“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” — Helen Keller

A Single Day Adventure Can Feel Like a Vacation

Whether it’s an outing with girlfriends, a romantic getaway, family visiting, or having your grandkids for an overnight stay, the options for Day Trips Over 50 can be loads of fun, my darlings!

Not everyone has the time, or perhaps the money, for a spectacular 10-day cruise. But you can explore the world around you in a new and different way — all in a single day. Believe me, it will feel like a real vacation. There are lots of one-day outings to discover in whatever town or city you’re in. Once you begin to focus on finding gems, you’ll be amazed at the many things that are available.

Let’s Get Started, Moxie Ladies

To begin with, draw a circle around the place you live. It should encompass a two/three-hour drive, or a one/two-hour train or bus ride.

Let’s take Chicago for instance, my hometown. Within an hour or two, there is a multitude of places to venture. It may be the natural dunes of Indiana for the day, a house on Lake Geneva for an overnight, or a day trip to a historic little town like Cedarburg, Wisconsin, to visit a winery. My husband and I enjoy making a full vacation day of it. And then we’re back to our condo high in the sky that evening to put our feet up and wind down.

I personally love exploring Chicago’s many museums with my girlfriends. We not only really relax, but we also chat and laugh. Find out what’s nearby to discover with MOXIE!

Got a place in mind to spend the day? Go to its website to learn about upcoming events or special programs. Some places even offer free admission on certain days. We went to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park with a few of my grandchildren to see the feeding of turtles and snakes, and then watched the release of butterflies. There was something of interest for all of us. Plan it, do it. Have fun.

Keep A Journal of Day Trip Ideas

Write down your ideas and have them handy when you need them. Be on the lookout for something new or fun to do for a getaway day. It might be something on your bucket list that you’ve always wanted to do and just never had the time for. Girlfriends don’t mind sharing their fabulous finds, so just ask to see if they know of any new exhibits or adventurous outings to consider.

Depending on your interests, here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• Visit the local botanical garden or nature center, spiced up with a tour and relaxing lunch. Guest member days can give added benefits worth keeping on your radar.
• Explore the great outdoors with a nature hike, a zoo visit, a park or an outdoor venue.
• Museums of every kind, small and large, can be paired with a picnic, lunch or even an evening out with a group of girlfriends.
• Theater, a comedy club, or an art gallery can be combined with a day of shopping or a power walk around town.
• Think about combining business and pleasure by checking out a museum after attending a business luncheon, event or class.
• How about an architectural or cultural tour combined with a sunset dinner cruise.
• Go with your special someone or a group of girlfriends to a fabulous spa for the day, followed by happy hour and a relaxing dinner.
• Be philanthropic. Give back. Volunteer for a good cause in the morning, then spend the rest of the day doing something for yourself, like a wellness/beauty day.
• Find a place with a beautiful view — a rooftop deck, scenic hillside or restaurant with a city view — to bring calm to the end of your day.

Combine any of the above with a lovely dinner out and maybe a movie. Or begin your wonderful day with breakfast at a favorite place. Your daylong explorations will feel like a mini-vacation.

Enjoy a Moxie Day Around Town

In downtown Chicago, where I live with my Ultimate Concierge, I might suggest the museum circuit, including The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Science and Industry Museum, or perhaps the Art Institute of Chicago. If you’re in a smaller town, you could visit a nearby town or city for a change of scenery. Every small town across America has something to discover.

From our home in California, within an hour is the fabulous Joshua Tree National Park. What a gem, my darlings. We started on the south side of the park at the Cottonwood Spring Visitor Center and ended our afternoon in the town of Joshua Tree. You don’t even have to get out of your car to see magnificent rock formations, stark desert landscapes, and cactus that could be showcased in National Geographic. We pulled over to walk a short distance on a little hiking trail to find a wonderful spot to enjoy a sun-basking picnic lunch.

You can also cap off a one-day vacation with an overnight stay so you can enjoy a more complete day of exploring before heading home in the morning. That can make a single day feel even longer!

Need Some Help With Planning?

Websites like Eventbrite.com offer a smorgasbord of interesting events such as fairs, food fests, music and art festivals to enjoy. Take a look at Meetup.com for groups to explore with interesting outings. Expedia.com has deals on city day passes and discounts for planning your day. Or better yet…

Go With A Group of Friends With MOXIE!

Join bemoxienow.com, our online community for women over 50, to learn and explore new travel ideas, share interests, even go as a group for a special treasured adventure! There are trips organized through your local banks, chamber of commerce or park districts that may be of interest. Start by asking your GIRLFRIENDS to go with you!

No matter what you find to fit your tastes, I’m sure you’ll enjoy making a solo vacation day out of it. It’s not solo as in alone, although it could be if you’d like to go on a “be me” MOXIE type of day. But that’s a story for another day.

And when the day trip vacation has come to an end, and you reflect on what a great day you had, that’s the perfect time to share it in your journal.

If it’s a story you want to share with your grandchildren, write it in your journal book, Stories for my Grandchild. (My recently published book.)

It shouldn’t take having company visiting to thoroughly enjoy the many unique cultural or tourist destinations within easy reach. Give yourself a fun vacation in just a single day.

What day trip nuggets have you discovered? Please share your thoughts with me via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or in the comments section below.