17 Types of Trips To Take

Everyone has their own personal travel habits; and if you’re not yet a seasoned globe-trotter, this year would be a great year to see a new part of the world and broaden your perspective. Whether or not you’ve been jet-setting for years or only beginning to think about travel in the abstract, there are countless ways to feed the appetite – for all budgets and personalities. 

Here are 17 types of travel you can and should look into this year!

1
 An unexplored local neighborhood

Most people forget that there are so many nooks and crannies to our own hometowns! A great way to spark curiosity or keep the travel cravings at bay is to set aside a chunk of free time to explore an unfamiliar local area. Pick a neighborhood, lace op your sneakers, and wander around! I did just this in my photo essay about commuting in Boston!

 

2
A structured group tour

If you’re uneasy about travelling on your own, but none of your friends want to joining you, you may want to look into booking a formal tour. These, while a little more expensive than self-made travel plans, are a fun way to see new places and make some new friends. Some seasoned travellers may tell you these tours are “cop-outs” or “scams” – but if you’re not ready to do it all yourself, there is no shame in getting a little help! Just be sure to do a little research to find the right tour company for you!

I love trip planning, but taking a group tour to Zambia/Botswana was amazing (and I don’t think I could’ve doe it myself for cheaper).

 

3
A weekend away

You can cover a lot of ground in just a weekend! Pick somewhere within a managable distance and/or a cheap flight away – and just make it happen! I’ve done places like San Diego and Houston as weekend trips, so I know it’s possible.

 

4
With a friend or partner

If you’re itching to get out of town for a bit, but need a little motivation, enlist a friend or partner to tag along. Paige over at For the Love of Wanderlust has a great piece on the topic >> How to Travel With Your Best Friend (and most points can be applied to partners as well).

 

5
All-inclusive resorts or cruises

Believe it or not, these totally exist for the budget-minded ladies and gents! You’ll be surprised what Google can dredge up if you plug in the right keywords!

 

6
Family

I bet the thought of this made you groan as a youngster, eh? Sometimes with the craziness of adult life, you need to make it a point to carve out time for your family. Planning a trip with them means that you’re all taken off your home-turf and away from the distractions of home-life.

My sister was with me for my trip to Edinburgh and for most of my time in London!

 

7
An hour in any direction

It’s so easy! Find your home on a map and figure out where you can visit that is with about an hour of your current location. You’d be surprised at all the cool things that are within an hour (even if its something that seems silly like the International Yarn Museum or the World’s Largest Spoon.

 

8
Shore

Pick an ocean or lake and make it your next destination. Surfing in California or boating on Lake Michigan, or even learning about the lock system of the smaller lake/river system in Whatevercoolplace.

 

9
Road trip!

Map out a course, take a week off work, make sure the car is in proper working order (or cheat and rent one), then get on the road! There is a reason road trips are so popular – because they’re cool and a right of passage. If you’re snas-vehicle, take a train trip. It’s a slightly less flexible option, but you get to avoid the potential cramping of being stuck in the seated position for a long time.

 

10
Mountains

Have you ever seen a mountain in real life? Ok… just checking. You’d be surprised how many people have never seen an actual mountain. There is so much diversity on a single mountain- from the plant life, animals, waterways…. and not to mention, the quaint little towns that sit at the bases of these majestic giants.

 

11
Solo

Ready to be brave? Now that you’ve taken that tour trip and dragged your best friend on a road trip – you’re ready to graduate to the solo expedition. If you’re a little timid about going solo, find a destination popular with solo travelers (like Amsterdam, London, New York) that has tons of stuff to do, book yourself into a hostel and you’ll be good to go! You got this 🙂

 

12
Relaxation & technology detox

This type of trip ranks pretty high on my favorites list- largely because its so hard to actually pull the plug, but so refreshing once the withdrawal symptoms wear off. Pick a place where you know you will have minimal access to wifi. One really great thing that comes from the lack of tech is that it allows you to work on personal reflection and building relationships with people around you.

 

13
An ancestry pilgrimage

If your heritage is something other than the country you live in- or even from a different region within the same country- plan a trip to learn more about where your predecessors came from. Taking steps to learn your family’s specific and cultural history can give really interesting insights to why you are the way you are – or even be as practical as learning that you’re genetically programmed to run around a pasture and herd sheep. And that you’re actually a sheep dog. Just kidding; making sure you’re still with me!

 

14
A pop-culture trip

Really want to visit “Middle Earth” in New Zealand? Or maybe you’d really like to see what’s so special about Walden Pond. Picking a destination based on film, literature, or even just “Brittney Spears has been there, so I want to go there, too” is a super easy way to pick a destination.

 

15
Adventure

Bored with the 9-5 life? There are so many different types of adventure trips you can take: whitewater rafting, bungee jumping, zip-lining, multi-day treks – the possibilities are endless. If its something you’ve always wanted to do, I say book it – then you’ll have to carry through because it’s paid for!

 

16
Go to an event

Favorite band playing in a different coast? Or maybe a different country? Is there a conference you’re dying to go to in the opposite hemisphere? Square all necessary visas, buy the event ticket, and make it happen.

I was in NYC for the Impact Travel Alliance Summit when I went on the Made in Brooklyn Tour, in Milwaukee for WITS when I encountered Good City Brewing, and in Toronto for a concert (ok, I’m in TO all the time, but still…).

 

17
Working Holiday

This one is a little different from the others. There are some countries that have working holiday visa programs

 

Bonus:

Follow me on Twitter AND Instagram because I’ve been told that I’m a trip…. lol get it? Trip? Because I’m a tr……….I’ll stop.

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• Do you have any trips on the horizon?
• What are your favorite types of travel?
• Are you looking to get outside of your “travel comfort zone” this year?
• Did I miss your favorite type of trip – tell me all about it in the comments