Earlier this week I walked into a CVS to buy sunscreen. And there it was: BACK TO SCHOOL SALE! HALLOWEEN CANDY! Nooooooo!!! I'm not ready for summer to be over, and I refuse to let the marketers forward me into the fall. | I'm here to advocate for absorbing every last ounce of sunshine out of summer by taking a trip of some kind, of any length, whether it's a staycation, a day trip, a road trip or even a plane ride to another continent. My plan is to do all of this. | I'll kick it off this weekend with a staycation in New York City, maybe a day in the Rockaways. Then I'll escape to Fire Island for a week and finish summer splendidly with a long-awaited trip to Dublin. | If for whatever reason you can't get away this month, fret not: the fall is an equally fabulous travel season. I hope some of this week's top travel stories will inspire you to plan your next getaway. | | | | | Affordable experiences abound around the country | In May I took a delightful road trip through Normandy and the Loire Valley, and other than the considerable expense of the rental car, it cost very little (and was majorly fun). Check out Alexis Averbuck's brilliant cost-saving strategies for an inexpensive yet incredible trip to France. | | | Sebastian Modak's slow ride | Lonely Planet's Editor-at-Large cycles a path less-traveled | On his 335-mile journey along the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal Towpath between Pittsburgh and DC, my intrepid colleague Sebastian Modak found there was much to learn by hitting the brakes. His story is a paean to the power of the pause, taking time to notice the beauty of the world that surrounds you. | | | | Making friends on vacation | Just your usual Friday, sitting by the pool at Stanly Ranch in Napa, drinking a delicious Diet Coke on ice, tapping away on my laptop, transcribing an interview from a lounge chair, protected from the sun by a giant umbrella. | "Nice spot to work," I hear a young woman say to me from the pool. "I know, right?" I reply. Next thing you know, she and I are talking about our favorite places to travel, her Greek heritage, the Ionian vs. Aeolian Islands, how much we love food, her fiancé's restaurant in Boston. We exchange names and numbers. She promises me to text photos from her dinner at SingleThread Farm that night (and she did). | It was so natural and easy, making a new friend (if only for a short time). I loved it so much – why hello, new person! Such lightness, such joy! I'm so grateful to my new friend for taking the chance that the weirdo working from the chaise was worth talking to. | | | More travel news you can use | | | | | National Book Lovers Day library tour | Proud symbols of the importance of education and community, libraries are cherished spaces, rich in history and significance. Ahead of National Book Lovers Day on August 9, Lonely Planet has rounded up some of the most stunning libraries in the US. (And as a bonus, you can also read about some of Europe's finest libraries.) | | | Best places to visit in Massachusetts | August is a great time to make your way to Massachusetts, and not just for the perfect weather. Just last week, the state government finally exonerated Elizabeth Johnson Jr., the last person to have their name cleared after being convicted during the Salem witch trials. Outside of Salem, we spotlight other top spots in this storied state, from Cape Cod to the Berkshires. | | | | | | In the face of soaring fuel prices all across Europe, Spain announced a historical measure: from September 1 to December 31, multi-journey train tickets will be free. There are caveats (like no high-speed lines or long-distance journeys), but since we're talking about it, here are some of the best local and medium-distance itineraries to see Spain by train. | | | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
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