Just because I’m penny pinching to get out of debt doesn’t mean I can’t live my life authentically and with passion. I love to experience, explore, and learn new thing. I need to recharge my batteries especially, when I’m operating at a level of zeal. Traveling provides all of the above. Downsizing trips, adding more local flavor, careful planning, and staying fluid allows me to do more on less time and money.
More local. More frugal. There is so much to do within a three hour drive from the Chicago area that is super low cost or free. So many tourists come from all over the world visit the Chicago area on their holiday. Why waste this opportunity to explore my backyard? Instead of longing to go to London, Mexico City, Tokyo, Beijing. Warsaw, or Lagos, I begin my travels at home. No hotel rooms to reserve. No flights to book. I don’t have to worry about a rental car. Food could be packed in. I get to do more and spend less!
A semi-epic bike tour is planned for the end of May and beginning of June. I scaled back my transcontinental bike trip because I can’t afford taking three consecutive months off this year. This semi-epic bike tour offers me a chance to explore Northern Illinois while I train on different segments of the Grand Illinois Trail. I will begin my four day ride from Chicago to St. Louis on the route 66 trail on May 30th. Matthew wants to come along and ride four centuries. Once we arrive in St. Louis, we’ll spend a day being tourists and drive back to Chicago. Maybe we’ll see a Cards game while we’re there. We’ll be carrying our food to save money and possibly plurge halfway through the trail. I want to sleep under the stars each night but we might have to stay at a hotel along the way. Who know what will happen. The primary goal is to enjoy the ride and experience America at a slower pace. A lot of questions will be answered for my transcontinental bike trip (in 2011 hopefully?). This trip is a wallet saver. I own a bike and most of the gear involved for this trip.
Road trip perhaps? It’s in the works. I’ve been dreaming about driving down the Lincoln Highway to San Francisco and drive back to Chicago on Route 66. I’m young and single. I don’t want to postpone it and watch that dream whither away. I haven’t been to Yosemite National Park since I was 12 years old. I want to enjoy Las Vegas as an adult. There’s so much to see and experience on this trip. I started asking around to see who wants to go with me. The more, the merrier (and cheaper!) I’m going to start planning this trip. Who wants in?
The annual camping trip occurs on Labor Day weekend at North Manitou Island, Michigan. My brothers seem to be getting a bit tired of the island so we’re considering driving to South Dakota for a long weekend. I love these trips because it’s just the three of us just chilling and future responsibilities will prevent may prevent of from doing it in the future. I hope we can finalize our plans with it so I can plan my gear purchase and save up for this trip.
Opening up opportunities isn’t such a hard thing with careful planning and persistence. My Philadelphia trip last November taught me that I can have a quality vacation on very little money. Even though I have very few resources, I will be a well traveled this year. Do you have any travel plans and how will you be saving cash on your trip?