Episode 5:
In Your Own Backyard
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Let’s talk about exploring things in your own backyard. During the pandemic when we were more limited in our traveling, I started to get antsy. I needed to get out of the house and see something new. So I started looking a little closer to home. We had flown 10 hours to see some amazing things, but there were also amazing things 10 minutes from where we lived so we started a campaign to see what was in our own backyard.
So, where do we go?
We go to National Parks! If you listened to last week’s episode, you heard about my love of National Parks. Remember, to be a National Park, it doesn’t have to be one of the big 63! I can almost guarantee that there are National Parks within an hour of your house!
Take Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah. Golden Spike is just over an hour from where I grew up and I had never been there. In fact, no one I knew had been there, so we all jumped in our cars and drove out there. I have to say, once we turned off the highway and started going into the desert, I started to question myself. But we got there and it was really interesting.
If you don’t know, way back in the 1800’s, it was decided that there needed to be a rail line that went from the East Coast to the West Coast. So, one company started in the East and one started in the West and they met in Corinne, Utah. (There’s a funny story about how they both actually overshot the mark, but I’ll leave that for the rangers to tell you.) They had a big ceremony and nailed a golden spike into the rail line as the last spike. It was quite the todo! And it was also the end of the Wild West.
They reenact the meeting of the 2 steam engines every day at the Golden Spike National Historic Site. It was really interesting, and HOT - but the visitor center had air conditioning, and Trooper caught his first huge grasshopper. What a great day!
We go to State Parks, which are kind of like National Parks but usually smaller. Just google {your state} State Parks and you’ll get a bunch of places to go. In some states, State Parks are free, but some states, like Washington, they aren’t so keep that in mind.
We go to museums. In fact, we recently made the trek to the Museum of Flight in Seattle and had a WONDERFUL time on a dreary sort of day.
There are expensive museums and free museums. Just find something that interests your family and go there!
Here’s a travel tip for when you’re traveling around your own backyard. A lot of museums have free days each month so check their website. Our library also has free passes you can check out just like a book. They are often checked out, but if you’re observant, you might be able to snag it and be able to go to that museum you’ve been eyeing for free!
We go to farmer’s markets. This time of year, I dream about good farmer’s markets where you can find yummy fruits and vegetables, honey, earrings, whatever you’re looking for!
We happen to have a great farmer’s market in our town that I go to weekly in the summer, but there are super fun ones other places too. What a fun day it would be to find one that looks great online and go see if it’s right. (We’ve done this twice. Once, it was an AMAZING farmer’s market. The other one, not so much, so you never know what you’re going to get!)
Exploring in your own backyard can mean events like flower and garden shows, comicon, or monster jams. If your kids are little, this might be something to look forward to, but how fun to get to enjoy something that people travel to each year.
Speaking of that, my family has a little dream. We want to go to a Renaissance Faire or a Highland Games, but we’re a little intimidated by them. Has anyone ever gone to one? What did you think? Send us an email to readysetdepart@gmail.com
While we were at the Museum of Flight, I was reminded about the CityPass. Have you heard of these? For Seattle, you buy a CityPass ticket and save up to 31% off of 3 attractions or 46% off of 5 attractions. You can choose from the Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, a Harbor Tour, Museum of Pop Culture, Woodland Park Zoo, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Flight, Sky View Observatory, or the Seattle Art Museum. It’s a great way to be a tourist in your own city!
I looked it up and there are CityPasses for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Southern California, Tampa Bay and Toronto. I had no idea there were so many!
CityPasses are also a great way to see what interesting things there are to do in another city. Even if you don’t buy a pass, you can still look it up to see what’s popular!
Exploring your own backyard is often a great way to see amazing things but also be able to spend the night in your own bed, which is also nice. Sometimes though, it’s nice to pretend you're a tourist and spend the weekend somewhere. When we do that, we like to do a few things we’ve been thinking about. Like go to a fun park and a museum, or find a Light the World Giving Machine at Christmas time and go find an Adventure Lab Cache.
Here is something I want to try. Do you want to try it with me? Way back in the 90’s, there was a song called Heads Carolina, Tails California. Basically, she was singing about flipping a coin and letting that decide where you want to go. One of these days, we’re going to do this one weekend! Let chance decide what we see. Do you want to join along?
So, how do you find cool things to do in your own backyard? It’s pretty much just like planning for a big trip, but honestly, Instagram, Pinterest, and talking to people are my 3 favorite ways to find interesting things to do! If you want to read more about how I plan a trip, go to episode 2 of the Ready Set Depart Podcast!
Wherever you travel, don’t forget about the beauty that is right in your own backyard!
Hey Trooper, what do you like about exploring our own backyard?
TROOPERS TIPS FOR KIDS:
Thanks mom! Well, I like that it is so close to our house so we don’t have to drive too far. (I only like road trips when I have audiobooks.) I mostly like to go to the beach and throw rocks in the water. But museums are Pretty cool. Did Mom tell you about the Museum of Flight? I loved the planes that I got to see that I didn’t know about before. After I got out of the museum, I thought, “Wow, I learned quite a bit about planes!”
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