If you were to walk into my room, the first things you would notice are the travel posters that frame my wall, a stack of Condè Nast Traveler magazines and dozens of travel books that I have collected.
Similarly, if you were to sort through my Google Drive and Pinterest accounts, you would find numerous lists of planned trips I hope to take one day.
As a journalism student here at the University of Rhode Island, I hope to one day have a career where I can travel and write about it for readers. Whether that be going on scientific explorations with National Geographic, taking a culture trip with Condè Nast Traveler or reporting from a war zone for a notable news organization, I hope that I can see the world and tell people about the amazing things I saw in it.
Despite the well-planned trips I hope to take in the future, I have an even bigger appreciation for taking short day trips.
This past summer, I made a list of locations around Pennsylvania I wanted to visit while home, most of which I hadn’t been to before.
Each trip I planned came packaged with the perfect playlist and cast of characters to enjoy the day with.
The trial run of these trips was done with my younger sister when we took a day trip to Jim Thorpe, a small town in Pennsylvania referred to as the “Switzerland of America.”
Together, we meandered through the streets looking in shops, trying new foods and walking through local parks. The first-day trip of the summer was a success, and I went on to coordinate more with friends and family.
Throughout the summer, I took trips to the Magic Gardens in Philadelphia, took a hike along the Appalachian Trail, visited a local farm and did much more.
Coming to Rhode Island, I was excited to have the opportunity to explore a new area with a new cast of characters.
During my time here, I have taken many trips to explore Newport and have made my way up to Boston to take in a baseball game at Fenway Park and visit the aquarium.
There are many reasons why I think that taking short day trips is a great way to spend your day.
For one, getting to and from the place offers you a chance to catch up with your friends, listen to some great music and plan your day. Going into a day trip with a loose itinerary permits you and your group to make things up as you go along and have an adventure.
Additionally, in the words of my sister, “It’s not an adventure if you don’t get lost at least once.”
So, take advantage of not knowing what to expect and allow yourself to get a little lost somewhere new. It might open up the door to finding a hidden gem.
Taking day trips also allows you to better appreciate where you are from and the places that surround it.
You can also learn more about where you are from and how it came to be. Some of the best day trips have a historical aspect to them. This allows you to put into perspective where you are standing and what took place there.
“Travel is essential the way books and hugs are essential,” wrote Eric Weiner of National Geographic. “Food for the soul.”
You can better appreciate where you are, step out of your comfort zone and go someplace new, even if it is only 20 minutes away.
The best part about day trips, however, is that they can be free. This summer, I want to experience more natural wonders. By taking a hike, going on a picnic or going to one of the nearby swimming holes, I hope to experience more of the beauty my home state has to offer.
With the end of the semester approaching and summer right around the corner, now is the time to consider what you want to do, see or learn about over break.