Creating Memories: How to Plan a Weekend to Remember

Planning the perfect weekend away together is about knowing who you are appealing to. You might be right off the mark on what they would consider a great day out, so we’re here to help. As long as you know what they’re into, you’ll find a way to have fun with them here. 

For the nature lover

There is only one right answer for the nature lover: camping. There is simply nothing like being out there in the thick of it, with the sounds of the creatures lulling you to sleep on a bed of, well, not roses but something close, probably grass. 

And there are a lot of great ways you can do it. If sleeping on grass isn’t your idea of comfort, you can borrow a van or put the seats back and sleep in the car. Getting a campervan, caravan or RV is a great idea because you can sleep under the stars. Leading caravan, campervan and motorhome platform Camplify have thousands of unique neighbourhood vans that are available to hire for your next outdoor adventure.

You can look into glamping, or campsites with a few shared amenities if you’re someone who cannot take bathing in the river as part of a sufficient skincare routine. However, it’s worth mentioning that bathing in seaweed is a common treatment due to its skincare benefits, so maybe head to the coast. 

But the brilliance of camping is the isolation. Once you’re done wandering and exploring the area, you can share stories. Scary stories around the campfire, sure, but through normal chat, the deepest of secrets seem to come out in camping. 

Plus, you’ll get really close to your friends when you’re huddled together to stay warm. 

For the art lover

The art lover isn’t fussy. They know art is subjective, they just want to be inspired, which is why it’s actually very easy to keep them happy. The obvious answer to a memorable day out for an art lover is to find an art gallery, but spring for the tour or tutorial. So many of us are just embracing the pretty colours when we want to know more. Reading art is difficult. 

For a free day out, simply pick a city and go a wander. Street art is taking off, and it seems like no major city nowadays is without its commissioned murals on the sides of buildings. And they are impressive. Depending on where you are, you can even download a trail around the city that pinpoints every mural. Stop in a café for a coffee, or maybe some hidden gem small business stores and get to know your city in the process. 

For the thrill-seeker

There are two main options for the thrill-seekers for a great weekend away: rollercoasters or extreme sports. 

If you’re more into the rollercoaster idea, maybe it’s time to visit your nearest theme park. The best thing about theme parks, especially today, is that the rollercoasters are the draw, but there is so much that the less …brave (foolish) of us can enjoy. There’s usually a bowling alley and arcade and of course, all the stalls where you can win a prize. 

For the more active thrill-seekers, there are plenty of experience days provided by companies like Virgin that will offer a fun day out. Have a go at car racing, sky diving, rock climbing, zipwires, bungee jumping and more to get the adrenaline running. The middle ground would be sports like skiing, trampolining, and paintball. 

For the bookworm

If you’re someone who always has their nose in a book, you might actually like any one of these options. You will love the peace of nature that allows you to keep reading, and perhaps the fantasy-style wonder of the woods. You will love the romance of the carnival where every teen romance seems to end up if there isn’t a prom mentioned. And you’re bound to love the adventure element of the thrill-seeking options. 

But if you’re looking to add to your TBR (to be read) pile, you should definitely take a wander around your city. While you’re looking at the murals, you’re bound to come across one or two tiny bookshops that need to be explored, and you might find something unique, like an out-of-print story or an inscription inside. 

If you’re on a holiday or vacation, there are cities built around the heroes of literature, like Stratford upon Avon in the UK, the birthplace of Shakespeare and a beautiful lake district spot for tourists. If you’re in North America, it might be easier to visit Stratford in Ontario, Canada, which feels like Disneyland for Shakespeare fans. 

And then there is Edinburgh, Scotland. So many of literature’s heroes come from Edinburgh. Yes, you’re likely to come across a few Harry Potter-themed stores for the young ones, but if you reach the right pub you might run into Ian Rankin and Trainspotting’s Irvine Welsh. But wandering the city you’ll also see nods to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, Treasure Island and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’s Robert Louis Stevenson and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’s Murial Spark.