Local family road trips. Priceless adventures.
“Where are we going to camp tonight, Dada?!” Great question! My kids and I were on Day 3 of our annual week-long ‘Ice Cream & Camping Road Trip’. I didn’t have an answer (yet), but that was part of the adventure. Planning a trip can be part of the fun of travel, but for these road trips, we have always voted for spontaneity and the old fashioned spirit of exploration. So we packed boat loads of food, camping gear, maps and our sense of adventure. This year’s destination was going to be our great home state of Maine, USA.
These road trips with my kids are definitely the highlight of every summer, but especially this COVID-19 summer. I had four key goals for this year’s trip: 1. Have a blast with my kids, 2. teach them more outdoor and travel skills, 3. explore new areas of Maine, and 4. to see first hand how the local travel industry is adapting and pivoting due to COVID. And to really embrace the spirit of discovery and try new things, I did not plan the trip or book any camping reservations in advance. We just picked a region to explore, and went. Sure, there was some stress for me, and this type of travel is not for everyone, but these spontaneous and unplanned road trips provide an amazing way to experience and connect with the local places and people we visited. And honestly, we never would have had our amazing adventures (epic camping sites, fun dinner spots, stunning sunsets or meeting new friends) if we had planned the entire trip in advance. But we did have two daily requirements, which included stopping for ice cream and making s’mores at our campsite. But I could work with that.
Each day was simple, but fun. We explored nature, did random local hikes, walked around small oceanside ports, sang silly songs, devoured endless ice cream and s’mores and told funny stories in our tent. So, for me and the kids, finding an awesome campsite each day was part of the experience. We stopped and talked to a myriad of local folks and fellow campers to get new ideas or recommendations. My daughter even learned to use paper maps (I know, paper!), which she thought was super fun and cool. This teamwork required us to adapt our daily plans to fit the conditions each day, which provided an opportunity for my kids to learn new skills, tap into their inner resiliency and boost their confidence. Despite this daily chaos, spontaneous adventures and periods of uncertainty (“Do we stop at that ice cream place or keep going???”), I have never seen my kids happier with each new day. And that makes it all worth it.
As for what’s new and different in Maine due to COVID-19, we could feel a real positive and enthusiastic urgency to this new travel era. Local businesses and shops were so excited to have us there and happy to help answer any of our random tourist questions. New outdoor-themed dining options are popping up all over. There are numerous new campgrounds catering to small groups and families seeking unique outdoor experiences. And very timely planned, new waterfront parks and open spaces are opening up to attract anyone desiring uncrowded and scenic outdoor escapes in underserved areas of the state. All of this new energy and optimism shows that local travel is having a positive impact on tourism. Innovation can be fueled during times of chaos. So I am excited to see where this boom in local travel, outdoors, nature and sustainability takes the industry and the visitor experiences. So you think you know your local area? Think again. Things are changing and it is exciting to see.
It was an awesome trip that confirmed a number of things for post-COVID travel. In particular, nature and the outdoors are more important than ever and consumer demand is driving innovation and providing increased opportunities to create new travel products and experiences. More people than ever before are getting outside and have a renewed appreciation for the environment. And strong communities and local travel industry supply chains are essential to a sustainable future.
Lastly, here some of my key take-aways and field notes:
Local travel take-aways:
Local travel is not limiting if you approach your trip with the same enthusiasm and adventurous spirit as you plan a long haul journey. Embrace it.
Trip structure is good, but it is important to leave some room for spontaneity. You cannot make new discoveries and experiences if you only visit places you know.
Be resourceful and connect with local residents, businesses and fellow travelers for local insights and unique recommendations. So branch out and talk to others! Just make sure you wear a mask and stand six feet apart. :-)
Shake things up and try new accommodation options. We camped in State Parks, private campgrounds and (free) public land. It’s a low risk way to try new experiences close to home while supporting local businesses and organizations. And fun too.
Field notes:
Newly refreshed optimism: People are seeking unique outdoor and nature-based experiences and are really open to trying new activities and adventures.
Seeing lots of great innovation: Local businesses are finding creative ways to attract local travelers embracing the new post-COVID travel market and build out new and diverse revenue streams that will make tourism stronger in the future.
Timing is not everything: Local travelers do not need to travel during the high season. Instead, they are looking for shorter and more frequent trips during the entire year. This results in new opportunities to create products for families and weekend travelers.
Less popular is in: Local travelers are seeking insider experiences beyond the classic attractions. This provides an opportunity to bring tourism to new and underserved areas.