If you're too busy or too broke to be able to take a week off, or if you can get the time but don't have the money to travel, consider being a tourist in your own community.
If you live in Manhattan, that's easy. A ferry out to the Statue of Liberty, trips to a bunch of museums, a Broadway or off-Broadway play, dining in different neighborhood restaurants - lots of touristy things are readily available. But what if you live in a less cosmopolitan area? At the moment, you might not be able to recall very many tourist attractions where you live.
A good first step is to check out the local Chamber of Commerce, if you have one. They're in business to promote the community to both visitors and potential residents, so they'll have plenty of information on tourist attractions. Gas stations and fast food restaurants also generally have lots of brochures with different attractions and business on display; start collecting and reading these brochures. Maybe you have a lot of covered bridges in your area, and you don't really know where they all are, or what their history is. Your Chamber of Commerce undoubtedly has that information, and you could put together your own tour.
Or maybe you don't give a hoot about covered bridges, but long for some nightlife. If you've been so busy working and running a household that you don't get to go out on the town anymore, maybe that upcoming week off is the chance to do that. Research all the nightspots in the area - the ones with live music and the ones that allow dancing - and visit them all. Use your vacation to break out of your comfort zone; if you're into ballroom dancing, great, but also drop in on a country line dancing event, or a contra dance, or an African dance class.
Maybe you used to paint a bit, but you haven't paid attention for years to what's going on in the artistic community in your area. Find out where the art galleries are and spend a week visiting them all; if there's a gallery opening, take it in. Heck, put on a beret and do lunch at a local bistro between gallery visits, and pretend you're in Paris!
Maybe you've dreamed of getting on a plane and flying off to an expensive resort, but the cost is prohibitive. Maybe there's a posh hotel a few miles away with room service, a pool, saunas, and massage and other spa services that allow you to pamper yourself. Schedule a week there, or if you can't afford the time or money, a long weekend. Maybe there's a resort nearby which will teach you a new sport: skiing, or tennis, or sailing. They may even have midweek specials that will save you money.
One big idea behind taking a vacation is to break the routine, to relax, to explore new areas of knowledge. If you can do that in your own community, not only will you be refreshed, but you may end up looking at your home town with fresh new eyes.
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at amfredenburg@yahoo.com.