Hometown Vacation

With the price of fuel driving the cost of everything up, you may not be able to travel halfway across the country for a vacation this year. This doesn't mean you can't have a vacation.

In fact, it may be possible to have an excellent vacation without ever leaving home. If you live in or near a large city take some time to look at it the same way you would look at a city you might want to vacation in that's a thousand miles away.

Of course, you already know all the hot tourist spots in your hometown area; or do you? Before you dismiss the idea of vacationing in your own city take the time to explore the website set up by your local Chamber of Commerce. You might be amazed at what you've been over looking or putting off because, after all you can go to these places and events anytime.

Check online maps and entertainment offerings aimed at tourist instead of locals. Discover what people who come to your home city want to see and do when they arrive. Where do they want to go to eat? Which parks, museums and special events are they going to be exploring? Are music and the theater of interest to you? What about plays and art galleries? You may be surprised by things going on and places in your city that you knew nothing about.

Get one of the travel guides many states and cities offer for free. They will direct you to both the obvious and not so obvious places lurking nearby.

City events not what you like to do? Would you prefer more outdoors events? Is heading off into the wild blue yonder on a camping or boating trip your usual preference? Then look in that travel guide for outdoor offerings nearby. There may be state parks and national parks that you've never realized were there. What about lakes or hills? How about the seashore? Of course, not all of these are going to be within a day's drive of where you live, but some of them probably are and you can explore these new to you possibilities on your stay-at-home vacation.

By taking the time to look at your own area as if you are a tourist you may find that you can have a wonderful vacation without all the hassles and discomforts of traveling far, far away.

Make your plans as if you are going to go to one of these distant destinations. One difference you might consider is whether or not to stay in a motel or just go home at night. The advantage of going home rather than staying at a hotel or motel is that you will have more money to spend on the fun stuff.