Where do get your destination information?
After our first two trips, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the resources available for information while traveling and am curious to hear from those of you who have been doing this for...
Forum Discussion
We always make "tentative" plans and never fix anything in stone. We use to do it that way and found ourselves frustrated when we didn't achieve all our destinations or simply so exhausted we couldn't enjoy ourselves once there.
We pick a destination and once that destination becomes final, start searching the internet "local attraction near whatever spot", or "strange and unusual attractions", or even the "Weird" series... which in my opinion is awesome. "Weird" gives lots of suggestions for things not necessarily on the beaten path.
For example, you profile says your in Texas. If you have a chance, go to a book store and browse through this book: Weird Texas. They also have a web site for the "Weird" series: Weird U.S.
Putting the word, "Weird" or "Strange" in front of any location turns up some very interesting local points of interest that might have been completely missed.
And another thing ... people who are local to an area many not fully appreciate what they have around them. For example, when I purchased the book, "Weird Indiana" I was really surprised to find that the Indian Mounds at Mounds State Park has such a "weird" history. The State Park is only about 10 miles from my house, been there all my 62 plus years of life, and never appreciated the "weirdness" of the State Park before. So, just because "Weird" is in your search, does not necessarily mean anything "bad". But locals may not appreciate "differences" in the way others see "things" around them then the way they do.
Here's another one from Indiana - the Pink Elephant. Now the "Pink Elephant" has been an icon in Fortville, Indiana as long as I can remember. I think it's been there forever. Actually, I thought it was really silly. Until I saw it in the book. And then all of a sudden I looked at it in a different way. Rather than just being something really dumb in my opinion, it all of a sudden became "unique" and a bit of Indiana that doesn't exist anywhere else. If others will travel to see it, then maybe I need to look at it different too. And all of a sudden, I did! The Pink Elephant is only about 10 miles from my house (a different direction) and I travel by it when going to Indianapolis via US 67 rather than I-69 (4 or 5 times a years). So every time we pass through Fortville now, I actually look forward now to seeing the "Pink Elephant". Actually, I'm now kind of proud of it. But it took the eyes of someone else for me to appreciate it.
So you know, "locals" are not always the best resource either. I'm not saying Internet searches or books are the best source either. But, taking them all into consideration (including forums, such as this one) will give you lots of ideas and potential attractions and eateries that are really off the beaten path ... which in my opinion, are really the best places to go!
And for an FYI.... here it is:
We pick a destination and once that destination becomes final, start searching the internet "local attraction near whatever spot", or "strange and unusual attractions", or even the "Weird" series... which in my opinion is awesome. "Weird" gives lots of suggestions for things not necessarily on the beaten path.
For example, you profile says your in Texas. If you have a chance, go to a book store and browse through this book: Weird Texas. They also have a web site for the "Weird" series: Weird U.S.
Putting the word, "Weird" or "Strange" in front of any location turns up some very interesting local points of interest that might have been completely missed.
And another thing ... people who are local to an area many not fully appreciate what they have around them. For example, when I purchased the book, "Weird Indiana" I was really surprised to find that the Indian Mounds at Mounds State Park has such a "weird" history. The State Park is only about 10 miles from my house, been there all my 62 plus years of life, and never appreciated the "weirdness" of the State Park before. So, just because "Weird" is in your search, does not necessarily mean anything "bad". But locals may not appreciate "differences" in the way others see "things" around them then the way they do.
Here's another one from Indiana - the Pink Elephant. Now the "Pink Elephant" has been an icon in Fortville, Indiana as long as I can remember. I think it's been there forever. Actually, I thought it was really silly. Until I saw it in the book. And then all of a sudden I looked at it in a different way. Rather than just being something really dumb in my opinion, it all of a sudden became "unique" and a bit of Indiana that doesn't exist anywhere else. If others will travel to see it, then maybe I need to look at it different too. And all of a sudden, I did! The Pink Elephant is only about 10 miles from my house (a different direction) and I travel by it when going to Indianapolis via US 67 rather than I-69 (4 or 5 times a years). So every time we pass through Fortville now, I actually look forward now to seeing the "Pink Elephant". Actually, I'm now kind of proud of it. But it took the eyes of someone else for me to appreciate it.
So you know, "locals" are not always the best resource either. I'm not saying Internet searches or books are the best source either. But, taking them all into consideration (including forums, such as this one) will give you lots of ideas and potential attractions and eateries that are really off the beaten path ... which in my opinion, are really the best places to go!
And for an FYI.... here it is:
