For a change of pace I booked a one day bus tour as a solo traveler. I’ve done bus travel for staycations (vacations with overnight stays), but I haven’t booked one near home in ages.

It freed me from 5-6 hours of driving and it was a “quick pass” to socializing with other travelers.  

The main event was a tour around Newport with lunch, a Mansion tour and time to wander around the seaport area. The mansion tour made me feel like I was visiting a grand palace in Europe.

What would I do differently next time?  I would be more focused on making connections with locals. Hindsight tells me that I should have gone into a Seaport shop and asked for a tip about where locals might visit.  

What strategies do you use for reaching out to locals when you have a small window of time opportunity?