Rather than the usual flight and hotel, take a road trip across the country. Choose a few staple destinations and enjoy the open road. An example of a road trip across the country might include beginning in New York, then going to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.. In the west, do a Colorado, Utah and Nevada road trip. Road trips allow you to enjoy an array of cities and landscapes. You can stay in hotels or rough it by packing a tent and spending your nights in campgrounds to save a few bucks. If traveling with a group, rent an RV to save on hotels. Take a trip down Route 66, a popular highway often traveled by sightseers.
Travel as a short-term volunteer. These working vacations allow you to immerse yourself into a foreign culture while volunteering your services and making a difference. Many organizations request that you pay for your own travel, but provide you with food and a place to stay. These programs are beneficial to the individuals and communities you help, while also providing you with the perks that come along with traveling and sightseeing. Global Volunteers is a company that works to help you find a volunteer trip to suit your needs.
Take a historical vacation; spend a few days in Washington, D.C. or historic Williamsburg. Or take a trip down south and for a tour of the underground railroad. On historic vacations, you can witness war reenactments and visit centuries-old cemeteries. Rather than vacationing solely for relaxation, plan an educational vacation and go home full of new knowledge.
At a dude ranch, you can experience life just as farmers and ranchers do. Enjoy learning to ride horseback and get down and dirty as you help with chores and watch trainers work with the animals. Dude ranches usually serve fresh home-cooked meals and allow you to embrace nature through mountain biking, sightseeing, swimming in nearby lakes, and spotting wildlife.
