Planning a vacation can be overwhelming — from knowing what to see to where to eat to what souvenirs to buy.
But the key is to know what to see without making the trip feel too regimented. Here are a few ideas to help relieve the stress.
Plan ahead
The real enemy of planning a vacation is overthinking every aspect of the trip. Nothing ruins a getaway like creating a schedule and adhering to it like a stickler.
While impulse is a virtue, it is critical to know how much time is available for exploring a city and how long it takes to go from one place to another — so you can explore every sight you want to see. It is also good to know museums and attractions hours as not all destinations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
Avoid touristy areas
There is nothing wrong with the tourist zones, and in many cities, they are the safest parts of town. The drawback is sometimes they can seem a little generic. As part of the travel research, take a moment to explore the parts of town that have exciting sights to see in neighborhoods that are friendly both day and night.
Take Las Vegas as an example. People usually come for the glitz and the glamour. But, when the bright lights start to become blinding head off The Strip and explore. Try heading over to the lesser-trafficked attractions in any given city. The Pinball Hall of Fame in one such place and features an extensive collection of working pinball machines. It’s cheap, fun and not full of tourists.
Take pictures
Every city has a vantage point built for the guidebooks. It’s no fun to return home and find a photograph and think whether you could have captured a similar snapshot.
In Indianapolis, that means making sure the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is on the itinerary. The historic memorial in the heart of the city offers some of the best views from atop the 284-foot, six-inch-tall obelisk-shaped monument.
Know the expected and the unexpected
Most, if not all cities, have a museum dedicated to either local history or industry that helped shape the city into what it is today.
If Houston is on the docket, a visit to Johnson Space Center is a must. But, visitors should also consider something more obscure, like the Art Car Museum, a museum that emphasizes art cars — cars that are transformed into works of art using paint other design elements.
Drink up and eat well
Chain restaurants are everywhere, but they can not compete with local restaurants. And, that is what will put the icing on the cake for a vacation, as they say. In Phoenix, Ariz., that might mean a visit to Beckett’s Table. In addition to the restaurant’s Southwestern-inspired dishes, it also offers a great wine list featuring Arizona wines.
The rise of craft breweries is welcome news to beer aficionados everywhere. A trip to Atlanta might include a visit to Jekyll Brewing in Alpharetta, Georgia. Sure, many people know Atlanta for SweetWater Brewing Co., but the beer scene in the “City Too Busy to Hate” is so much deeper.