Are you tired of theme parks, water parks, bus tours of downtown business districts, outlet malls, generic state parks, and look-alike food festivals? Join the club. Most travelers, especially those who have been locked down for more than a year due to a viral pandemic, want something different. The same-old travel ideas just won’t cut it in 2021. Niche vacations are on everyone’s mind.
The good news is that the possibilities are endless if you aim to make your next vacation out of the ordinary. Plus, different does not mean having to spend a fortune. It just means you’ll be enjoying some variety compared to the usual suspects. Here are a few creative suggestions and travel tips to get you started. Use one, some, but whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of doing something ordinary. Make this vacation count. Make it memorable.
Wine Time
Wine country tours used to mean California. That is, until the wine industry grew into a billion-dollar industry and encompassed places like Oregon, Texas, New York, Washington, and Idaho. If you like to drink and learn about wine, don’t confine yourself to the Napa Valley. There’s much more to the grape-lovers’ universe than the old school wine trips. So, venture out and tell your travel agent you want a non-California wine itinerary this year.
Pay Before You Play
Wherever you go, do the financial planning first. Not only will you enjoy the peace of mind that comes with not having to think about money during the trip, but you’ll likely be more efficient in finding bargains and low-cost transportation alternatives. To cover the expenses, many people take out loans from private lenders in order to shop around for the best rates and terms. If you want to take your dream vacation and pay for everything in advance, a private lender can make it happen.
Museums Only
For museum-lovers, travel is always fun. That’s because even the smallest, most out-of-the-way towns usually have at least one local museum. In medium-sized cities, it’s possible to find both art and natural history museums. This niche is not for everyone, but if it fits your tastes, plan a museum-centered trip and you’ll be surprised at what you’ve missed on prior vacations to the same places.
Haunted Holidays
One of the newer theme travel ideas is anything connected to the concept of ghosts, haunted houses, or generally spooky stuff. Fortunately, there are dozens of excellent websites, searchable under “haunted places near (a city’s name),” that can guide you to multiple scary locations. Some larger towns offer complete haunted tours that walk groups through fright-filled areas, like historic cemeteries, at night. There is no shortage of ghost-filled towns and cities. The trick is advance planning because many of these scary events are seasonal.
Revisit History
History buffs are never at a loss for a fun-filled, educational vacation. The way to plan is to study up on the local history of an area before you go there. That way, you’ll know exactly where to look for old battlegrounds, historic houses, sites of important events, and more.
Birding
Birdwatching, is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. If you have never spent a weekend or longer out in the woods looking for rare birds, then you’re in for a treat. Birding is educational, inexpensive, fun, and appropriate for all ages. And, depending on the terrain, it can be good exercise as well. One tip for future birders: do some research before your first excursion, and try to get an experienced watcher to accompany you on the initial outing. Having a knowledgeable friend can be an ideal way to learn the basics of this fascinating hobby.
Looking For Gold
Panning for gold is not everyone’s dream getaway. But for a small percentage of the population, there’s no better way to spend a few days or weeks. The one limitation to these types of excursions is quite obvious: you simply must go where the gold is. However, you’d be surprised at how many wide-open spaces include one or more panning sites.
Visitors usually pay a daily fee that includes a short in-person lesson on how to pan, basic gear, and the right to keep any gold nuggets you find. If you’ve never been on a panning jaunt, be warned that it can be addictive. Many first-timers realize exactly what it is that caused so much frenzy during historic gold rushes. At the end of your day, the facility will help you sort out your granules (most of the nuggets you find are tiny), weigh them, and let you take them home or sell them on the spot. Some panning enthusiasts are surprised to learn that just a few tiny pieces of gold can offset some of your expenses.
Hiking
People have been hiking as long as there have been people. But hiking-oriented travel is a rather new phenomenon. If you’re in good health and enjoy nothing more than getting outdoors and walking, check out some of the hundreds of waking/hiking websites. Even on your own, it’s possible to choose destinations based on local hike possibilities. One of the best ways to learn what’s available is to contact the local walking or hike club in your target city. They will be glad to tell you all they know about easy, medium, and challenging routes you can take once you arrive. If this is a new style of vacationing for you consider reviewing guides on what to pack so that you do not find yourself in the middle of a mountain without the essentials.