Blueprint For The Perfect Day Trip
Updated: Apr 9, 2020
With the help of these four simple steps, your day trip will be less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.
This past week, I received a request to write a blog post about the perfect day trip. It really got me thinking... What really is the ideal blueprint for the perfect day trip?
In my opinion, the most important step is to research. When you are going somewhere for just one day, you want to make sure you are doing the things that are important to you.
Further, if you plan on eating out, you want to find the best restaurant in that area. I love to research anything and everything about a trip before I go and the websites I find myself using the most are Trip Advisor (For activities) and Yelp (For restaurants). However, I also think not over planning is an important thing to remember when doing your research. In my experiences, over planning has caused stress and I find myself just going from one thing to another just trying to get them done because they are on my list. Make a list of everything you can do in that place, and then narrow it down, as I mentioned earlier, to the things that are most important to you.
Another important step to the blueprint is to plan ahead and make sure you have everything you need before you leave. I think it is essential to wake up early and get on the road early to make the most of your day away. To do this, I always like to pack everything I need the night before. So much time can be wasted the morning of your trip if you leave all the packing for then. Also, I save the mornings for packing up the cooler for food and drinks so that I can have a picnic lunch! Another thing you can do ahead of time to make sure you have everything you will need is to make a checklist. I use the notes app on my phone because it is so easy to check off the boxes once I have packed that item, and I can keep the note for future trips!
Important step number three is making sure you wear the right clothes. I have gone numerous times wearing cute shoes and getting the WORST blisters from all the walking. I have learned to bring a pair of athletic shoes for all the walking and bringing the cute shoes in the car if I go out to eat. You can even bring a change of clothes if you are going to go adventuring and to a fancy restaurant on your day trip. Being in Minnesota, where yesterday it was 60 degrees and today it is snowing, the weather can be so unpredictable so bringing a couple different outfits can help you from being uncomfortable all day.
Lastly if it is a clear day, stop and enjoy the sunset. In our busy lives we may not always watch the sunset, but on day trips I try to always stop to see this. Sunsets are my favorite because a) they are beautiful of course and b) because I am able to reflect on my day. I think about all the fun things I did on during that day trip and the memories I made with the people I am with. It is so calming and sunsets just never get old.
Day trips are so fun and exciting because you can see and do so much in a short amount of time. Plus, I love the feeling when I am on the drive home thinking about the great day I had and I just sit there smiling. These blueprint steps will hopefully help for the perfect day! Please let me know if you have any other tips that I missed :)