popular, so if you’re in that age group, this might be for you.

On the other hand, tour bus crashes do occur sometimes. You never know if the driver will fall asleep at the wheel or allow their smartphone to distract them.

At the moment, Covid-19 is also a concern. The pandemic is not over, and even if you’re fully vaccinated, you might feel like now is not the right time to check out a tour bus vacation for that reason.

Oceanic Cruises

If you love being out on the water, an ocean cruise might make sense. These cruises sometimes start in places like New York and let you sail off to the Caribbean or other exotic and desirable destinations.

On these cruises, you can get a luxury cabin if you can afford one. You can experience fine dining in one of the ship’s restaurants.

Some of these cruise ships also have veritable theme parks right there on the premises. There are swimming pools and even roller coasters or go-cart tracks on some of the largest and most elaborate ones.

As far as possible negatives, Covid-19 is a concern again. Some people don’t feel like now is the right time to mix with other individuals, even out on the water where you don’t necessarily have to crowd close together indoors.

You also might get seasick. You can always take medication to combat that, but some people are not comfortable out on the water, and nothing is ever likely to change that.

RV Traveling

RV travel splits the difference between camping and the traditional road trip. The road trip aspect comes from owning or renting a large vehicle and driving it along America’s byways and highways. You can also stop to camp at various sites around the country, though.

If you are a confident driver, you will have no problems maneuvering a massive vehicle such as this. You can easily take the whole family with you, and even some friends and neighbors if you like.

You can all enjoy stopping at roadside attractions and diners. You might park the RV and go for hikes in the woods, planning out a route so you can see and experience some natural and human-made wonders.

RVs are expensive, though, so buying one might not be in your budget right now. You can always rent one, but if you do, you may not feel so comfortable about driving it since you are probably not used to it.

RV rental or ownership isn’t a bad move these days, though, since the pandemic persists. If you drive an RV around the country, you can avoid direct human contact that’s essentially necessary with the other two options we’ve mentioned.

Take some time and think about whether any of these three sounds suitable for you.