Plan An Unforgettable Trip Within The States

As winter wanes and we crawl out from our hibernation dens, it might be time to think about travel plans for the year. Everyone has a unique travel personality. Some people prefer cities, while others love to get out in nature. Some like to return to the same area year after year, while others think life is too short and the world too large to do the same vacation on repeat. There are so many options when it comes to travel that it can be difficult to narrow down a decision, but we hope to offer some inspiration for you for 2024 and beyond.

Initial considerations

With social media and smartphones, inspiration is literally at our fingertips for choosing a location. But before we set our hearts on a place, we should make some initial choices. The first is financial: what is the budget? While a trip overseas can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on the number of people going, a road trip can be pretty reasonable.

Staying in-country

Carrie Voss, co-owner of Keys to Dream Travel in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and her colleague, independent travel agent Erin Wells, have all sorts of travel suggestions for folks who want to stay within the States for their 2024 vacation.

Erin says Boston, Massachusetts, is one of her favorite cities and offers history, culture, sports and everything in between. “A guest can purchase a Go City pass (I recommend the two-day pass) and do as much as they can accomplish off the list of options within those days,” she says. That list of options included in the pass is long but includes New England Aquarium, Paul Revere House, Harvard Museum of Natural History, Swan Boats of Boston, a Fenway Park tour and the USS Constitution Museum. An all-inclusive Go City two-day pass for one adult is around $119, which is a bargain given everything it includes.

For those who aren’t limiting themselves to the contiguous United States, Erin suggests Disney’s Aulani in Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii. “It isn’t a theme park, but rather a resort. They boast spectacular beaches and serene lagoons, a championship golf course, shopping and dining venues, sports fishing, snorkeling, a beach house for kids, and so much more,” she says. Guests can book additional excursions or stay local.

If flying is not in the cards for you this year (or ever), fear not. Carrie suggests several locales in Georgia, an approximate six-hour drive from Louisville. The first is Blue Ridge, Georgia, where a family can rent a cabin with mountain views for under $700. “Activities in the area include 16 self-guided waterfall hikes, tubing down the Toccoa River, riding the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, visiting the Sasquatch Museum, trout fishing, and shopping in downtown Blue Ridge,” she says. From Blue Ridge, Carrie says you can drive one way to visit Babyland General Hospital, the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kids, or drive an hour to Helene, Georgia, a unique Bavarian-themed town located on the Chattahoochee River.

For travelers who prefer to stay in state, Carrie says Grand Rivers, Kentucky, is around three hours from Louisville and lies between Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. A four-night stay typically ranges from $600-$800. “Nearby activities include the Badgett Playhouse, the Kentucky Opry, and Patti’s 1880 Settlement restaurant,” she says. But perhaps the best of all is that Grand Rivers is steps from Land Between the Lakes, where you can visit the Elk and Bison Prairie. If you want to get close to bison without traveling to Yellowstone National Park, Land Between the Lakes is your place. You can also go horseback riding, visit the 1850s Homeplace and rent a boat to explore the lakes.

By Carrie Vittitoe

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