Showerthought: Riding the bus to nearby towns changed my idea of a vacation
I always thought you needed to fly somewhere to have a real trip, but last year I saw our local bus add new routes to smaller towns. On a whim, I bought a ticket to a place called Millbrook, about two hours away, for just seven bucks. I packed a lunch, got off the bus, and spent the whole day hiking their free trails and chatting with folks at the farmers market. The whole day cost less than twenty dollars, including the ride back. It hit me that I'd been overlooking so many cool spots right in my own region because they seemed too ordinary. Now, I make a point to pick a new bus destination each month, and it feels like a mini adventure without the stress of big plans. It's not just about saving money, it's about seeing the charm in places close to home. This small shift has made travel feel more accessible and much more frequent for me.