Summer vacation is on the horizon and air travel is a mess. There’s a high likelihood that your vacation to Europe or the Middle East might get cancelled. With the ongoing war, increasing jet fuel prices are creating havoc for the airline industry. There are reports that dozens of popular European airlines are cancelling hundreds of flights over the next few months because of the predicated fuel shortage. With prices doubling or tripling for the remaining flights many are changing their summer itineraries. 

Even though your summer may not involve an international trip, it can still be just as fun. Here are four alternative ways to spend your summer if you can’t travel. 

1. Camping or Glamping

A wonderful way to save money and connect with nature is to drive to the closest National Park and go camping! You can gather a car full of friends or family members, pack sleeping bags and coolers of food and enjoy a weekend sleeping under the stars! If you’ve never camped before, you can use websites like Hipcamp that can help you find the best campsite to meet all your needs. If you’re not a fan of sleeping on the ground, look for places that have cabins, tents, or yurts that come with full sized beds. I went glamping last month in a campsite that was just one hour away from my home. The facilities had showers, grills, and big tents that had heated beds. It was so cozy and perfect for a city girl like me. If you do your research you too can find the right balance of nature and comfort in an area close to you!

2. Find a Resort with a Spa

So what can you do with all the money you were going to spend on a ticket to Paris? Spend it on a resort and spa instead! If you travel an hour or two outside of most cities, you will stumble upon resorts that were created for pampering. If you are someone that loves to enjoy good food, a relaxing massage, and sauna, then you should consider booking a few nights at a local resort and spa!

3. Play Tourist

Every city has a tourist attraction. Maybe you’re in NYC and you’ve never been to the Empire State Building (you know the one where Meg Ryan waits for Tom Hanks in You’ve Got Mail?) Or maybe you live in Chicago and you’ve never done an architecture tour or a dinner boat cruise on the Chicago River. Why not pretend to be a tourist and do the things you wouldn’t normally do? Plan a food tour of your own making. Take a day to go to the best restaurants and coffee shops in town. Try new ice cream shops or browse new book stores. Be curious and excitement will find you!

4. Take a Train

Have you ever explored the U.S by train? There are tons of videos online of people that book sleeper cars on Amtrak trains and they get to explore parts of the country– especially in California– that they have never driven through before. The train rides allow you to write, draw, listen to music, and enjoy nice meals while looking at views of mountains, forests and oceans. Although the journey may be long, the train rides are calming and fun. Check them out!