There are days when you would love nothing more than to blow out of your town, blasting music and watching the university skyline fade slowly through your rear-view mirror. If you drove through the night you could hit the Grand Canyon by sunset, the Golden Coast by tomorrow afternoon.
Unfortunately, the realities of skipping town would set in the minute you passed your city limits: no money for gas, a term paper due by midnight, unamused boss when you don't show up for the opening shift tomorrow morning. The sad truth is, most of us do not have unlimited time and money to spend on all the traveling we want to do.
Enter the daycation: a day-long vacation. There are so many good reasons to make your next travel day trip. For one, money and time are not really an issue. There do not have to be any additional costs outside of gas, depending on where you are going. And I've always found a daycation more exciting and relaxing than laying in bed watching Netflix all day. There is something thrilling about skipping town for a day. It's like you're playing hooky with your real life.
Daycation Location: Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo, WI
The best part of a daycation, however, is that it allows you to see the place you live close up. A person's list of dream vacations typically consists of major cities and tourist destinations. Rarely do we think that there destinations close to home that can make for fantastic memories. I used to take daycations all the time in my hometown, everywhere from Devil's Lake State Park to Michigan Avenue. I once drove a two hour round trip to get Frostie Freeze Ice Cream (100% worth it). There is definitely something beautiful about taking the time to visit obscure places.
Daycation Location: The Best Soft Serve Ice Cream in the US, Ft. Atkinson, WI
Day trips have also helped the move from Wisconsin to South Carolina. There is no better way to make a place seem a little more familiar than getting out there and exploring on your own. And even better, they have been a great way to take a break from school and campus life.
Daycation Location: Congaree National Park, South Carolina
There is no wrong way to take a daycation. All you need is a location, a full tank of gas, a good Spotify station, and a few friends to take the trip with. So the next time you wish you were backpacking through Europe, plan a daycation. It will help alleviate your wanderlust while you save for your next big adventure.
Daycation Location: Isle of Palms, Charleston, South Carolina
