Every day, more than 2.7 million people fly in and out of airports throughout the United States. But while air travel may be a popular means of travel for your next vacation, it’s far from your only travel option. If you want to enjoy a unique vacation, don’t head to the airport. Instead, check out these three unique travel options that can help you make the journey a part of the destination.
Hopping On a Train is One Travel Option
Unlike their European counterparts, Americans aren’t quite as addicted to train travel. While North and South America are home to 27 percent of the world’s railway systems, they boast just 1 percent of the world’s train riders. Yet, the U.S. is home to an extensive rail system that can take you to just about any major city. So, the next time you want to travel domestically, consider swapping out that plane ride for a train adventure. While it may take you longer to get to your destination, you’ll see parts of the country you’d likely never see and experience a more leisurely method of travel. And if you’re traveling with family or friends, you’ll enjoy more quality time and memories together that you won’t soon forget.
Another Option s to Travel on the Water
Perhaps the most unique adventures are those that take you off the beaten path to far-off corners of the globe. Unfortunately, those corners aren’t always easily accessible. In some cases, they are impossible to get to on your own. The coastal and interior waters of Alaska are one such place. Towering glaciers, unspoiled wilderness and an ocean that’s filled with whales and other wildlife offer an adventure you won’t find anywhere else in the world. But you can’t exactly take your family car or even a family boat to these wild waters.
Cruises offer a simple, convenient solution to that dilemma. They help you reach remote locations without worrying about driving or flying from place to place. Whether you’re traveling on your own or in a group, you can enjoy all the conveniences of a cruise. But gaze outside a window or bundle up and take to the decks and you’ll experience views you would never be able to see on your own. From wandering the state’s unique cities and towns to exploring its exotic wilderness, there’s an adventurous Alaskan cruise in 2019 for every traveler.
Last is a Good-Old-Fashioned Road Trip
Before modern interstates made getting from one city to the next fast and easy, highways and backroads made road trips more commonplace. Today, roadside motels and campgrounds have become secondary trips, overshadowed by chain hotels or affordable flights to get travelers to their destinations even faster.
With this in mind, rediscover the fun of a road trip by hitting the open road, with the aim to take a few extra days to get to where you’re going. Turn the open road into the destination by seeking out forgotten roadside attractions along the way. You can even take this tip to the next level by renting an RV and exploring state and national parks along your route, camping in campgrounds or even boondocking in parking lots.
Getting Creative with Your Travel Options
If you’re someone who prefers to hitch a plane ride for any and all vacations, it’s time to break out of your comfort zone. From taking to the rails or sea to see parts of the country you’d never see from a plane or car to getting back to your travel roots with an old-fashioned road trip, you can’t go wrong with these unique travel options.