THE THOMS SUNDAY TRAVEL SECTION
Schools Out for Summer.
June. School is coming to a close. Temperatures are rising, and even the walk from the car to the office can make you glow. The mind starts channeling summer vacation.
If you are like me, August is THE month the family travels. I do not know if it is in writing in a Travel Law Journal somewhere, but it’s just law.
Or maybe its a response lying somewhere deep in our D.N.A. At the least, it is a habit. A GOOD habit.
What about June? What did it do to get the short end of the stick?
June.
June, for those of us in the northern hemisphere, is the beginning of summer. That indeed calls for a celebration. I live in S Florida, and we will not come out of our houses again until ohh, mid-October? Air-conditioning and swimming pools are our friends. The festivals of just a few months ago are fading memories.
But north of the Mason-Dixon, festival season is just starting to swing. The leaves are out; grass doesn’t look (or feel) like a cat’s scratching post, its time to get outside.
As an illustration, draw a line from Ashland Oregon, through Chicago to Providence RI. Let’s think of this as a makeshift “dividing line.” The weather south of that is changing from fresh to sometimes delightful. North of there, heck, there are places you may need the heat on, at least at night. But ohhhh those days!!!
Furthermore, in travel magazines, weekend papers, on the TV you see ads for state tourism websites/brochures. Look at them!!! They have great ideas.
Type in official tourism website of ________, and chances are, it will take you right where you want to go.
WHAT a perfect weekend getaway. Can you get away early on Friday?
In around four hours or less driving, you can get from Seattle Wa. to Salem Or. From Denver Co. to Casper Wy. Drive Chicago to Northern Wisconsin. Concord NH from New York City or Atlanta Ga to Gatlinburg Tn. Look at a map, that place you want to visit is closer than you think.
So Close, And Yet So Far.
Arrive in time for dinner on a Friday Night. With only a 1/2 day of driving, you’re not overly sleepy. Get a good night’s sleep. You think the hotel is NOT essential? In a 3-star or above, chances of a good mattress are better.
Saturday morning, hit the floor running. See the highlights, taste the local food and beverages and maybe meet some of the locals.
Sunday morning, have a late breakfast, and you’re home mid-afternoon.
Just like a buffet. Taste a little and see if you want to go back for more. Also, in June, you may find hotel rates a little less than the more popular July and August months.
Further Afield.
In Europe, draw your line from Brussels Belgium, through Warsaw Poland to Moscow. These cities are averaging 70 degrees in the day. Further north, it is still light sweater weather, but it’s still summer.
Temperature wise in Asia, unless you are in the mountains to the north, you are looking at 80+. Also, many areas are in, or just about to start their rainy “season.”
And the Southern Hemisphere is enjoying winter. Outside of the mountains and Antarctica, there is not a lot of cold areas in the southern hemisphere. June in Africa, South America, and Australia, near the coast will usually find temperatures in the 60s.
So get out there, make the most of your June.