Sometimes when you think of travel, you forget to take advantage of the attractions close to your own home! Sure, it may sound glamorous to travel around the country, visiting whatever you stumble upon but don't forget about that awesome park 15 minutes away, or the unique carrousel downtown. I couldn't believe it when we were staying in Virginia Beach and the clerk at the library told me that she'd only been to the ocean once, and she had lived there her entire life! The ocean just wasn't a big deal and wasn't worth fighting the crowds for. I can understand not wanting to deal with the crowds, but there is a such thing as an off season! The same clerk was fascinated when I told her that we were from Ohio and she remarked how fortunate we were to live by one of the Great Lakes! She'd visited family in Cleveland and just looooved Lake Erie! See, sometimes we think something is better if we have to travel a huge distance to get there, or if we have to pay more to see it, and aren't appreciative of what's close by. My 4th grade teacher once expressed regret that she'd never visited the Smucker's Jelly Plant and she grew up right down the road. She always thought since it was close by, she could visit anytime and yet she never did. So, when you're planning a weekend getaway or a quick vacation, why not make a list of what's nearby and visit some of the local attractions? You may be surprised by what you find! ~ Happy Traveling!
© 2009 Tonya Prater/Homeschooling…Live the Adventure