Planning: A List of Things to Do When Traveling

Reading Time: 2 minutes

---

In this post we share a list of activities that you might incorporate on your next trip.

While this comprehensive list is not specific to a particular city, it may help you generate ideas for your next trip if you’re looking for a change of pace.

---

Around Town

Tip: check the local events calendar for ongoing programs and happenings that may be on offer to the public.

Places

• Historic homes & estates
• City historical markers – landmarks, plaques & monuments
• Different districts within town – historical center, cultural centers, Japantown, Chinatown, Little Italy, etc.
• Visitor center/information center
• Memorials
• Churches, temples, cathedrals, mosques, places of worship
• Libraries + story time + ongoing programming
• State Capitol
• City/Town Hall
• Post offices
• Train stations
• Fire stations
• Military bases
• College & universities

Activities

• Libraries + story time + ongoing programming
• Farmers market
• Artisan shops – coffee, chocolate, pastry, bread, olive oil, wine, textiles, fruit, music
• Bookshops – new, used, vintage, book fairs
• Restaurants (local owned)
• Antique shopping / thrift shopping
• Coffee shops (indie, local owned) – book readings, poetry, music
• Grocery stores (co-op, small business & large)
• Walking promenades
• Public gardens
• Botanical gardens
• Dog parks
• Animal shelter – check to see if you can volunteer to take dogs out for a walk
• College & universities
  • Walk around quad/campus
  • Tours
  • Libraries
  • Collections
  • Lectures
  • Galleries
  • Public exhibits
  • Music performances
  • Drama performances
  • Long term exhibits
  • Mini museums
  • Sporting events

Arts

• Live music, performances & concerts
  • Country
  • Bluegrass
  • Jazz lounges
  • Folk music
  • Acapella
  • R&B
  • Big band
  • Opera
• Traditional dance of city/country
• Ballet
• Square dancing
• Recitals
• Shakespeare festivals
• Stand-up improvisation show
• Comedy show
• Student plays
• Poetry reading
• Paint N’ Sip class
• Pottery
• Flower arranging

Indoor Activities

• Science/technology museum
• Planetarium
• Author book reading & signing
• Cooking classes hosted by a local
• High tea/afternoon tea
• Tour local estates/manors/plantations
• Craft fairs
• Ice cream tours
• Brewery tour
• Ice skating
• Roller skating
• Theater performances
• Movies + drive-in movies + iMAX
• Bowling
• Karoke
• Escape Room

Outdoor Activities

• Farm + Orchards + picking opportunity
  • Apple
  • Pumpkin
  • Blackberry
  • Strawberry
  • Blueberry
  • Coffee
  • Chocolate
  • Vineyards
• Watch a live sports events
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • American Football
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
• Tours
  • Walking tour of the city hosted by a local
  • Free Walking Tour
  • Cave tours
• County fair
• State fair
• Search for outdoor art (murals + graffiti) – also check to see if a local tour is offered
• Sports
  • Kayak
  • Canoeing
  • Rafting
  • Biking (city versus trails)
  • Ropes course
  • Zip lining
  • Rock climbing
  • Trampoline/jumping warehouses
  • Gymnastics
  • Pedal boats
  • Archery ranges
  • Run the local 5K
• Yard sales
• Amusement parks
• Water parks
• Car shows
• Beekeeping
• Farm-to-table dinner (check out Outstanding in the Field, a culinary caravan)
• Archaeology dig sites
• Hot air ballooning
• Kite flying
• Historical reenactments
• Roadtrip

Nature-Centric Spaces

• Arboretum
• Nature paths
• Nature preserves
• Ski resorts
• Federal parks
• State parks
• Historic parks
• Hiking trails
• Bird sanctuaries
• Horse training facilities
• (Aquatic) Preserves
• Lumber mills
• Grain mills
• Rose gardens
• Beaches
• Islands
• Mountains
• Volcanoes
• Geologic formations
• River walks
• Waterfalls
• Cliffs
• Windmills
• Lighthouses
• Estates/manors/plantations
• Historic forts
• State of California missions

Seasonal

• Christmas Markets
• Religious celebrations
• Independence Day
• Country’s Founding day celebrations (check calendar/country)
• Farmer’s markets