What Will You Do With Your Extra Day? Day Trip Ideas for Leap Year
By E’Louise Ondash, RN, health and travel writer
This year offers a bonus for travel nurses (and everyone else, too): an extra day!
It’s Leap Year, which means that February has 29 days and you’ll have a chance to do something fun and/or unusual with your additional 24 hours. Here are a few suggestions for some great one-day excursions:
Experience the front lines of the Cold War at the Titan Missile Museum. Photo Credit: Jerry Ondash
Phoenix/Tucson
For those with travel nurse jobs in the Phoenix or Tucson metro areas, this extra day gives you the chance to explore a curious relic from the Cold War era (1947-1991). Drive two hours south from Phoenix or 30 minutes south from Tucson to Green Valley, site of the Titan Missile Museum and a 10-story-high, deactivated Titan Missile. A tour through the underground silo and control room is like taking a trip through time. Now a National Historic Landmark, this missile and silo is the only one remaining of 54 that once existed throughout the country.
While in the area, drive another 20 minutes south to the fast-evolving artist community of Tubac. Colorful street signs, buildings and more than 80 galleries attract more visitors every year. Not far away is the beautifully preserved Mission de Tumacácori, a National Historical Park. Its story dates to 1691.
New York City
High about the waterway, the Walkway Over the Hudson is the longest footbridge in the world. Photo Credit: Jerry Ondash
Among the dozens of day trips from NYC, a favorite is the less-than-two-hour drive or train trip to Poughkeepsie, which takes you to the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park. A part of the Rail to Trails Conservancy, this former railroad bridge was converted to an amazing walkway that spans the Hudson River high above the waterway, giving walkers incredible views of the Hudson Valley. At 6,768 feet, the walkway is the longest footbridge in the world. The conversion was completed in 2009, and excellent signage tells the bridge’s history. Dress warmly; the winds in the middle of the Hudson can be fierce. Finish your walk on the east side and have lunch at Lola’s Café, 131 Washington Street, right under the walkway. It’s popular, so come at an off-hour. Open ‘til 5 p.m.
Seattle/Tacoma/Everett
Chances are that the weather in Seattle on Leap Day (February 29) will not be conducive to outdoor activity--at least for anyone not born and bred in the Emerald City. So head inside and make your extra day a sweet one with a $10 tour of Seattle’s Theo Chocolates. The factory is situated in the unconventional Fremont District of Seattle, which is home to the Fremont Troll, a colossal statue under the north end of the Aurora Bridge, and in warmer weather, The Painted (Naked) Cyclists of the Solstice Parade (that would be on June 21).
But back to the chocolate factory…Tours last an hour and include plenty of sampling. Theo’s prides itself on using only organic ingredients and fair trade practices. No stiletto heels or fur allowed. Reservations are almost a must.
Albuquerque/Santa Fe
If you are on a travel assignment in the Albuquerque or Santa Fe metro areas, you can spend your extra day exploring the Petroglyph National Monument, a less-than-half-hour drive from downtown Albuquerque. Winter is a good time to visit because summers here can be toasty. The monument’s other-worldly topography contains more than 24,000 petroglyphs--pictures etched in rock by Native Americans and Spanish settlers up to 700 years ago. Popular opinion has it that the Boca Negra Canyon trail is the best of the three, and several points yield panoramic views.
Wear sturdy shoes, use sunscreen and bring plenty of water. New Mexico’s atmosphere is the driest and sunniest in the country. Parking fee: $1.
Also conducive to February temperatures in the Land of Enchantment: a day on the Paseo del Bosque Trail. You can hike or bike for 16 uninterrupted, well maintained miles, which traverses through or passes by mature cottonwood (bosque) trees, farmland, a city zoo, parks, public art, wildflowers, bridges, ponds and benches for breaks. Best of all, it’s free.
Close to Los Angeles and San Diego, enjoy the spectacular desert wildflowers in bloom at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Photo Credit: Jerry Ondash
Los Angeles/San Diego
The wonderful thing about travel nurse jobs in Southern California is the diversity of climate and topography available within this third of the state.
You can use your extra day to visit Anza Borrego Desert State Park, the country’s second largest state park. It’s a two-hour drive from Los Angeles or San Diego and anywhere in between. With this winter’s rain, it could be a banner year for the annual desert bloom. Call the Wildflower Hotline (760-767-4684) for up-to-the-minute info on the location of the best blooms. The visitor center features a walk-through garden and free slide shows about the desert’s flora and fauna. If you hike, go early, then enjoy lunch at nearby resort La Casa del Zorro. A must-see: the 50-plus giant metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda, scattered throughout the acres near Borrego Springs. Visitors can also enjoy four-wheeling, stargazing and other pursuits in this desert paradise.
For a totally different experience, how about spending your extra day in the snow? Head east and up to Big Bear Lake where winter sports abound. Not a skier? Not a problem. Explore Big Bear’s wooded backcountry with an experienced Action Snowshoeing guide and learn about winter ecology, animal tracking, and flora and fauna. Tours are geared for both the experienced and beginners. Snowshoes, trekking poles and hot chocolate provided. For excellent Nepalese and Indian food, dine at Himalayan Restaurant at 672 Pine Knot Road in Big Bear Village.
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