We all know the feeling. It’s Friday afternoon and it’s finally the weekend. But what are you going to do with your Saturday? Housework or yard work? Maybe you need a real break for once, but you can’t afford to take a week’s vacation. Have you ever thought of taking a day trip at the last minute?

You can go anywhere on a day trip. If you live by the beach, spend a day at the beach. If you live near the mountains, go for an adventurous hike. If you like by a cool city, spend the day playing tourist.

Here are some great places to visit, even if you only have one day to do it in:

1. Asheville, North Carolina: This is a great hippy town, in which you could probably spend several days. However, if you’re going on a day trip, why not focus on the downtown area, where there are plenty of fun shops, tasty restaurants, and beautiful old cathedrals to explore for an entire day.
2. Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia: For less than 50 dollars for a day pass, you can discover the wonders of Colonial Williamsburg. In the Revolutionary City, you can experience firsthand what the daily struggles of wartime would be like. Or you could visit the art museums or relax at the spa. The city is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, with over 20 guided tours available and evening programs nightly.
3. Bellingham, Washington: Here, you explore the breathtaking beauty of nature, by taking a trip to Whatcom Falls Park to see the waterfall there or to Lake Padden Park, a 900 acre park which offers several miles of walking and bike trails. Other great outdoor excursions include Nooksack Falls and Larrabee State Park.
4. Springfield, Massachusetts: You’ve probably heard a lot about the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, but what about the Basketball Hall of Fame? Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, this is a great place to spend a day touring. After learning about the extraordinary players, coaches, and referees that have contributed to the game of basketball worldwide, you can go to the Zoo in Forest Park, which was the inspiration for many of Dr. Seuss’ wild tales. In fact, Theodore Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was actually born in Springfield, and there you can tour the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden.
5. Taos, New Mexico: The beautiful mountainous landscape surrounding Taos is enough to make you weak at the knees. But if you’re going to spend any time at all in Taos, it is important to visit the Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community that is both a World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.

So, as you can see, there are plenty of places to explore in just one day. And if none of these places are near you, then be creative! Think about a cool city or site that’s only a couple hours away, hop in your car, and go for a trip! Many of the areas you decide to visit could be the perfect retirement or relocation destination. Just from these few suggestions, there are a variety of communities to explore. Asheville has many mountain communities nearby–Hickory Nut Forest, Vista at Bills Mountain and Blacksmith Run, Bear Lake Reserve, and Echota. The communities in Williamsburg, VA, make it easy to call the historic city home: Kingsmill on the James and Colonial Heritage. And if you find yourself in Washington State, your adventure may lead you to a more permanent residence at Shea Homes at Jubilee or Trilogy at Tehaleh. A last minute day trip could be how you discover one of the best places to retire.

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