Spring break is rapidly approaching, and if you are anything like the average college student, procrastination is your middle name. Whether you’re planning last minute or in need of something quick but fun, a day trip may be just what you need.
Location, location, location
Paradise is closer than you think, especially in sunny South Florida. There are many nearby cities with beautiful shopping centers and even prettier beaches: Naples, Port St. Lucie and Key West, just to name a few. The location you choose really depends on what experience you are looking for. If you’re looking for a theme park, you’ll probably want to take a trip to Orlando. If museums are you’re thing, St. Petersburg is for you. If you just want to shop and get that small-town feel, you might want to take a trip to Clearwater. Figuring out what you would be interested in doing, finding what cities offer that amenity and then choosing the closest one to you is definitely the first step in a successful day trip. Remember that a day trip means that your fun journey can only last one day, so you have to make sure your destination is realistic.
Lovin’ the crew
You can have fun all by yourself, but not on a day trip. In all honesty, you need at least one companion to make this a successful trip. When you think about the amount of hours you’ll be driving, it’s much more enjoyable if you have someone to take turns with or at least provide you with good conversation. Plus, a vacation, even a mini one such as this, is much more fun when you have someone to share it with.
Make sure you choose wisely. You need to bring someone who will aid your trip, not hinder it. That means no broke friends, no “I don’t drive” friends and no party-pooper friends. You have to bring someone along who can help you spilt the bill and who knows how to have a good time. If you do that, your trip will definitely be quick, successful and full of laughter.
Space isn’t just for NASA
You need something that’s comfortable enough for a long drive and stylish enough to be vacation-worthy. Decide whose car you will be using for the trip. Hopefully, someone in your group has a spacious, smooth and stylish car. Remember every good day trip has a shopping spree or two included, so you need to make sure that your ride has sufficient space; whether its trunk space or seat rows is up to you.
Stock up prior
Depending on how far your destination is from where you live, you are going to need snacks. Because this is a day trip, you want to minimize the time spent at stops to maximize the time you get to spend at your destination. The only time you should be stopping is to use the rest room, so you will need to stock up on all of your favorite snacks prior. Even more importantly, you need to stock up on gas, so make sure you stop to the gas station before your trip so when you leave the house in the morning for your trip, you can head straight on the express way. Time is of the essence.
‘Twas the night before
The night before a day trip is like Christmas Eve. You might find yourself so excited that you become restless. However, being well-rested is the number one key to success when planning a day trip. Often, depending on what you are planning to do on your trip, you might want to leave early in the morning and drive back late that night. With that said, you need to make sure you go to bed early, eat a good dinner and have a good night’s sleep to ensure that you have the energy to enjoy all the of fun that awaits you.
Day trips are fun, if you do them right. Whether you’re planning a spur-of-the-moment trip or planning a day trip a week in advance, small steps such as these are crucial. Once you experience your first day trip, you’ll definitely be day trippin’ all across the state.
