8 Reasons I Love Day Trips as a Retiree

Today I’m sharing 8 reasons I love day trips as a retiree. Since retiring, Bill and I have embraced day trips. We plan one about every other week and we always have the best time.

For us, day trips have become part of our retirement routine and a perfect way to celebrate retired life.

In addition to sharing my love for day trips, I’m also including a few tips for planning day trips as retirees based on our formula for a successful day trip. Enjoy!

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Shopping for orchids is just one of the many reasons I love day trips as a retiree. — The opportunity to shop for orchids is just one of the many reasons I love day trips as a retiree.

8 Reasons I Love Day Trips as a Retiree

There are lots of reasons to love day trips as a retiree. Listed below are my top 8 reasons, plus a few notes from Bill in italics.

Reason 1. Day Trips are Relaxing

First and foremost, I find day trips very relaxing. We can wake up at our leisure and get ready for the day ahead. There is no plane to catch or baggage to pack.

Basically, there is no schedule we have to meet. Instead, the day is flexible and relaxing which means we have time to pull over for unexpected estate sales when Penny sees a sign along the road.

a set of brown transferware found at an estate sale — I love that Bill is willing to make a quick turn when we see an unexpected estate sale sign. You never know what you will find!

Reason 2. I Love Chatting during the Drive

Secondly, I love chatting in the car during day trips. It seems like we always have the best conversations during day trips.

I know our plan for early retirement was hashed out during day trips we took when we were still working. And now that we’re retirees, we chat about how much we love retirement, plans for the garden, upcoming travel, etc.

Plus, I love the quiet of being in our own car. We even typically drive with the radio off. However, sometimes Penny takes a little nap on the drive home while Bill listens to NPR.

Reason 3. There is Always Good Food

In my mind, good food is a must during a day trip and often the first thing we plan when taking a day trip. During day trips, we almost always know ahead of time where we plan to eat lunch and then we plan the rest of our day around our lunch location.

day trips for retirees lunch — During our most recent day trip, we had lunch at the Maple Ridge Grocer in Tulsa. The fries were great!

Our ultimate day trip was to Meers Store and Restaurant for what’s touted as the best burger in Oklahoma…it was huge! Meers is 156 miles from our home and the farthest we have traveled for a day trip.

Reason 4. New Towns Mean New Shops to Explore

We both love exploring specialty shops during day trips. It might be a specialty gardening center, grocery store, boutique, antique shop or something else.

Bill is partial to grocery stores, and I am partial to antique shops. Plus, we both love gardening centers.

And sometimes we visit larger retail stores that we don’t have in our hometown, like Costco, Target and our newest discovery, Scheels of Tulsa.

Day trips for retirees mean the opportunity to explore. Scheels in Tulsa is one of our most recent discoveries.

Plus, Penny loves to stop by Trader Joe’s every chance she gets. She always comes home with flowers, cheese and chocolate.

a wheel of brie on a charcuterie board with crackers and cherries — I always manage to bring home cheese. It makes the perfect quick dinner after a day trip.

Reason 5. Quality Time with Each Other

For us, day trips mean lots of quality time with each other. No distractions and no other commitments. It’s an entire day of having fun together…driving, chatting, eating out, shopping and whatever else we decide to do.

Bill shopping for irises at a sale hosted by the Tulsa Area Iris Society.

It also means limited screen time. We may use our phones to look up an address or take a few photos (Penny takes lots of photos), but otherwise, we both tuck our phones away during day trips.

shopping at an antique show during a day trip — I do take a lot of photos during day trips. Bill is in most of them.

Reason 6. Day Trips are Relatively Inexpensive

In my opinion, day trips are relatively inexpensive. There are two primary expenses: 1. gasoline for the drive, and 2. something good to eat for lunch. And good doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.

Bill and I plan an annual day trip to Eischens for fried chicken.

Many of our favorite restaurants are very inexpensive, like Eischen’s Bar where we share an entire fried chicken for $18. Other expenses are optional, and shopping doesn’t have to mean buying.

Plus, many of the things we do during day trips are free, like visiting the Tulsa Flea Market. And others are relatively inexpensive. For example, admission to the Tulsa Botanic Garden, a day trip we took last fall, was $10 each.

Viewing the scarecrows during a visit to Tulsa Botanic Garden.

Reason 7. No Kennels or Caretakers Required

Since we’re gone for just the day, there are no kennels or caretakers required which also means no related expenses. As long as Midge (Penny’s dog) and Frank (Bill’s cat) have plenty of food and water, they both do fine on their own for the day.

Our pointer playing in the garden. — Midge much rather be outside than at the kennel.

However, when we take an overnight trip or extended vacation, Midge goes to the kennel, and we have a caretaker tend to our potted plants, Frank, and the Meghens (our chickens).

Reason 8. Day Trips Require Little Planning

And finally, a successful day trip can be accomplished with very little planning. Not only can you wait to the last minute to take a day trip, but you can also cancel a planned day trip at the last minute.

In the past, we have cancelled a trip to the Tulsa Botanic Garden when the skies turned rainy, and we have scheduled a day at the ballpark when the forecast was sunny.

Our Formula for a Successful Day Trip

If I had to guess, Bill and I have taken 100+ day trips since retiring. As retirees, we mostly plan day trips for weekdays. Everything seems to be less crowded. Of course, if there is a special weekend only event, we will make an exception.

The Tulsa Flea Market is always held on Saturdays, and an exception to our usual weekday day trips as retirees.

Tips for Planning a Day Trip as a Retiree

Pick a location to visit within a few hours of home. Two hours each way, means four hours roundtrip. Any longer and you’ll run out of daylight for your day trip.
Do a little research in advance and select a restaurant for lunch. Plan your route based on your lunch stop. Also, start your morning with a light breakfast so that you have plenty of room for a great lunch.
Fill your tank up with gas the day before your trip and make your morning coffee in a travel mug at home. This allows you to hit the road without having to first stop by a gas station or coffee shop.
Take an ice chest with you with waters and other favorite drinks. Plus, you can use the ice chest to 1. bring home leftovers from lunch, or 2. grocery items when visiting specialty food stores.
Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Plus, dress for the weather, layers are great allowing you to adjust your clothing throughout the day.
Finally, be sure to include a balanced plan of activities so that everyone enjoys the day trip. For example, Bill and I both enjoy gardening centers and eating out. Plus, we try to balance things I enjoy like antiquing with places Bill enjoys like grocery stores.

making coffee at a home — Make a coffee to go in your favorite travel mug and hit the road sooner. (My blue and white travel mug.)

Day Trips as a Retiree: A Few Final Notes

In the last few months, Bill and I have taken several day trips to Tulsa, one to Oklahoma City and another to Pawhuska. Each was different and each was the perfect way to celebrate retired life.

I plan to share a few of our itineraries in future posts including some of our favorite things to do in Tulsa (our most likely location for a day trip) and tips on visiting the Pioneer Woman Mercantile in Pawhuska (we’ve been four times). Plus, a handful of restaurants in Oklahoma that we think are worth the drive. Stay tuned, I’ll be sharing lots more related to day trips as a retiree.

Penny shopping in Pawhuska at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile. — Penny shopping in Pawhuska at the Pioneer Woman Mercantile during a recent day trip.

Also, drop me a note in the comments and share one of your favorite day trips as a retiree. I’d love to hear your ideas.

Cheers to retired life, and as always, happy gardening!

X Penny Pennington Weeks