travel

february 2003

In the light of the current times, many of our readers have expressed reluctance to travel far away from home, but getting away offers a great opportunity to alleviate some of the stress we're all feeling and to spend quality time with your family. Why not get better acquainted with the travel possibilities of a near-by day trip? Search the Net for a state or local tourist board for day trips that are within an easy drive of your home. It'll get everyone away from the TV set, out into the fresh air, and offers an opportunity to teach your children more about where they live.

In looking at a map of the United States, these getaway spots came to mind -our families and we have visited many of these places over the years. Some of the cities have been written up in previous travel articles. If not, there's plenty of additional information on their historical sites, museums, tourist attractions, shopping, and other items of interest on the Net. Once you've decided on your destination, the local Chamber of Commerce or Visitor's Bureau will be able to give you further information on day trips, and specific places to visit. In most cases you can contact them by e-mail from the Internet and even buy tickets when needed ahead of time. Alabama: Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa Alaska: Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau Arizona: Phoenix, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Tucson Arkansas: Fort Smith, Hot Springs, and Little Rock California (northern) : San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Marin County (Redwoods), Lake Tahoe, and Sonoma California (southern) : San Diego, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, and Orange County Colorado: Denver, Durango, Boulder, Pueblo, and Aspen Connecticut: Mystic, Kent (Litchfield County), Westport Delaware: Wilmington Florida: Kissimmee & St. Cloud, Key West, Miami, and Sanibel or Marco Island Georgia: Atlanta and Savannah Hawaii: Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai Idaho: Boise, Sun Valley, and Twin Falls Illinois: Chicago, Champaign, and Urbana Indiana: Indianapolis and Madison Iowa: Cedar Rapids and Des Moines Kansas: Dodge City and Wichita Kentucky: Louisville, Lexington, and Bowling Green Louisiana: Baton Rouge and New Orleans Maine: Bar Harbor, Portland, and Kennebunkport Maryland: Annapolis and Baltimore Massachusetts: Boston, Cape Cod, Gloucester, and Sturbridge Michigan: Bowling Green, Detroit, Marie Ste. Claire, and Traverse City Minnesota: Minneapolis/Saint Paul and International Falls Mississippi: Biloxi, Natchez, and Vicksburg Missouri: Branson, Hannibal, St. Louis, and Kansas City Montana: Fort Benton, Glacier National Park, and Yellowstone National Park Nevada: Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and Reno New Hampshire: Portsmouth and White Mountains New York: Adirondacks, Buffalo, Catskills, and New York City New Jersey: Cape May, and Northern New Jersey New Mexico: Carlsbad, Santa Fe, and Taos Nebraska: Omaha and Lincoln North Carolina: Raleigh-Durham North Dakota: Bismarck and Fargo-Grand Forks Ohio: Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus Oklahoma: Oklahoma City and Tulsa Oregon: Columbia River Gorge, Medford, and Portland Pennsylvania: Bucks County, Delaware Watergap, and Philadelphia Rhode Island: Providence and Newport South Carolina: Charleston, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach Tennessee: Gattenburg, Memphis, and Nashville Texas: Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio Utah: Lake Powell, Salt Lake City, and Sundance Vermont: Bennington, Montpelier, and Stowe Virginia: Alexandria, Richmond, and Williamsburg Washington: San Juan Islands, Seattle, and Yakima Valley West Virginia: Charleston Wisconsin: Green Bay and Milwaukee Wyoming: Casper, Cody, Jackson Hole, and Laramie Now's the time to see America. As always, be sure to pack double the amount of medication/insulin and testing supplies you'll need while you're away, as well as carb snacks and good walking shoes. Get out with your family or friends and enjoy the rich history and natural beauty of our great country. FTG