2. Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer here in the US, signals the beginning of the traveling season. Celebrated on the last day of May, it is the first 3-day weekend when you can expect sunny skies and warm weather.
And with the newfound American attitude of “working to live” rather than “living to work,” taking mini vacations, a.k.a. three-day weekends have become a new “apex,” Gen Z’s term for status symbol.
Well… status symbol or not, these long weekend trips don’t have to break the bank. With some research and planning, long weekends might turn you into a local tourist! Here’s a few tips on how you can do it.
1. Target a four-hour drive mark.
Historically, flying costs more during summertime, hence driving is a good alternative. But, before you hop into your car, do a little search of places to go within a four-hour drive from where you live. You don’t want to spend two days of your three-day vacation traveling.
Following this rule ensures you have as much time as possible to enjoy your destination. Plus, if you travel with kids, they’ll be much more mellow, and you’ll avoid those “Are we there yet?” moments.
2. Speaking of kids, download audiobooks to listen to instead of video games or movies.
Watching movies and playing video games are fun, but that means that they have their eyes glued on the screen. Encourage the children to enjoy the countryside. Allow them to enjoy the drive the way it was before the world had gone digital.
Listening to an audiobook is ideal because they can look out the window and still know what is going on the story. A good PG 13 story is Zero G by Dan Wells. Performed by an ensemble cast, it’s a futuristic tale about one middle grade kid versus an entire band of space pirates. At 4 hours and 8 min listening, Zero G is the perfect book for the road.
Zero is just one of 20,000 people aboard a spaceship bound for a new planet set to be colonized. The journey is over a century long but luckily, everyone is in stasis, so they’ll be safe and sound asleep during the trip. Everyone that is, except for Zero, whose pod has malfunctioned, waking him up a hundred years early. His initial excitement in roaming the ship alone quickly turns to a heart-stopping interstellar adventure when a family of space pirates show up, trying to hijack the ship and take the colonizers hostage. With everyone he knows fast asleep, it’s up to Zero to think fast and find a way to stop them–all on his own.
3. Pack or download an extra book for yourself.
If everyone falls asleep and you’re the only one awake, you can read or listen to an audiobook, or both (thanks to Whispersync). There are many to choose from but the lighthearted Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta will grab your interest and titillate your imagination from the first page to the last.
First, you’ll think it’s a romance, then it slowly turns into a whodunit ala Agatha Christie! There are so many laugh out loud funny moments and so many twists and turns, you won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough. If you’re listening to it, you will probably want it to go on 1.5x or 2x speed!
If you don’t read or listen to it during the trip, you can do so when you get home. Believe me, it’s worth it!
4. Brush up on road trip games.
Though meant for children, adults can play as well. Classic favorite game Rubberneckers is a fun challenge game where players earn points for completing a challenge like first person to get a person from another car wave back or the first person to spot a picnic table. Prizes can range from a lollipop to be the one to choose the restaurant for dinner.
5. Select an accommodating hotel or a bed and breakfast for a change of pace.
Hotel chains like the Hampton by Hilton is always sure bet. With more than 2,100 properties globally, Hampton by Hilton is ideal for weekend wanderers.
For a change of pace, you can book at a Bed and Breakfast. Expedia has a good list and BedandBreakfast.com, the world’s largest B&B travel site has a very extensive list.
6. Pack right, pack light
Resist the temptation to over-pack by packing for versatility. Don’t forget to add a few accessories that transform outfits quickly, such as statement jewelry and summer hats. A simple packing trick to get the most out of the space in your carry-on is to roll clothing. You’ll fit more in and eliminate wrinkles!
Make sure that everyone has sunglasses, including the children. UV is harmful to the eyes and sunglasses are not just fashion statements, they actually protect your eyes.
7. Free up the itinerary
It’s tempting to pack as much as possible into three days, but you’ll end up stressed and exhausted by the end if you do. For long weekends, select one main activity you want to do — such as a tourist stop, museum visit or day at the beach — and leave the rest of the time open for casual exploration. Spontaneity often inspires the best adventures.
So, there you go! Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend!
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Zero G
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Stuck in Manistique
