Most of my thrifty weekends are local escapes. Here are a list of places I go and do not go to plan my next adventure.
- Pick a theme.
- Sports
- Outdoor
- Food
- Books
- Entertainment
- State Parks
- Festivals
- Music
- Lecture
- Local Interest
- Volunteer
- Raising Money for a Cause (5K, 10K, or walk)
- Active
- Retreat
- Yoga
- Learning
- Check out a local calendar, website, or newspaper that lists local events and festivals of interest.
- Use a search engine and search “local (your state or city) events.” Do not make TripAdvisor your default website, as you will find more local input on tourism boards. Here is one I came across from a local tourism board to give an example of: Visit South County, RI See if you can find an events page like this…
- Use the search engine to focus in on the theme or themes you have chosen. Let me give you an example. At the end of a busy school year, my friends and I need to retreat and reconnect. I put in “retreat” and my state into a search engine and local retreat centers popped up. All that Matters popped up, with programs from yoga to meditation to classes and team building in the communities nearby to where I live for free or a small fee. Amazing what a slightly focused search can yield.
- I also put up “volunteer” as many folks want to find out ways to help their communities. Local festivals, farmer’s markets, and sporting events like the Special Olympics are always in need of volunteers. I use the site, Volunteer Match as a first place to look for opportunities. When I was on vacation in New Orleans right after devastating tornadoes hit the region, I found a church to volunteer for a day in cleaning up the community. While volunteering is free, I found the experience that I had that day, life-changing.
Hopefully, this list of starters can help you to plan your next adventure.