Groundhog Day was this week and, in Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow. Legend says that means an early spring. Whether or not Phil’s prediction is accurate, KPLU travel expert Matthew Brumley is thinking about spring break.
The lead-up to a vacation can be stressful, Brumley said.
“One of the things that happens when we get away as a family, especially if we don’t bring friends along, is it forces us to commune and become friends again,” he said. “As you get down the road, everything calms down. It’s worth it.”
Just Go
“If you don’t know what to do,” Brumley said, “just suit up.”
Maybe you're feeling indecisive. You think you want to hit the Oregon coast, but you haven't quite worked out all the details. Book now, and change your mind later, if you want. Most hotels and reservation sites will allow you to cancel or modify a reservation within the span of two to three days.
“Once you book it, it’s kind of like suiting up to go to the gym,” Brumley said. “Just put your gym clothes on; Put on your tennis shoes. Once you’ve done that, you look in the mirror, and you go ‘OK, I guess I’m going.”
And now is the time to book your travel. You can go far away if you want to, but you probably only have a week or a long weekend. So, here are some places nearby where you can put your feet up for a few days:
Vancouver
The Canadian dollar’s value against the U.S. dollar means better deals for travelers heading across the border.
“Maybe do a foodie/museum break up in Vancouver, or rent bikes and go around Stanley Park,” Brumley said. “There’s so much to do up there, just for three or four days.”
Victoria’s a good trip, too. The Royal BC Museumis worth the trip, and in spring, the ButchartGardens are starting to bloom.
South Of The (Canadian) Border
Growing up in the Northwest, Brumley’s standby was a weekend at Lake Chelan. But there are other options, too.
Port Townsend is a nice getaway, and so is Whidbey Island. Fort Casey Historical State Park is one of a handful of old forts that can be great to explore.
“Those are so much fun when you’re a kid,” he said. “Even if you’re an adult, because there are all those dark tunnels, and you can run around, and everyone’s screaming – what’s more fun than that?”
South Of The (Washington) Border
Portland is a short drive or Amtrak ride away. Hotel prices tend to be pretty good down there. The city has great museums and restaurants, too.
“And the Washington state dollar is pretty strong against the Oregon dollar right now,” Brumley said.
Har, har.
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"Going Places" is KPLU's weekly exploration of travel topics. Matthew Brumley is the co-founder of Earthbound Expeditions, which provides small group travel to clients including KPLU. When we're not sunning ourselves on a beach or strolling through a museum in Stuttgart*, we're contemplating topics and destinations to share with you. Have some ideas? Let us know in the comments section.
*We're almost never doing these things. In fact, Ed had to look up the spelling of "Stuttgart."
