Start With Somewhere You Can Reach Before Lunch
Choose your own state or a neighboring one, then look for a guide covering a region within a comfortable drive. A statewide guide helps you choose an area; a town or county visitor guide can help you narrow down the stops.
Look for scenic roads, short walks, public gardens, historic districts, and small-town attractions. Mark two or three places that appeal to you, then check which are close together. That keeps a promising idea from becoming a day spent mostly in the car.
Pick Paper for Browsing, Digital for a Quick Start
A printed guide is handy for spreading out on the kitchen table and letting everyone choose a stop. If you want to leave this weekend, check for a digital edition you can read immediately. Wisconsin, for example, offers both digital guides and printed guides and maps by mail.
When requesting a paper copy, use the tourism office’s guide form, select the publications you want, and check its delivery estimate. Save the digital map to your phone if a downloadable version is available.
Have a destination in mind? Search OFree for Wisconsin travel guides, Utah travel guides, or free maps. You can also change the search to your own state or nearest destination.
Turn Three Bookmarks Into One Day Out
For a simple outing, build your route around:
- One main stop: a walk, attraction, or neighborhood you want to explore.
- One nearby extra: a viewpoint, garden, or interesting stretch of road.
- A lunch plan: a picnic spot or somewhere that fits your budget.
Check opening hours, admission, and parking costs before leaving. The guide helps you discover places; each attraction’s own website helps you confirm the details.
Find more starting points in OFree’s free travel guides, maps, and vacation kits, or browse free events and activities for another reason to get out of the house.