Stay at Home – Learn, Enjoy and Spend! Say Pundits

Enjoying a trip at home!

While glossy travel magazines struggle to determine the perfect mix of frugality and luxury, the idea of taking a vacation is still utterly unrealistic for many Americans. But traveling close to home can satisfy a lust for exploration and desire to experience new cultures. Furthermore, this type of travel can easily be done in a sustainable way.

Rebecca Traister of Salon SalonStory expands on the difficulties faced by travel magazines in the current downturn. High-end publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel and Leisure, must concoct a formula that not only entices advertisers and provides readers with an escape from reality, but also is conscious of those who’ve lost jobs or homes – readers who are unsure of when a getaway will be within their financial means.

Traister writes, “Travel may be the ultimate escape, but in a bad economic climate, imagining fun trips and exotic locations must be built on a hope for the future, a belief that one day money will again be plentiful and a vacation might be possible.”

Until economic confidence is somewhat restored, armchair travelers have the option of learning the ins and outs of where they live, altering their perspective to that of a newcomer. In other words, learning how to love your city again, according to Elizabeth Seward of Planet Green PlanetGreenStory Thanks to the Internet, finding green activities where you live is more possible than ever before. Start by listing what you might like to do – take a tour of historic buildings or eat at a new organic café, for example. Then scour the Web for blogs written by locals (try searching on www.technorati.com), or check your city’s official tourism Web site for ideas.

Seward also suggests volunteering with local organizations, many of which offer eco-friendly options. Whether you choose to plant a community garden or lead visitors on walking tours of your home turf, you’ll have the chance to meet new people, who might tip you off to a gallery showing or great local band. You’ll simultaneously help your city sustain itself and gain a renewed interest in your surroundings.

Those surroundings might not be as mundane as they seem. According to Associated Content’s AssociatedContentStory Dave Maddox, “Many cities and towns have immigrant populations which have, for the most part, settled near each other,” and who often organize traditional cultural events, such as ethnic food festivals and intriguing seasonal celebrations. To find out when such events are held, use the Internet to locate specific cultural centers. Or, consider volunteering as an English language tutor for local immigrants. You’ll learn from your students, and help them earn valuable job skills that can in turn stimulate the local economy.

And if you live near a major city committed to sustainability, such as New York, San Francisco or Austin, consider getting more involved in the green movement there. To peak your interest, read Sustain Lane’s SutainLaneStory interviews with environmental officials in 50 cities. You could discover an enlightening sustainability program that will make your city feel new again, and give you a sense of having traveled to another place.

Sarah Amandolare