By Guest Author: Joyce Jackson:
Finding your way off the beaten path for your adventure vacation has never been easier. The Web levels the playing field between quaint small towns and the destination resorts that frequently overshadow many hidden gems.
As the travel industry expands to accommodate the growing number of people wanting to travel, surfing the web becomes an even better option for most of us. You can now find more destinations than ever before. For an adventure you can, even with your family, search online and rekindle the spirit of adventure and discovery.
Nearly 64 million travelers -- 30 percent of the U.S. adult population -- used the Internet in the past year to get travel and destination information. Of that group, 44.6 million actually booked at least one travel service or product online in the past year. "The Internet has put consumers in control of their plans and they like it. They're able to gather all the facts they need and compare prices and options to obtain what they feel are the best deals possible, "according to Dr. Suzanne Cook, senior vice president of research for the Travel Industry Association of America.
It used to be that resort destinations dominated the travel scene. The newest and most inexperienced travelers would be channeled into large resorts. Today, small bed and breakfasts or even “mom and pop” home stays can compete on equal levels with the large resorts.
How?
Online!
Use it your advantage!
Here are some tips for finding fresh locales no matter which state you plan to visit:
* Enter the state name and the terms "travel and tourism" and the official visitor's bureau of that state will appear as one of the top search results. Government supported and frequently tax funded, state tourism bureaus are charged with providing information on all visitor resources and destinations from the very small and unheralded to the very famous so you can browse a broad gamut of options, usually segregated by interest area and/or geographic location within the state of your choice.
* Search by an interest area in the state you want to visit such as "whitewater rafting in Colorado," one of the most popular activities in Colorado. Other popular search terms for mountain destinations could be "hiking" or "mountain biking." Similarly, search by the types of activities you'd like at beaches, America's most popular vacation target, by searching terms such as "beach volleyball Florida" or "surfing California."
* For active outdoor enthusiasts, whether traveling solo or packing a family, camping or resort-bound, visit online versions of your favorite magazines such as Outsideonline.com, NationalGeographic.com and guide book publishers such as Fodors.com or LonelyPlanet.com.
Courtesy of Article Avenue (Source: http://www.articleavenue.com)
Joyce Jackson is the author of Pro Travel Packing Tips. On her website, travel-packing-tips.com, she offers tips and help gained from her 30 years of traveling the globe. It’s for those just starting out traveling or inexperienced travelers who want to be more confident when traveling.
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