I was recently reading an article and the author asked the question “How was your last weekend?” If you’re like most people it was pretty ho-hum and uneventful. You likely spent part of your weekend, attending youth sporting events, catching up on household chores or taking care of some yard work. If you were lucky, you may have had a few friends over for a cookout.
But if you're tired of the same old weekend routine, why not take a road trip this upcoming weekend? Hitch up the Airstream and drive somewhere, perhaps, a few hours away. Does that strike you as crazy? Do you find yourself thinking, “Oh no, I couldn’t do that it’s too far, I don’t know where to go, or I don’t have enough time to get away this weekend.
It’s a strange phenomenon, but people will routinely sit at a desk for eight hours every day, but find the idea of driving somewhere for 8 hours as unreasonable. To help you break this cycle of doldrums, here are five tips for a quick weekend getaway.
5 Tips for Quick a Weekend Getaway.
Tip 1: Identify Local Attractions:
We are fortunate in that we live 2-3 hour away from Ashville, NC, Charleston, SC, and Savanah GA. Each of these area destinations offer a variety of camping opportunities and sighseeing activities. I am confident that your location has many local attractions that are well within a half days drive from your home. With just a little research you will be able to quickly create a list local campgrounds, attractions and landmarks within a short drive from your home to visit.
Tip 2: Break the Routine:
The idea of getting away for the weekend sounds great but most people become comfortable in their daily routines making them hesitant to take a road trip. Before you know it the summer is over, school is back in session, and the daily demands of your work and family life consumes every minute of every day. I don't know about you, but I don't want to live a life that is on replay every day. Unfortunately, it is too easy to fall into the daily routine trap, but a 2-3 day weekend trip is all it takes to break the routine.
Tip 3: Pack Light:
Once you commit to a weekend getaway, you can quickly feel overwhelmed. What to bring? How much to pack? Am I forgetting something? When we get ready for a weekend trip, we force ourselves to pack only the essentials to save space and make your trip more comfortable and less burdensome. We have found that we really don't need that much stuff for a weekend get-away. A few clothes, some toileties and that's about it.
Tip 4: Keep it Simple:
The process of planning and organizing a road trip can seem overwhelming. This over planning and decision fatigue, can cause you to postpone or avoid a road trip altogether. We try to limit our weekend getaway activites to 2-3 events. For example, a weekand agenda may include the following: Day 1: beach day, Day 2: kayaking, Day 3: one local attraction. Planning anything more than that can become too complex and overwhelming.
Tip 5: Be Flexible:
Leave room for spontaneity – embrace detours and unplanned stops. When you look at your weekend getaway agenda, there needs to be at least 50% free time. This "white space" allows you to be flexible and spontanious with your time. Additionally, if things don't go to plan, there is less of a chance of the entire weekend trip being ruined if you have the ability to be flexible.
Final Thoughts:
It’s easy to let every weekend blend into one another, consumed by daily routines and other responsibilities. However, breaking free from the mundane and embracing a spontaneous road trip could be just what you need to refresh your outlook and reinvigorate your travel spirit. By following these five quick tips—identifying local attractions, breaking the routine, packing light, keeping it simple, and allowing for flexibility—you can transform a standard weekend into an adventure. So, why not hitch up the RV, explore somewhere new, and create memories that stand out from the usual weekend patterns? After all, the journey itself can be as rewarding as the destination.
Happy Camping & Safe Travels
Rick & Lisa
Great tips, Rick! Keep your posts coming.