5 Tips for Planning a Great Day Trip

Even though it’s not officially summer yet (June 20), it sure feels like it! A good summer for me is staying busy and exploring new places. Lately, I’ve been going on a lot of day trips to places around Iowa + Wisconsin and it’s been a blast! A day trip is a great way to have a mini adventure without blocking off a lot of time, spending a lot of money, or having to spend months planning.

If you’re like me and want to spend your summer doing lots of fun things, read on for my 5 tips on how to have a great day trip!

1. Look for “hidden spots” around you
One of my best tips when searching for a new place to visit is to internet search “hidden spots in ____.” When you do this you can go to exciting new places that not a lot of people know about!

That’s how I stumbled across Pewit’s Nest in Wisconsin. Someone that was born and raised in Wisconsin even said they’ve never heard of that place!

I had a lot of fun and got some great waterfall pictures (like the one in this post). Then around that area, we found a super cute downtown area and a beautiful winery with an Italian feel.

2. Review the place on Google Images
Before you fully commit to a place, you want to know what it’s going to look like. I always go to the images first to review the spot! Something important to keep in mind is that you want to know where the images are coming from.

You want to make sure the source is credible before you drive all the way out there. Look for images that have been uploaded by visitors as opposed to “related” images!

3. Look outside of your state
Don’t think a day trip means you have to stay in your area. Depending on where you live in your state, driving up to 4 hours away (or however much you want) could mean that you hit different states! Spend some time exploring what’s around you by using tip #1!

4. Start early
Even if you’re not an early bird, I’d recommend waking up pretty early and getting a start on your trip. This way you don’t have to get back too late and you still have time to relax before the next day!

5. See where photographers shoot
Another trick that I’ve used to find some cool places is to find photographers in the area you’re thinking of and seeing where they go to find cool spots to photograph. Photographers in the area are going to know the ins and outs of the town and you’ll be able to see how good a place can look (if you’re mainly there for photos like me haha)!