How to plan the ultimate summer vacation
Summer is just around the corner and vacations come with the season. Are you looking forward to a calming staycation or ready to zip off to a wanderlust destination? Either way, head to a Mid-Continent Public Library for all the essential inspiration, tips, and free resources.
Steps to Planning the Ultimate Vacation:
1. Research Your Destination.
One of the simplest travel tips is to read up before traveling. Travel guides can provide cultural context and tips so that you don’t get lost while losing yourself in paradise. The type of guide you need depends on the type of experience you desire—whether it’s relaxing in sunny Florida or jetting off to explore England.
Regretting not traveling through Europe in college? Why not now? Consider driving through the continent to get a taste of quaint French villages, historical castles, or bustling cities.
Guides provide helpful suggestions on budget traveling. Taking a trip to a nearby city can give you a new experience and perspective without breaking the bank. As great as backpacking through the Spanish Peninsula or exploring a Thai market sound, the beach might be the ideal summer vacation. After all, blue water and white sand is all a beach bum needs.
2. Make Your Plan.
The easiest way to make travel simple is by planning. Use the Library’s website to access ConsumerReports.org for a currency exchange guide, airline reviews, and other information. Articles on making smart meal choices abroad show that dietary restrictions or the desire for healthy eating can be accommodated.
3. Improve Your Photography and Language Skills.
As the departure date gets closer, a basic online photography class will ensure that you’re in focus while capturing Instagram-worthy memories. A course like Becoming a Photographer from Lynda.com is a great way to make use of that DSLR.
Rusty high school Spanish might not do the trick for a Peruvian adventure. Fine-tune your language skills with online classes through the Mango Languages database. The free courses offer more than 70 languages with interactive films, native-speaker audio, and a focus on conversational skills. If you prefer a teacher-led class, Pronunciator offers weekly live 30-minute sessions.
4. Pack Your iPad.
Don’t forget to bring a language or culture book for the plane ride. Better yet, pack light and take it all on a mobile device. Access eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and eMusic via Wi-Fi – whether you’re on a plane or in a small café on the Mediterranean. If you slacked off on step one and forgot to do research, browse CultureGrams. With information on over 200 countries, you can have a quick cultural refresher at your fingertips.
Don’t worry about keeping up with the news while you’re abroad. PressReader connects you with hundreds of newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Guardian.
Or have a relaxing staycation…
Because the best parts of any vacation are the new experiences, you can have your own happy vacation right at home by simply trying something new. And the best part of a staycation? It can be as long as you want.
1. Get In Touch With Your Inner Fisherman.
Sure, you can check out books, movies, or magazines to entertain yourself. But what about checking out fishing gear? The Missouri Department of Conservation and Mid-Continent Public Library have partnered to make gear available free of charge. Items like poles and tackle boxes – equipped with hooks, weights, lures, and bobbers can be checked out at the following MCPL branches: Antioch, Blue Springs South, Colbern Road, Liberty, and Smithville.
If you’re curious about freshwater fishing, Universal Class gives library customers an immersive lesson. You might as well sign up for a canoeing class while you’re at it to be completely prepared for your next trip. An afternoon breathing fresh air might be all you need.
2. Improve Your Culinary Skills.
Remember when Tex-Mex sounded like the perfect dinner and you failed trying to make it? Taking an online class or checking out the latest cookbook can help you fulfill your next Tex-Mex craving. Everything can be do-it-yourself, including recreating Pinterest-worthy cakes in a cake decorating class online with Universal Class or mastering Japanese cuisine using Morimoto’s most recent cookbook.
3. Become that Knowledgeable Local.
If your aim is to be an expert on Kansas City’s food scene, read up on its foodie history before experimenting with recipes by local chefs. Sports fans can brush up on their Royals knowledge to prep for what is hopefully a long season.
Be sure to make the most of your vacation or staycation. Who would have thought the local library would be the place to make that happen? So dust off that library card and start planning your adventure now. If you can’t find your card or don’t have one, get a Mid-Continent Public Library card now by visiting www.mymcpl.org/newcard.