Why You Have More Vacation Days Than You Thought

11942086_10153638843462269_5222295234691943543_oI am saving up for a wedding with the man that I love and a European honeymoon trip. It is amazing to look forward to (20 months from now!), but it also means that I do not have a lot of extra wallet space for major travel right now, and due to certain circumstances, I have very few remaining vacation days this year. (Oh yes, the Monday through Friday weekly grind that I am still on outside of my wedding photography career.) But I do have a secret weapon in my arsenal: weekends.

Weekends do not seem like a lot of time. By Monday morning we’re left asking ourselves where the time disappeared to. Instead, think of it this way: if you have two days off every week that totals to 104 days a year to explore, travel, try new things, and do the activities that you love to do. Life is too short to waste those precious days. I hope that you are not living for the weekends (like I seem to be lately), yet when the weekend comes around I hope you do cherish it.

11873691_10153574795507269_1391012725536572104_n13615212_10154348027797269_659259435092503320_n

Two days is not enough for an international flight, but it sure is plenty to visit that local museum or tourist attraction you have always meant to visit sometime, but never got around to. Check out that cute little cafe you drive by every day on your way home from work. You can discover a new town or park in your home state. Take a short road trip to explore another state close to you. This can work for any budget and interest.

Most people associate travel with luxury vacations, but traveling is different, especially when you visit a new place as if you are a local. You don’t need the expensive hotel (consider a hostel, a friend’s place, Airbnd.com, couch surfing, your car, or just drive home for the night if you’re close enough). Skip the fancy restaurants and try a local market.

1376330_10151994720712269_940284371_n1383272_10151994724447269_31301886_n11403284_10153472450337269_440328554403165229_n

When Matthew and I were living in Maryland we were making very little money and our monthly expenses were high because we were between Baltimore and DC. On a very tight budget we explored all the local places we could from parks and botanical gardens to Ocean City and Cape May NJ beaches. We explored Baltimore, DC, Annapolis, Assateague Island, Jamestown Virginia, and numerous small towns near us. The weekends became our adventure days. Material things were not a priority to us: spending time together and experiencing new places was where we invested our time and resources. We saw free museums at the National Mall in DC, watched free outdoor movies in a wine garden in Ellicot City, took the train to DC for fireworks on Independence Day and watched free concerts in front of the Capital Building on a blanket with good friends. Here are some of the amazing experiences we had.

457330_10151035218157269_636901376_o465361_10151010048657269_1643464278_o471589_10151010051857269_1069416186_o856763_10151938147867269_448124291_o1292797_10151938149807269_1312867208_o1237342_10151938139672269_130456983_o1278758_10151938145157269_24450461_o1064806_10151926762622269_1060209990_o1265439_10151938159207269_2081055738_o977922_10151673692237269_1083090690_o412160_10151034253122269_2145980281_o289982_10151034263932269_1740406381_o456547_10151034222907269_1786803964_o920919_10151627204957269_1872170762_o417946_10151673698517269_1570174794_n412993_10151673697847269_88648874_o456894_10151034256397269_873382345_o289933_10151034216992269_618471359_o459009_10151034250852269_2098273605_o964706_10151673699007269_93314589_o976529_10151673698867269_1879651339_o1048350_10151778672377269_824977639_o412298_10151034267232269_2111128607_o

Since moving back to Connecticut a year and a half ago we have been to Boston, New York City, Cape Cod, Mystic, Rhode Island, and numerous other places. What I love about Connecticut is that we’re close to major cities, museums, parks, mountains, beaches, country fairs, the Connecticut wine trail, and so much more. If you’re bored, you’re not being creative enough with your time.

13735103_10154399216882269_1778911678768593439_o12314513_10153794789437269_4511813701161450016_o

Don’t let rain or snow keep you stuck. Sometimes the world is at its most beautiful in the snow.

10469292_10152917273892269_233662709895597102_o10827912_10152917278257269_72850780448789303_o1492686_10152917283827269_898740461729721757_o10750227_10152917278532269_1964851196592558271_o

Tomorrow morning I take off on a train for Montreal. It cost a little over $50 each way after taxes and the train ride is only eight hours from Albany, NY. On saturday Matthew and I are looking forward to discovering Old Montreal and seeing a museum if it gets too chilly outside. We’ll eat and lodge simply before making the trip home on Sunday to be back to our normal week by Monday morning. On the train ride I will write or read one of the library books I borrowed this week. When the leaves are vibrant Matthew and I are planning a day trip to Kent CT just a little under two hours away to see Kent falls and the beautiful little village. Our autumn already shows  a lot of promise.

1504100_10152364652572269_767167057_nCherish the simple details. 10004008_10152364971942269_39406613_n

If you find yourself wishing of far off places, but don’t have the ability to go away today, think outside the box. If travel and new experiences are a priority for you, you will make it happen. Love your weekends.

Loading

0 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

    pin it