Enjoy a Local 3-Day Weekend

Cut down on carbon emissions and rediscover the joys of your own community.

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Photo: Charlie Archambault / NWF

By Dan Shapley

According to AAA, nearly 35 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more for the Memorial Day weekend, and nearly 90% of them will travel by car.

If you do plan to travel, follow commonsense maintenance and driving tips to improve your fuel economy. At $4 a gallon or more, most drivers won't need much arm twisting to save a few pennies per mile.

But if you're not traveling, the long weekend is an opportunity to re-discover the joys of home and community. One way to enjoy a local weekend is to imagine you're hosting out-of-town guests. Go to that local museum, historic site, park, winery, art studio, restaurant or attraction that you drive by so frequently but never have the time or occasion to visit. Find a new local hike, plan a picnic or dig into some work in your own garden. Slow down and enjoy the sunset. Visit the farmers' market and make a meal for your family. Sleep away an afternoon in a hammock.

And don't forget to remember why we get Memorial Day off in the first place; take time to remember those who have lost their lives fighting for our country, and those who remain in harm's way around the world today. There's a lot to be thankful for.

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