Maximizing Your Day Trips

Last week I posted a blog about how the girlfriend and I took a day trip up to Charleston, SC to see one of our favorite bands, Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors open for NEEDTOBREATHE. That got me thinking about what made our trip so much fun.

Here are some tips on how to make the most out of a trip to a new city.

1)      Have a broad plan, but don’t stick to an itinerary:

Make sure you know when you’re going to arrive, and when you need to go home, but leave out the specifics. Not feeling tied to a strict plan will enable you to have more enjoyable explorations.

2)      Don’t be afraid to be a tourist:

Go on that boat tour, bus ride, brew cruise – you can, you’re not from there! You may not think it’s super cool to be a tourist, but you’ll be able to learn much more about the city and its history in a short span of time by going on an organized trip designed for sightseers.

3)      Use your eyes and not your Google search:

When it comes to finding food, explore a little to see what looks good in person, and not on the internet. If there’s a big group of people outside a restaurant, chances are it’s going to be a good one – even if it isn't on the first page of your Google search for "places to eat in ____." This is a great way to keep an eye out for smaller and more local places that don’t have the marketing budget of the big guns.

4)      Try the local beer or wine:

Not only will this more than likely be delicious, it’s a fun way of "collecting" things from your trips. You can start a beer or wine diary, learn facts about different brewing/fermenting processes, and probably meet some jolly natives while you’re at it.

5)      Bring your hammock:

You never know when you may get the photo contest winning shot! Plus new cities = new views = new memories to capture!

It’s wise to have a generic plan, but don’t sweat the little stuff when you’re going to a new place. It’s always fun to explore and find new things, plus when you discover something yourself, you get to make the claim back home that you “found” it.

Happy Road Tripping!