those bags, you’ll want a Therm-A-Rest Trail Lite mattress (aka sleeping pad, $55) for a bit of comfort. If the back yard is your campsite, use a Weber Go Anywhere grill ($45) to make hot dogs or a backyard fire pit ($59) to roast marshmallows. Add a book of spooky stories, a Petzl Tikka LED headlamp ($35) for reading in the dark, maybe a pair of Motorola two-way radios ($55) for fun and security, a Coleman wheeled cooler ($60) which you’ll find many uses for, and pronounce it a successful outdoor adventure.

Museums, Landmarks, and Other Cultural Sites

Most towns have a Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Office or Visitor’s Center. Even if there’s nothing more than a motel or two in your Podunk paradise, there are probably brochures inside the lobbies advertising things of interest to see and do around your town. And, of course, there’s always the Internet. At Lonely Planet’s USA page, you can download individual chapters from the USA guide ($3 to $5 each) and read travel stories about national parks, top regional food experiences, scenic drives and more. At Fodor’s USA page, you only need click on the state and city of interest to be taken to a page highlighting that city’s neighborhoods, sights, restaurants and other entertainments. At Frommers USA page you’ll find the most extensive list of destinations of the three. Search by national park, by region, by island, by city, and even by theme park. Finally, take a look at Roadside America, “your online guide to offbeat tourist attractions.” Search by attraction, town, or state. We typed in Connecticut and found the “Mysterious Stones” of Bethel. According to the 1997 listing, this real cool mystery spot is a circle of large, head-shaped stones with small caves. And you thought staying close to home would be dull.

Get Smart: Take Art, Cooking or Other Courses

Maybe you’ve always wanted to skydive or master Italian cooking. Perhaps you think it’s high time you learned to speak Chinese or paint a landscape. Do it, but only if it will enhance your enjoyment of life. A week off in the summer is a great time to enroll in a course you previously deemed too frivolous or far-fetched for good old practical you. At Map Muse, we chose “cooking schools and classes” from the long list of interests and were taken to a page

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