Well, would you look at that? Gas is around $2.05/l where I am right now, and with that, I’m rethinking my summer plans. And I think a lot of us are. Maybe we can’t go on vacation for as long as we want. Maybe we have to change the destination. Maybe we can’t go at all. And if we’re going, we’re probably looking for more affordable accommodations as well. Instead of flying or driving anywhere, we might be looking for places to relax a little closer to home.
Getting away from the house, job, and obligations is optional to some people, but for others it’s necessary—especially the outdoorsy types out there. And it’s summer! What are we going to do: stay inside and play card games? Reorganize the pantry, clean out the oil shelf, rearranged the living room? Again?
Getting outside and getting that all important reset can be done without the long trips in the mountains or beaches. All it takes is a little creative thinking and taking advantage of every opportunity.
Hiking and Mountain Biking
For those of us looking for a little active participation and challenge in our downtime, look no further than your phone. Download an outdoor hiking app like AllTrails and check out the trails and bike courses in your area. It is easy to use, and showcases photos and easy to scan information about each trail, like total kilometres and time, location, terrain, and the difficulty rating. You can even search by activity type, making it easy to find trails that are suitable for biking as well. (After using it, I was a little embarrassed to realize how little I knew about my own area. There’s so much out here in northwestern Ontario!)
Hiking and mountain biking are great exercise, especially in hilly or rocky terrain, and even an easy jaunt on uneven ground can be enough of a workout to feel energized; do the same trail a few more times and you can build some stability and confidence to keep going and to look for something more challenging.
Not only that, you’ll reap the benefits of natural exposure to the bright sun and fresh air, and it’s a great excuse to put your phone on airplane mode and get away from world. (Just make sure you download your map!)
Camping
You don’t have to go to the next city, province, or even country to get away from home and work. Take a look at your local parks and campsites and get familiar with what is available. You want to get the best bang for your buck, but you also want to make sure you get the rest you need.
Want some quiet? Try and look for a site in the less populated areas, and stay away campsites with kiddy toys scattered around—could be noisy. You could even take a chance and go to a more remote area, if you’re a seasoned camper.
Looking to spend quality time with your family? Find a place with plenty to do and see for the younger ones. Groomed trails for hiking and biking are a good way to get out and get some quality time. Bring some games everyone can play together to keep entertained without the smart phones.
Spend a night in a different town
Even a change of scenery can be enough for a quick pick-me-up. Make your next overnight vacay a few towns over, or in the nearest city to you.
If it’s doable and it’s your jam, why not? Staying at an Airbnb or bed and breakfast can shake up the normal routine while keeping your spending to a minimum.
Do a little research beforehand and figure out what you would like to do while you’re there: the area’s radio station or news website should have a listing of any events or places of interest for you to visit. The town’s website might also have a tourism section to explore, along with plenty of other resources you can use to plan.
And take it easy
Why make vacations more complicated than they need to be? You can still decompress without having to spend an arm and a leg. You just need to know where to look for that experience, because it does not need to come from a expensive trip thousands of kilometres away.
Of course, destination vacations are an amazing experience; everyone should have a few. But lets be honest here: it’s not always doable.
What is doable, though, is shutting the phone off and getting away from the daily grind. Get up, get out, and have a good vacation.
