If you’ve ever wanted to just skip town and explore something new but have a tight budget, day trips are the perfect addition to a frugal staycation.
A trip sounds nice, but you may be wondering how you’ll be able to afford it if you haven’t been saving up to travel. A day trip is a perfect option to get out of town for just a day and explore something new without spending a ton of money. You may have leftover vacation days that need to be used up before the year is over or you could try to make time and clear your schedule for a weekend day.
A day trip would be somewhat local and eliminate costly travel expenses like airfare, hotel stays and even some meals. Here are three amazing day trip ideas you should consider if you’re looking for an affordable getaway.
Visit an Indoor Water Resort
Indoor water resorts offer flexible and affordable fun and relaxation for the entire family. Check online to search for the nearest indoor water resort attraction in your area. Odds are, there may be something just a few hours away or less. Once you find a location that sounds interesting, you can pack up and leave out early to spend an entire day at the resort.
Most resorts have different age appropriate pools and water slides, a café on site, and even an arcade option for when visitors want to take a break from the water activities. Large water resorts often have hotel rooms as part of the resort for guests who want to stay overnight, but if you arrive in the morning and leave in the evening before they close, you will only have to pay for full-day passes.
Head Out to the Boonies
If you want to get away but still sleep in your own bed at night, check out rural areas around your state to see what attractions they have to offer. If you live in a large or expensive city, a small town may give you a much needed change of scenery and allow you to ‘slow down’ in a sense.
Some small towns are known for bringing in tourists while others aren’t but still have some nice attractions. See if any rural areas have museums, old architecture or historical tours you can attend. Check out the local coffee shop or a popular eatery to try some new food. Things tend to get much cheaper the further you get away from large cities.
Attend an Event at a State Park
Depending on where you live, there may be some festive fall activities and events going on at state parks. Most state parks are open year ‘round meaning they have events going on all throughout the year.
State parks are FREE to visit and offer season deals for events and tours. It may be worth it to see if your state park is offering trolley or bus tours, guided winter hikes, indoor performances or musical events.
Hanging out at a state park for the day and checking out things you’ve never seen or experienced before can be an exciting and low cost way to spend your day off.
Have you ever gone on a day trip or do you have any last minute travel plans set up for this year?