Few of my friends live in "interesting" places. There just aren't many people on whose couches I can crash while seeing the sights-all under the guise of a friendly visit, of course. Why doesn't my sister live in Paris? Why can't my best friend move to Thailand? Wouldn't it be great if my dad retired to Fiji instead of Florida?
Since none of those exotic relocations appear to be happening anytime soon, though, I've started focusing on the opportunities that I do have, even if the destinations seem far less exciting. It's entirely possible to make a mini-vacation out of almost any type of travel, whether that's a family visit, wedding weekend, work trip, or other commitment. My top 5 tips for making the most out of obligatory travel:
1) Expand your visit. The most obvious way to transform a necessary trip into a fun vacation is to add a day or two to your itinerary. Got an out-of-town work conference? Your employer may be willing to let you tack on a few vacation days to your trip if you pay for your lodging. The same advice holds for weddings. One friend turned a routine work trip to Oakland last year into a mini-vacation by scheduling it the week before a friend's wedding in Sonoma and renting a car. The result? A two-day wine tasting road trip between the two events. (Lucky me: I got to be her "date"!)
2) Take to the road. Speaking of road trips, it helps to realize that travel is also about the journey, not just the destination. If you're driving to an obligation like a wedding or family visit, allow yourself the time to enjoy the sights along the way. When my brother-in-law got married in the Catskills a few years ago, my partner, Devin, and I took advantage of the long weekend to spend the day before the event tooling around Woodstock and the surrounds. Not only did it give us alone time before the hubbub of the "big day," but we got to explore an area that we might not otherwise have visited.
3) Ask for a tour. Like many people my age, I have a parent who has moved to another state. Predictably, it's Florida. Regardless of where your family or friend lives, ask them to show you around-you might be surprised what you find. Case in point: I never liked Florida until I visited my dad in Naples. After more than a decade, I still see something new every time I go, and the variety of beaches, wildlife, and culture my father has shown me over the years have made Southwest Florida one of my favorite locales.
4) Get the local flavor. Devin and I are both born-and-bred New Englanders, but his parents moved to Lafayette, Louisiana, about 15 years ago for his father's job. Although I've been to New Orleans, I never truly experienced Cajun cuisine until we spent Christmas with them several years back. Since then, I've been introduced to authentic gumbo, tasso ham, chitlins, crawfish boil, and-possibly most exciting-drive-through daiquiri stands, which, believe it or not, are legal in Louisiana. Ask your family or friends to show you a sampling of the local dishes (or drinks!).
5) Bring a friend. I grew up in quintessential quaint small-town New England, but frankly, I couldn't wait to escape to the city. It wasn't until I first brought Devin back to meet my mother that I realized how great my hometown really is. "This is beautiful!" he exclaimed as we drove through the Berkshires to Northwestern Connecticut, and-seeing the surroundings through his eyes-I could finally agree. I'll be house-sitting for my mom and stepdad next month, and I can't wait to revisit all the sights I used to take for granted.
Jessica Cerretani is a Boston-based freelance writer. She is one half of the dynamic female travel duo, Have Baggage, Will Travel (http://www.havebaggagewilltravel.com/), where she regularly blogs about her adventures.
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