Summer is coming to a close but as an empty nester the end of summer doesn’t signal the end of travel since you don’t have kids to send off to school. Fall is a great time to travel since the weather is amazing, there are beautiful fall colors to be seen outside, and the crowds are smaller than they are in the summer. I’ve got some fun ideas of things to do and places to go this fall or whenever you want to travel. For all of the categories/ideas below a web search including that and the locale you want to explore will help you find places to go. I live in Minnesota and am excited to check out some new places that I discovered on this amazing website that lists places to check out in each state. I even discovered that in Minnesota there is a troll hunt. How fun is that?!
Fairs and Festivals
You don’t have to look very far to find a fair or a festival to attend. There are state and county fairs throughout the United States and many towns and cities have festivals on a yearly basis with things like concerts, parades, food, games, treasure hunts, and even fireworks. If you want to shake things up a bit check out fairs and festivals outside of your own town. One of the cool festivals I learned about this spring was Tulip Time in Pella, Iowa. This charming town was built by Dutch immigrants and features a working windmill, historic village, and amazing tulips in the spring. Pella, Iowa is only about three hours away from where I live, but I knew nothing about it until recently. I actually visited Pella prior to the festival but my visit there has really opened my eyes to discover fun places and events beyond where I typically travel. There are the tried and true activities that I enjoy going to on a regular basis like the Minnesota State Fair which Minnesotans call “The great Minnesota get together”. It’s chock full of cool things to see and do and of course tasty food to try. If you haven’t checked out your own state’s fair I highly recommend giving it a go.
Historical Places
There is history everywhere, whether it be the home of a founding member of your community or even a founding father of the United States, an artist, an author, a musician, inventor, etc. Just pick any significant event in history and you can create a trip surrounding that whether it be the Revolutionary War, Civil War, the gold rush, westward expansion, the civil rights movement, etc.
Museums
Museums are closely linked to historical places of course. One unique museum that I have visited in Cincinnati, Ohio is called The American Sign Museum. It has a history of typography and signs from all over that you are sure to recognize. Another unique museum in Minnesota is the Mill City Museum, which gives a history of flour milling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. And don’t forget museums dedicated to well-loved foods such as the Spam Museum which chronicles the history of that beloved meat product.
Factory Tours
It’s fascinating to see how things are made. If you check out the website usamadetours.com. You can find places that showcase products that are made right here in the USA. Enjoy learning about the production of chocolate in Hershey, Pennsylvania, ice cream at the Ben & Jerry’s factory in Waterbury, VT, Harley Davidson motorcycles in Menomonee Falls, WI. Those three tours are the tip of the iceberg. You’ll definitely want to check out what’s available on usamadetours.com for your specific state to find a factory tour that sparks your fancy.
Architecture
There are so many amazing buildings in the United States. You can check out cathedrals like the National Cathedral and buildings such as One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, the Seattle Space Needle, the Gateway Arch, and so many others. Bridges are fascinating architectural feats to explore as well. Have you visited the Golden Gate Bridge or the Brooklyn Bridge? What about checking out smaller bridges like the bridges of Madison County in Iowa or the “S” bridges along U.S. Highway 40 in Ohio? You don’t have to travel far to find cool architecture.
Nature
And last, but certainly not least, and one of my favorite spots to visit are places where you can discover nature (and plants in particular). The United States is full of gorgeous State and National Parks. Another way to experience nature is by visiting arboretums and gardens. I’ve already mentioned Tulip Time in Pella, Iowa, but I would be remiss if I did not mention the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California where there are over 50 acres of ranunculus flowers in bloom in March and April. Talk about stunning!!!! The American Horticultural Society website is a great resource for finding gardens.
Get Going
What are you waiting for? Adventure is out there! Do your homework, decide where you are headed, and get going. And after that adventure, leave a comment below to give us all ideas for future fun.
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