Despite being different seasons, spring, summer, fall, and winter all have one thing in common: A break. Schools are out ranging from one to eight weeks depending on the season, making it prime time to go out and explore the world. There are many places to go, but what is the best route to take; should you stay in state or go beyond? How about out of the country? Depending on your personal values, it could change the answer entirely.
Indiana, while I love it, is fairly boring when it comes to attractions. Many of our key eyecatchers only happen a certain time of the year and can be a hassle to plan. Similarly, I can name all the ones I know on a singular hand. While it may cut on the time traveled to stay in state, there isn’t anywhere to go! Staying in state would be ideal for people who want to limit the time spent traveling, save on money (as Indiana is cheaper than many other states,) or want to connect more to their state and its history. While these all sound nice, they lack the thrill that the other options have.
The Unied States is big and diverse. You want to see the mountains? Go to Colorado or Montana! Beaches? Florida and South Carolina are beautiful! If you want to get off the mainland you can always go to Hawaii or Puerto Rico, which is a United States colony that you can visit freely. Traveling outside of Indiana introduces opportunities that we wouldn’t have here. Indiana doesn’t have mountains, beaches, or extremely popular cities, and to experience those things would require venturing outside of it. The downside is that most of these places are more expensive than Indiana and have longer drives. If you want to go by plane then there is an extra cost included, as well as potential flight delays. Whether the cons outweigh the pros are up to the person, and it seems as though people who value thrill, exploration, and experience will like traveling out of state more.
There’s one more option, however. If the United States begins to bore you after so many family vacations then don’t worry! There are plenty of options besides the United States. Want to take a cruise? You can head to Cuba or sail to the Dominican Republic. Want to see historical medieval sites? France and Germany are filled to the brim with old castles and cathedrals. Thailand and Korea are amazing to try new foods! Traveling out of the country can show different cultures that we couldn’t have even imagined. Though, it can be extremely expensive. A passport would also be required and some countries are strict about visitors. This style of traveling is meant for those who crave the unknown and are willing to make sacrifices for their trip.
Your travel style is dependent on your opinions and situation in life, but I know mine. I would choose out of state or out of country for any trip! Happy travels!
