Hey Our Campfire Unplugged Friends!

🏡 The Travel Trend You Can Actually Afford - Stay Closer to Home

This summer, 87% of Americans are opting for domestic travel, according to new research from Vacasa’s 2025 Summer Travel Trends report. Travelers are:

• Choosing regional road trips over international flights
• Planning “hyperlocal” getaways just beyond their hometowns
• Keeping a closer eye on total trip spend

Think: Sunday drives, quick overnight getaways, and intentional mini-adventures. Places like Mackinac Island and Indianapolis are grabbing attention—and we’d argue that Louisville, Kentucky deserves a top spot too.

Louisville makes the perfect home base for exploring Kentucky’s day trip goldmine—from bourbon to caves to waterfalls and family-friendly parks.

➡️ Explore the best Day Trips from Louisville to build your perfect hyperlocal getaway.

👻 The Haunted Side of Louisville

Skip the typical attractions and explore Louisville’s haunted past. It’s not just about bourbon and baseball—our city has some chilling tales to tell.

Top haunted experiences:

• Waverly Hills Sanatorium – One of the most haunted places in the U.S.
• ​Downtown Louisville Ghost Tours – We took the Derby City Ghost Tour by U.S. Ghost Adventures. The kid-friendly tour is spooky but safe for families. (Jack gave it two thumbs up!)
• Looking for darker stories? They’ve got an extended version with more intense true tales—definitely adults only.

The coolest part? These stories are historically researched and true.

➡️ Read our full guide to the Haunted Places in Louisville.

🧠 Can AI Help You Budget for Summer Travel?

Yes—100% yes.

We’ve been diving into how AI (especially ChatGPT) can help plan, optimize, and budget your summer RV or road trip. Whether you're planning local getaways or a cross-country road trip, ChatGPT can simplify the whole process.

💬 3 ChatGPT Prompts to Plan Hyperlocal Travel in Your Area

1. “Hi ChatGPT! You’re a local travel expert in [insert your city]. Can you suggest 3-5 fun, family-friendly day trips within 2 hours of here?”
2. “Create a budget-friendly weekend itinerary in [your city/region] for a family of 4, including food, nature, and one indoor activity.”
3. “What hidden gems or lesser-known attractions can I explore near [your city] this summer?”

Try these prompts—and hit reply to let us know which one helped you plan your next adventure!

Want to learn how to really use ChatGPT for travel planning? Just reply and say “I’m in”—we’ll show you how and may even share a few step-by-step videos soon.

➡️ Want help using AI to plan your entire trip? Try our RV Travel GPT Trip Planner​

Until next week,​
Stay curious, stay local, and stay unplugged 🏕️
Mike
​Our Campfire Unplugged​
mike@ourcampfireunplugged.com

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