Why Digital Magazines Are as Essential as Sunscreen for Summer Getaway Planning
The days of wading through thick travel guides and books for vacation ideas are long gone. Now mobile phones and tablets make summer getaway planning easier than ever. But with so many online resources, vacation planning can still be a daunting task.
Today, many consumers are turning to digital magazines for instant access to insider tips that make the planning process easy and enjoyable. Here are some ways digital magazines can help to create the perfect summer vacation (or staycation!)
Find unique summer getaway destinations
Whether travelers favor the beach, the desert or the mountains, travel magazines provide readers with insider tips about locations around the globe. It’s easy to discover where to find the best hotels, the best shopping, the best food and the best entertainment. And with access to digital magazines like Travel & Leisure, readers can click through to special offers, videos and companion sites that offer even more assistance in planning a dream getaway.
Create a staycation to remember
For some, the best summer vacation is one spent at home. If summer plans include refreshing the paint in a kitchen, planting an organic garden, or learning how to cook salmon on the grill, turn to popular titles such as Home Design, Rodale’s Organic Life, or Cooking Light to find inspiration for the perfect staycation.
Discover weekend adventure getaways
Carefully planned, long-anticipated vacations are great, but there’s something special and exciting about a last minute weekend getaway. Lifestyle magazines like Field & Stream, Backpacker and Sailing World offer close-to-home trip ideas and done-in-a-day adventures for the entire family.
Identify entertainment and activities for all ages
Downloadable magazines are a great way to keep the family occupied during travel time or to get them involved in the vacation planning process. Download Sports Illustrated or Golf Magazine for local sporting events. Browse popular children’s magazines like Zoobooks that offer tear-out activity pages for long trips and offer suggestions on locations to observe unique and interesting animals. Or discover entertainment gems in niche publications such as JazzTimes and Cinema Scope.
Pack light and save money
Paper magazines are a travel favorite for car and plane rides, but they can weigh down luggage and create unnecessary strain. Now travelers can download a variety of magazines to a phone or tablet without carrying the additional baggage. Many libraries subscribe to Flipster, a digital online newsstand that offers hundreds of popular magazine titles to satisfy every taste. As a member of a local library, travelers can download as many magazines as they wish at no cost. So, before boarding a plane, stop by a local library and ask about Flipster.
Curb travel stress and get creative
For the unexpected plane delay or flight cancellation, download an adult coloring book and print out a few pages to occupy unforeseen down time. Adult coloring books provide travelers with a constructive activity and a way to relieve stress and anxiety, according to a 2006 study.
It’s easy to access digital magazines and adult coloring books through the Flipster newsstand at local libraries.
--Written and originally published by EBSCO, June 10, 2016--
--Flipster is a service offered by the Bedford Public Library. Some magazines mentioned here may not be offered locally. Ask us for more information.--