Walking Vacations: The Do-It-Yourself Alternative

By Kim Cottrell

Italy. Peru. The Highlands of Scotland. The places one might take a walking vacation are endless. But, maybe you’re like me and you’ve decided to stay closer to home this year. You’re focusing on improvements to the back yard or that addition on the house. In that case, you don’t have $10,000 left over to head off to Europe for a three-week jaunt.

You’re in for a treat because no matter how well travelled you are there are countless places to explore in your own area, whether in your hometown, the surrounding county, or your state. It’s true, the thing these days is a staycation, which is what they call it when you stay home and enjoy your city by doing those things you’ve always meant to do but didn’t have the time. But I’m not talking about staying home, I’m suggesting a vacation that combines the charm of walking from inn to inn and the familiarity and reduced expense of staying locally.

Consider that there are likely several bed and breakfasts or small inns within 25 miles of your home. Now, think of how much walking you are able to do comfortably in four or five hours, say eight to 10 miles. And whether you live in the country or in a metropolitan area, you’ll want to consider the route you’ll be walking. Will it be on busy streets? Will it be on country roads that have no shoulder and a high traffic count? Be sure to factor in the cost of having your belongings ferried from B&B, or carry a light backpack with a clean t-shirt or two and skip the need to ferry your goods. See if you can sort through most of the logistical issues before you begin your walk. Google Maps can help you. With their street level views of many places you’ll be able to see what you’re in for.

You could walk from inn to inn, from bridge to bridge, from McMennamins to McMennamins. You could do a walking tour of parks. Or, you could find one B&B that gives you fairly central access to a series of day hikes up to the local viewpoints. It doesn’t really matter, but have a plan so you’ll know how to get from one place to another with all your belongings. I knew someone who got on a bus and went off to explore a different neighborhood in his city once a month so he could feel like he’d had a vacation at the same time he was getting to know his local area. If you’re in Portland, check out the Pearl, the Belmont district, the Hawthorne district, or the Hollywood district. If you’re elsewhere, find your destination by determining what you’d like to explore.

For the last two years, my husband and I have packed a small bag, wheeled it to the train station, and headed downtown to stay overnight in a nice hotel that we booked online at the last minute. There are often very deep discounts because Portland’s downtown is all about the business person and on weekends the hotels cater to families and personal travelers. For do-it-yourselfers like us, this is perfect because it gives us a get-away and a chance to explore our city day and evening, more personally, on foot. Walking to dinner and returning to an inn or hotel feels relaxing because it lets you quit worrying about what is waiting to be done around the house and yard.

The options for creating a low-cost, close-to-home holiday are endless. No matter which option you choose, you can walk as much or as little as you’d like on hilly, flat, or rolling hills. The beauty is that you get to experience a time away from home that feels like you’ve been across the country but without the expensive airfare or train travel. Get out your map and start dreaming of which parts of your city you’ve been dying to see, then go. Go like your feet can carry you.

Kim Cottrell, walker, movement teacher, and communication specialist, is vacationing in-state this year with her husband, kids, and dogs. Cottrell is busy with the finishing touches of a walking guide for half-marathon and long distance walkers. You can reach her at www.kimcottrell.com.