Three Great Tips for Traveling Local This Summer

By
Ian Morris
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Yosemite National Park, California. Photo by Jason Hogan on Unsplash

Travel during the summer of 2020 is likely to be unprecedented in some ways. It is all but impossible to travel for leisure from one continent or country to another, in most cases, and people are being led to looking towards more local and conventional destinations instead.

That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, however! While a trip to a small town an hour away from your home might not be as exciting as a getaway to Paris or Bali, it can be great all the same. Here are three tips that will help you to make the most of local travel this summer.

Look for Nature Destinations

Avoiding crowds will be a top priority for many this summer, so why not head to the wide-open expanses of nature to experience Earth’s most beautiful sights while social distancing? Hiking or exploring a natural park is a great option to do this.

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Headed to the park soon? Before you hit the trails, consider mapping your journey using our website and other resources. https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/trip-planner.htm Before your trip, think about what you might need to have a safe and enjoyable visit. Some key items include plenty of water, proper hiking shoes, bug spray, sunscreen and a map. When you arrive, it's important to have the latest information on weather and temporary closures. Stop by a visitor center to ask a ranger your lingering questions. Current conditions can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvisit/conditions.htm During your trip, make sure you are staying on trail and collecting your trash for proper disposal. Keeping the park beautiful is a team effort! We hope you enjoy exploring and learning about the park! #MapYourJourney #RecreateResponsibly Photo by Bob Carr

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Don’t Be Afraid to Visit the Same Place Twice

If you live in a small town an hour outside of a big city, you’ve probably spent some time in it before. But why not head back there this summer and check out the things that you weren’t able to do in your last visit there? Doubling up while traveling isn’t a bad thing!

Take Advantage of the Lack of Crowds

Traveling to popular destinations this summer is probably going to be down, so why not take advantage of the lack of crowds to visit popular tourist attractions that you never mustered up the patience to visit before?