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“So much to do, so little time.” How often do you hear that phrase? It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day demands of work with that revolving door of projects and deadlines. Research tells us that vacation days are important to Americans, yet 54 percent of workers aren’t using their hard-earned vacation time. That has resulted in a stockpile of 600 million unused vacation days. It may not seem like there’s a way to escape from it all and use those vacation days but there is. It just requires advance planning.
National Plan for Vacation Day was started to encourage Americans to plan their vacation days for the rest of the year at the beginning of each calendar year. Why? Because a vacation is important and can affect many different aspects of our lives. It can strengthen personal relationships with family and friends, inspire creative thinking, improve professional performance and promote better health.
Planning is, without a doubt, the most important step in making vacation possible. Research shows that those who plan ahead take all their time off and also take longer vacations. They are happier with their relationships, health and well-being, company and job. Even their bosses are happier since they’re in the loop and can plan accordingly as well.
One major decision in planning a vacation is figuring out where to go. Hagerstown and Washington County, Maryland, is a great destination for your summer vacation. Hagerstown is conveniently located at the interchange of Interstates 70 and 81, and is central to popular destinations such as Baltimore, MD, Washington D.C. and Gettysburg, PA. However lodging rates here are significantly less than our metropolitan neighbors.
The county is located in the Heart of the Civil War and is known for its rich history. It is home to historic sites like Antietam National Battlefield, South Mountain State Battlefield and Fort Frederick State Park. Hagerstown, the county seat, was recently named one of National Geographic Travel’s Best Cities for 2018. It has a vibrant Arts & Entertainment District with treasures like the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts and the Maryland Theatre. Visitors can even enjoy America’s greatest pastime while vacationing here because Hagerstown has its own minor league baseball team, the Hagerstown Suns.
Washington County is the perfect destination for families, group travel, couples and even solo travelers. There are many wonderful itineraries to be explored, whether it’s a journey through Civil War sites with a stay at one of our historic inns, a family vacation immersed in the outdoors exploring local state parks and National Park sites with a stay at a campground, a romantic stay at a beautiful inn with time spent tasting wine and enjoying the view at our vineyards or a group tour of our art museums and a show or minor league baseball game with lodging at any of our hotels.
There are many tools to help you plan a wonderful vacation to Hagerstown and Washington County. The Visit Hagerstown website at www.visithagerstown.com is a great starting point with lots of information about points of interest, lodging, events and more! You’ll even find an entire page with Free and Inexpensive Things to Do. Our annual Visitor Guide is THE go-to publication for visitors to our area. You can request a free Visitor Guide here and even view a digital version here. The Visitor Guide is filled with valuable information, much like the website, and is a great resource to have in your pocket or bag as you travel around the county. Another helpful tool for vacation planning is the Visit Hagerstown Phone app. It includes everything you need to live, work, and play in Hagerstown and Washington County, MD; all conveniently bundled into one powerful, easy-to-use app. And finally, our Visitor Welcome Center is the gateway to Historic Downtown Hagerstown and the perfect place to begin your visit. Our Information Specialists are all Certified Travel Ambassadors (CTA’s) and eager to assist you in answering any questions you may have while planning your stay in Hagerstown and Washington County. Come in and browse through the brochures, hear about other attractions and destinations and maybe take home a few souvenirs!
This year, don’t let your lost vacation days be part of a statistic. Turn your bucket list into a to-do list by starting to plan now. We hope to see you in Hagerstown and Washington County this summer!
