Autumn on the Chesapeake Bay right off of I-95 - one hour well spent!

Better than your average chain restaurant view...

File this under "unexpected excursion in less than an hour"!  Many people spend their Saturday and Sundays running from one errand to another.  Or they have a birthday party or soccer game to take their kid(s) to and feel like they spent the whole weekend in the car.  Our family is no different.  The key to adding fun and travel to your day is to figure out a way to add an excursion to the schedule.

For example, we had to go to the market and to pick up a few items from a family member who lived 1/2 hour away.  We are excited to see them and had a nice visit.  Then we stopped by a nice farmers market, Richardson Farm in Baltimore County. http://richardsonfarms.net/  for a few essentials.  I knew we were very close to the Hammerman Beach area of Gunpowder Falls State Park and decided to take the girls there for a nice break in our hectic weekend.

For those traveling up and down Interstate 95, this quiet and lovely park is only 9 miles off of this heavily traveled road.  By the time it would take to go to a mid-grade chain restaurant, you could swing by Richardson Farm, grab a sandwich or fresh chicken and sides and have a picnic on the Chesapeake Bay...all for less than the cost of this restaurant!  One hour and you would be back on your way.  Prices to get into Hammerman range from $3-6 depending on your car's license plate state of residence.  Military are half price.  The waterfront is lovely and in mid-week, not very crowded.  On a late October day, it was practically empty.

Better atmosphere than at McDonalds.

So business travelers sitting in traffic on I-95...this may be a good way to spend your lunch hour AND miss out on some of the grid lock.

Girls writing their names in the sand.

Gunpowder Falls State Park Hammerman Beach area less than 10 miles from I-95

What kind of traveler are you? And what kind of traveler am I?

Congratulations!  So you are ready to embark on your new travel lifestyle and starting close to home here in the USA.  This should be easy, right?  You are a native born American, speak the language, have seen some of the USA already, so you are ready for the open road...

Well, before you go, consider your travel "personality":  Which of the below statements speaks most to you:

• Early to bed, early to rise makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.
• A place for everything and everything in its place.
• I thrive on chaos.
• Make new friends, and keep the old, one is silver and the other gold.
• Been there, done that, next?
• The only thing domestic about me, is I live in a house.
• Too much is never enough.

Now compare your answer to those who will be traveling with you.  Do they match?  If you are going solo, you need not be as concerned.   The fundamental issue before you leave on any trip is to recognize your limits.  There are many types of limits:  financial, time, ability, attention span, physical endurance, tolerance for dirt, etc.  Understanding your limits and respecting the limits of others, is crucial for a successful trip.

In this blog, you can assume a these things about me.

• I am middle of the road in terms of strenuous activity.
• I am a middle class, not luxury traveler.
• I am excited by new experiences, people and locations.
• I am not afraid to try new foods or talk to strangers.
• I require eight hours of sleep so super early mornings and late nights are rare.
• I am usually traveling with teenagers, not toddlers.
• I am comfortable in places where I am the minority in terms of race, religion, culture.
• I can travel eight hours a day easily, by car or plane.
• I can drive anywhere I need to go by myself as long as I have a map/GPS.
• I have a good (not great) sense of direction.
• I don't mind walking or taking public transportation.
• I am not a vegetarian.
• I have liberal political beliefs.
• I am a big tipper and like to simulate the local economy while traveling.
• I scour the Internet for deals and use travel websites regularly.
• I am flexible while traveling with others.
• I will come to your house to visit if you invite me (consider yourself warned).

Think of the above statements and where you think you fit on a spectrum.  You will find this blog the most helpful if you are similar to me in terms of travel style yet will add tidbits that differ as I think they are important.  

Enjoy the journey!