How to Plan a last Minute Presidents Day Weekend Vacation
President’s Day is a great time for a short trip. For many, this is the perfect opportunity to shake off the doldrums of the last dreary remnants of winter. However, plans often don’t come together until the last minute for that very reason. After all, if the groundhog has seen his shadow, and winter lingers, unpredictable weather may inhibit trip planning. However, as the time approaches, and the conditions cooperate, that last minute weekend vacation may be just the thing to perk up your spirit.
~Think Local~
One of the best ways to make your President’s Day venture a success is to keep it close to home. Last minute purchases of airfare can be expensive, and deals aren’t as widely available at the last minute. That doesn’t mean you have to stay in town, by any means, but pick a destination which can be reached in a short drive, no more than a half day. With only a few days to vacation, after all, you don’t want to waste time getting there. Too long of a drive, and it will be wearing for all.
~Think Simple~
On a short vacation, you won’t have time to cram in lots of sightseeing and events. Plan a weekend getaway which will entail your spending most of your time in the same place. For some, this may mean the Oceanside. For others, a favorite national park, such as Yosemite or Death Valley. Still others may look to the mountains for their getaway. You may want to plan around a favorite activity, or you may want to try something new. Either way, make it one primary focus, so you don’t feel pressed to move on to other places and activities.
~Think Accessible~
Pick a place that has nearby accommodations, and nearby services and shopping. With short notice, there is little time to stock up on the travel needs of a family. If you are traveling alone, of course, this is not as crucial. However, last minute planning inevitably means forgetting things. If you are able to secure a room, and have easy access to shops, however, you will be able to purchase any forgotten necessities.
Furthermore, if you are close to restaurants and services, you can easily handle all eating arrangements, without needing a great deal of supplies to travel with you. Leave fishing and camping trips for those times when you’ve been able to plan well in advance. Make the last minute vacation a focus on convenience-based sight-seeing.
These pointers are good, not only for President’s Day weekend, but for any last minute trip on any occasion. A “just because” weekend trip is a lot of fun, but the lack of pre-planning will be a stress if you try to do too much. Unplanned vacations are a boost of excitement to any family, as long as there’s not a rigid “to-do” list to go with it. Find an interesting area to visit within close range of where you live, and find accommodations which will give you easy access to your basic needs. You, and the family, will have a fun time without undue frustrations and stress.
