Day trip

This article is about the recreational activity. For the transport company, see Daytrip. For other uses, see Daytripper.

A day trip is a visit to a tourist destination or visitor attraction from a person's home, hotel, or hostel in the morning, returning to the same lodging in the evening; the day trip, (or daycation), is a form of recreational travel and leisure, for parties that include at least one who is either a caregiver of their children or pets, or themself too frail to travel easily -- or for whom the logistics and/or costs of spending nights "on the road" are worth avoiding. Such travel, using one location as a homebase, is popular with these travelers, perhaps going elsewhere for day at a time, and returning that evening.

For example, a traveler staying in Zürich might depart to a city or town such as Lucerne, Winterthur, or Zug in the morning on such a day trip -- perhaps to areas or countries near the travelers' home region.

History

In medieval times a destination, for such a days would be religious (to a nearby shrine) or commercial for example to a seasonal fair). Later, in England, visits to stately homes by those who regarded themselves middle class became frequent and it was the tradition to reward the butler or housekeeper with a tip (gratuity) for providing access to their employer's home. As such homes were meant for show it is unlikely that the owning family would object, provided they were not in residence at the time.

The arrival of the railway excursion, often using Day Tripper tickets, in the mid 19th century saw the blossoming of a distinctive day-tripper industry. Trippers also travelled in their thousands by paddlesteamer or steamship to the many piers around Victorian era seaside resorts. The General Slocum excursion was an example.

Cycling became a very popular day-tripper activity, especially amongst urban and suburban workers from the mid-1880s onwards.

Coach and charabanc outings followed as the internal combustion engine became reliable enough to get the paying customers out and back again. Works outings and church or chapel excursions were extremely popular until the 1970s.

While all of the foregoing still exist, the modern day-tripper experience is usually by motor car as a result of the growth of car ownership. Also, airlines such as Palmair promote day trips.

See also

• Booze cruise
• "Day Tripper", a song
• Picnic
• Staycation