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Travel 101: What is a day trip and how far can you go? Are you a day-tripper?

The day begins
The day begins
Credits: 
Lindsay Godfree

If you visit a tourist destination or visitor attraction from your home and return home on the same day then you would be by definition a day-tripper or have been on a day trip or even a on a staycation. Does this reference have you singing “Day-tripper,... a one way driver yeah” by The Beatles, while you are heading down the highway?

This type of excursion does not involve a night away from home that is experienced on a holiday or vacation. So the day trip or daycation can be a very popular form of recreation and leisure for families with young children or people who do not travel easily, who own pets, or feel the cost of a night away from home may be prohibitive.

In Medieval times a destination for such days out would unusually have religious significance or be to a seasonal fair or festival. Later in England, visits to “castle like” homes by the middle class was considered a day trip destination and is still done today.

The railroad issued “Day Tripper” tickets to promote rail travel and the mid 19th century saw the blossoming of a distinctive day-tripper industry. Trippers also travelled by the thousands on paddleboat or steamship to Victorian era seaside resorts.

While all of the foregoing day trips still exist for the modern day-tripper, this experience is usually done by car these days but some airlines, not to be left out, also promote day trips.

So today you can get quite far from home in a 24 hour period for your daycation, staycation or day trip excursion depending on how fast your transportation is and if you can get going early and return before sun-up.

You can get updates on day trips by Subscribing at the top of this page. Follow me at National Cross Country Travel.

Video: Sing along with The Beatles
 

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By

Salt Lake City Day Trips Examiner

Lindsay S. Godfree is freelance writer and award winning photographer who lives primarily on the road driving cross-country but has mailing...

Comments

  • "The railroad issued “Day Tripper” tickets to promote rail travel and the mid 19th century saw the blossoming of a distinctive day-tripper industry. Trippers also travelled by the thousands on paddleboat or steamship to Victorian era seaside resorts. "

    Nice that we can thank the Railroads for our day trips these days!

    Great article hope you get to take a trip this weekend

  • Anonymous 1 year ago
    Report Abuse

    The Beatles were so young and cute then!

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