We do vacation and local trips. Anything within about a three hour drive can be a decent day trip. We're in Houston so a day trip could be Johnson Space Center, Austin, San Antonio, or the ocean. There is plenty to do here. We can pack a lunch or try a new restaurant. It all depends on what we want to do. We sometimes will spend a night or two in a hotel. It all depends on what there is to see and do and how much we are willing to spend.

I provide childcare for my grandson, so it's really impossible to vacation, except when the parents take theirs, which is usually only for a week - and I love to stay home for that whole week with my house all to myself, no one to cook for or pick up after or worry about getting from school, etc. I also live in a very desirable summer vacation destination and can't think of anywhere I'd rather be this time of the year. So yes, I sometimes take myself (and sometimes with a friend) to a very nice little resort only 45 min from my house. They have a fabulous view of the salt water, an amazing pool, a great restaurant and bar. I can just lounge around and not see any work that needs doing, read my book, look at GW and some other forums if I want, etc.

There are a few other places within a few hours' drive that sometimes call my name, too, like the Oregon Coast. It's such a pleasure to not have to hassle with airports and the crowds and be home after a short drive. Victoria BC is an easy destination for me, although very busy in the summer, but I feel like I've had a little trip to Europe. I always seek out places a bit off the beaten path so there aren't as many crowds, altho people on vacation are usually fun to mingle with. Sometimes I rent a hotel room at a place right in my town that has a nice salt water pool and take my grandson and a friend there for an overnight. We swim, sit in the hot tub, go out for dinner, get up and eat Belgian Waffles for breakfast. It's a great little treat.

I also spend as much $ as I want on a place, figuring an overnight at an expensive hotel or resort is much less than what I would spend on a real vacation.

Yes we do day trips on occasion. What I particularly like about them is we can plan ahead and then wait for a day when the weather is wonderful before we go. I do like to hike so going for a hike and a restaurant or a hike and a picnic are lots of fun. There are quite a few museums in the area that are great to visit. Last week we did a house and garden tour which lasted most of the day including lunch. We can beach nearby and we live about 90 min outside of NYC so we can go into the city for a day if we want and all the wonderful options that are there. We are also about 2.5 hrs outside of Boston and surrounds so a day trip or an overnight there is certainly doable.

I would love to find a day trip but everything is way too far for me by myself.

We live in a suburb of Sacramento so we can easily do day trips or an overnight trip to Lake Tahoe (north and/or south shore depending on what we're doing), Reno, the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa/Sonoma wine country, etc. If it's just going to be just the two of us, we usually do it as a day trip, even if it means coming home really late at night. If we're with another couple or two, we generally do an overnight trip. Never more than two nights.

This week; The Wilds in Zanesville, OH and Air Force Museum near Dayton.

Zanesville? Y would you go there? :-)

When I lived in Columbus, Ohio I always meant to go to Zanesville to see the "Y-bridge" but never actually went.

Yes, Like Lindsey said. Day trips are easy in the SF Bay Area. I generally head down to Monterey for a me day. When I go to the central valley areas I often get a room for the night. I do a lot of solo traveling so there is no relief driver for me. Alas, my days of being able to drive 5 or 6 hours straight through to LA without stopping are behind me.

Being on the Central Coast CA we are the area people take weekend and day trips to especially on long holiday weekends like this one. We use to do more day or weekend trips to places like Hearst Castle or events at San Juan Bautista. We even use to go to San Francisco for the weekend to go to a special exhibits at one of the museums. I really loved doing that.

When my husband has overnight trips for work I accompany him and go to whatever museums or parks are in the city.

We don't do a lot of day trips because my husband travels 90% of the time and gets tired of always being on the go.

Semi-ditto to watchme and caflower. The exception is to what watchme me said about the Central Valley. The Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys are to me the automobile equivalent of the flyover states in the Midwest - I'll drive through (vs fly over) when en-route to somewhere else but I don't otherwise visit. Maybe I'm missing something but I'm not sure what's there to visit. I also don't care much for the weather - it's too hot in the summer and often very foggy in the winter. The home of the 100 car accidents seemingly every few years, unfortunately.

For those who don't take "real" vacation trips, you should. The point is to get away from home, see and do new things, be refreshed by the change. Even if that means getting in your car and driving a few hours to a campground where you spend a couple of nights, even if you need to borrow sleeping bags and a tent to do so. Everyone should be able to afford doing that and it does wonders.

Thanks, Elmer, for deciding what I, and everyone else, should do. Of course what works for you works for everyone else. What would we do without you?

Having a bad day? Maybe you should go away for a few days?

Um, nope. Having a wonderful day. Just reacting to your typical uppity and "all knowing" attitude of knowing what is best for everyone; you know how you're perceived here. You're well known for your holier than thou and let me tell you what to do attitude. Believe it or not, other people are as intelligent as, or more-so than, you. Have a good weekend.

Opinions are opinions. Yours are okay but you don't like it when other people have them? Here was your blanket interior decorating proclamation just a few minutes ago in the home decorating theme thread in this forum:

"Carpeted kitchen? No way. I understand, of course, if people need it due to disabilities. But for me, for now, not a chance in he11."

We used to more than we do now. Long ago, when we were college students and fairly broke, we did the 59-mile scenic drive route in nearby San Diego. I still remember how much fun we had! And we found a lot of places we later returned to during future day trips. Sometimes simple, nearby and inexpensive is as rewarding as things that cost more $$.

Oh, Elmer, give it a rest. We don't like or respect each other. How is my comment that you quoted demeaning of other opinions? I clearly said that I understand if people need to do it. You just always like to argue. Fine with me but I'm not going to get into your preferred argumentative back-and-forth. You love to do that because you believe yourself superior. God help your wife; I suspect that she runs the show in your house and you need to exhibit obnoxious, superior behavior here to make yourself feel good. Whatever. I hope that your sensitivities are fed. But I'm not interested in feeding your ego. Gag. Bring on the insults; you're good at that. I'm done.

A friend of ours moved from the city to the northern/cottage part of the province, about a 4 hour trip for us. He's invited us, and we will go and spend a night or two.

Of course, having cats (or people with pets in general) often dictates how long we stay away. I'm sure our neighbour below us will be willing to feed them morning and nite, she just has to remember!

We prefer to take day trips as opposed to going away for several days. They're always a spur of the minute thing and we never know where we're going to end up. We did it in California and we do it now with our dog in tow in Michigan. A couple of months ago we took a day drive up through the thumb; even in winter, the lake was beautiful. We've gone through Canada, to Indiana, Ohio and as far north as the upper peninsula.

Maybe it's the constant crowds, the hassles of flying or too many documentaries about what's really on those hotel bed linens but neither of us have any desire what so ever to travel.

Well I do agree with Elmer. The central valley doesn't do much for me either. His opinion didn't bother me. LOL I do go there to visit friends who are holding events and parties in the area which is why I mentioned it. It's a boring drive and boring drives are tiring so I get a room for the night which is why it got a mention. Personally I would never want to live there. I need to be near a coastline to be happy. I could probably be ok in the mountains also. But the central valley? Never.

"We don't like or respect each other."

Speak for yourself. I don't keep score or pay attention. If you don't like me, sorry but that's fine, I have no opinion of you.

Oh, PS. I just read the insults, I'd skipped over the first time through. I do think you need to take a vacation. Maybe I can develop an opinion about you, you seem unhappy with yourself. Best wishes for better days.

Thanks, watchme, for understanding my comment in the nature and spirit it was offered.

Yeah, I love not camping too, but I think it's a minority view. Too many RVs and trailers around, tents, etc., many love it and it's economical. I'll never be there, never ever ever, to take anyone's spot in a campground or RV park.

Pot, kettle. I always chuckle that your constant comeback is that the other person must be unhappy. Bwahhhhh. Whatever.

Can we get back on topic, please?

We are devotees of the day trip and weekend getaway! It started after I moved here to Huntsville and Robert wanted me to love my new home. It was a challenge! We toured the back roads, the caves and caverns, the rivers and lakes, enjoying a lunch in an out of the way restaurant. Those kinds of escapes take us to stunning scenery and relaxing country roads.

We also take short trips to Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville for concerts or a change of pace overnight and we love to rent a cabin on the lake where we keep our boat. A longer weekend can be enjoyed along the Gulf coast.

We have a great automatic cat feeder that Paco loves and uses all of the time now. We don't worry about him over a long weekend on his own. He needs to be fed several small meals a day or he tosses it all up. The feeder is perfect!

>> Can we get back on topic, please?

Sincere apologies; I took it off-topic and in a bad direction. Usually I just hold my tongue/fingers but didn't this time. Mea culpa.

With respect to the topic, I do take day trips and the occasional overnight trip. Next month we're going away for two nights, out of state, to visit a couple of old, majestic inns and beautiful forests. For day trips I tend to drive a couple of hours maximum (one way), leaving early and making sure that I relax and don't try to stick to a specific schedule. Smell the roses, in other words.

I do travel quite often for a week or 2 at a time, both domestically and internationally, but the short trips (day or 2-3) are actually more enjoyable, in a way. Wherever I go, it's always nice to come home.

We do one major family vacation each year and more frequent day trips or over nights. Often I will take one or both children to some thing of special interest or dh and I will get a sitter and get away for a day or two at most. Occasionally dh, his son and our son will have a male only sporting weekend away.

When my husband was alive, we did this often, especially during our years in Maine. We loved exploring little towns.

elmer, you really should give "flyover country" a try someday. There's a lot to see and do and much is very beautiful. Don't be so provencial!

I'm lucky to be able to take day trips to the Jersey shore, Philly, NYC, DC, Baltimore or PA Dutch country. Mostly I don't do any. One of my mother's day gifts every year is a day trip to NYC or Philly or DC. Last year it was DC but mostly we go to NYC. I can't imagine living somewhere you could drive for a few hours and still be nowhere. I have too many pets I pamper and won't board so day trips are the solution.

I have been to many of them, anglo.

We have done a 2 day trips in our state (Wisconsin). Three years ago, we went to Mineral Point and toured the early lead mining district and learned a bit about its history. The lead mining district iis a 2 hour plus drive from out house. We there overnight to give us plenty of time to look and to take a leisurely drive home.

When our children were young (and we were younger, too), we did overnight camp outs at a number of lakes in our state. These days, the kids are gone and the missus' knees are too tender to get down on the ground and then get up again. She can't stand to be on her knee caps. Both of her knee joints hace been replaced. Its no easy chore for me to get up as well, and since the price of camping has increased, we spend the nights in a motel.

The only winter camping that I have done is as one of the leaders of a Boy Scout Troop. We did winter camping so the boys could earn their polar bear patch. Most of those camps were a test. One of those times, the temperature fell to 12 below. I am no longer with the Boy Scouts. That was years ago. I have become aged.

Many of our trips in the last 10 years has been associated with genealogy searches of our ancestors.

We take day trips quite a bit during thre summer months when it is brutally hot in northern California although they are really 2-3 day trips. We usually head over to the coast where we stay in the small historic towns found along the northern coastal areas. We have our favorite restaurants, sights and activities, but we also try to mix in something new on these trips.

We were just over there last week and it was fabulous. The highs were in the mid 70s rather than the triple digits we had been experiencing at home.

So many of you have such interesting places to visit nearby. How very lucky you are! For me it will be about visiting and exploring new places and just having a change of scene.

There is just so much to see within a short distance from Calgary that doing day trips is very easy. There is Dinosaur Provincial Park an hour east. Drumhellers Tyrell Museum (full of dinosaur artifacts) a little over an hour northeast, Waterton National Parks 2 hours south of Calgary and of course: THE MOUNTAINS!!! Just an hour west of Calgary. Day trips are so easy to do here and pretty much every location has a hotel or motel, if not there then a short distance away in case you decided to spend the night. Campgrounds are a good choice at any of the locations. We did a little 'day trip' on Saturday. We visited 3 small towns south of Calgary. We always drive through them, but this time we decided to see what there was to see. There wasn't much so it was a short day trip, but it was nice to get out and go for a drive.

Hi, Irma. I can't recall where you live, but yes, even getting a change of scenery is wonderful. A nice drive to and around other places - enjoy!

I totally agree with Elmer, my husband doesn't like to travel but I won't spend my life not doing what someone else doesn't want to do. I knew when I married him that he was like that and I told him the above and it has worked out very well for us. He does like to go to Maine to our other house so we have breaks there but I have traveled all over the world and met wonderful people, had wonderful experiences. It works for us and we're devoted to each other. Now that I'm older, I'm not allowed to take long air flights so I go on short adventures. Even going to Maine with my friends or relatives is a nice break and we have such fun. Yeah, I second the motion of vacations. Thanks Irma for this nice thread discussion. I enjoyed it immensely except for the part that one person attacked another, no need for that.

I agree, Yaya, and I apologized. that is far from my normal behavior. I would delete those posts but that would make the other person's responses out of context and confusing.

Irma, are there any Chambers of Commerce in your general area? If so, they may have some good ideas.

Was the apology aimed in my direction?

Yours and everyone's.

Yaya, I have always believed that one is responsible for one's happiness and your story demonstrates that. Lately, life has handed me some lemons, and I'm busy trying to make lemonade.

I thoroughly enjoyed the stories of your experiences. I could read them all day. Thank you for sharing.

Suzieque, all is well, that ends well.

I accept and thank you for the effort.

I've taken lots of little trips, to Cincinatti, Nashville, Savanah, Glouchester MA, and some all over the state of KY. Sometimes that's all I can afford. There is Cave City in Western KY and Natural Bridge in South Eastern KY.