Alright. We're here. Now what?

You with your best friend planning a trip. Image from Smartertravel.com

Finding things to do on vacation can seem hard… Finding things to do on vacation depends on a lot of factors, like the interests of the group, where you are vacationing, and the budget of the group. With endless possibilities but limited time, where do you start? Well, I have done the research for you and I will provide you with what I found.

Let’s start with something simple: what to do when on a staycation. My last blog was about staycations, but I did not really go into detail on what to do when there. Staycations are vacations that you go on when you are close to home. By nature, you may have been to the places you are traveling to many times. You may have already done a lot of things in that town. That is okay! That town may still be worth going to! When on a staycation, try to find some new things you have not done yet. Is there a museum you have not seen? A park you have not visited? Go see them! I can guarantee that you have not done everything around you. I can also guarantee that you have not eaten at every restaurant within an hour of you. Go on Yelp and find some top rated restaurants to visit! For more ideas on what to do on a staycation, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveodland/2012/05/31/16-things-to-do-on-a-staycation/#2bcc4e6d6819.

Now, let’s talk about what to do when you are visiting somewhere within the United States or outside of the country! There has been a long lasting stigma towards those who do “touristy things”. Let me tell you, there is nothing wrong with doing SOME of the touristy stuff. For example, if you are visiting a large city, there is always a question of whether to pay for a guided tour or just walk around and see stuff. The benefits of paying for a guided or bus tour would definitely be that you can see A LOT of the city in a short amount of time. Most tours last an hour or 2 hours. They can be pricey but there are always some good deals, you just have to look for them! These bus tours take you to most, if not all, of the popular tourist sights. This allows you to see all of the most desired spots in a short amount of time, so you can go do other things in the city. The bad thing about paying for bus tours is that you are spending money on something you can do for free. It does not cost any money to walk to each tourist sight. If you walk, you not only get your steps in for the day, but you can go at your own pace. You can take as many photos as you want from every angle! For more tips other than whether you should walk or take a tour, go to this link: https://www.wisebread.com/8-free-things-you-can-do-on-any-vacation. Travelling is not just about sightseeing, it is about experiencing something different than normal.

Vacationing is all about relaxation, having fun, and experiencing new things! It is also all dependent on the interests of the people in the group. Some people will want to see the historical sights, some may want to go sit on a beach, some may just want to drink their nights away and sleep all day in a hotel. When you go on a trip, it is best to find people that have similar interests or want a similar outcome of the trip. A very common issue that arises when on vacation is what to do. I recommend making a group itinerary that has a lot of free time. This way, people can put in things they want to do or see and you have room to go do the stuff that may come about spontaneously. The last thing you would want to happen is to not have some breathing room or time to go do random stuff. Follow this link for tips on planning a trip with friends: https://www.smartertravel.com/tips-for-planning-a-trip-with-friends/.

It is okay to split the group. As I said earlier, not everyone will want to do the same things. If there are people in the group that want to do separate things, that is fine! Let everyone do separate things! You would not want to drag your friends to something that they do not want to do as their bad attitudes may ruin your experience. Let everyone get their space and meet up later for dinner.

Thank you for reading another blog! Come back next week for my blog about how to travel abroad on a budget! I will be interviewing Casey Thuot who went to Australia for spring break last year! For additional tips on what to do during a vacation, visit: https://www.fastcompany.com/3048975/the-scientifically-proven-way-to-have-the-best-vacation-ever

Casey Thuot on his recent trip to Melbourne, Australia.