Start your vacation planning at the Schaumburg Library
Welcome, March, with your hint of better things to come: new growth, warmer temperatures, the blooms of spring followed by another Midwest summer of baseball, boating, biking, beaches and barbecues.
March tends to heighten the wanderlust in those of us with a penchant for traveling, prompting us to surf travel sites or start scouting flights. If that sounds like you, let the Schaumburg Township District Library be your vacation resource. From DVDs and books to websites, maps and atlases, the library has valuable resources to help plan a trip, whether it's a staycation or a 'round-the-world adventure.
Where to start? The answer depends entirely on the personality of the vacationer. Some like to focus on type of activity: snorkeling, mountain climbing, relaxing, shopping, safari, etc. Others tend to consider location: USA, Europe, Caribbean, Australia. Of course, there are those who go by geographic landscape rather than region. For them, it's all about the beach … or the mountains … or the city. And the foodies; can't forget them! They are the ones who travel to locations based on culinary events: the National Cherry Festival in Michigan, La Salan de Chocolat (Paris Chocolate Festival), Oktoberfest in Germany, the Grape Harvest Festival in Argentina, the Seafood Festival in Key West, and on and on.
Whatever your travel criteria, start with a stroll down the book stacks or DVD shelves in the library's 917 section. But leave plenty of time, because this trip will likely take longer than you anticipate. Titles such as "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" or "America's National Scenic Trails" just might reach out and grab you. And good luck getting past the breathtaking "Yellowstone in Photographs" or "The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence" without stopping to flip through the pages. Then there's the book that inspired my own passion for travel: John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley." I highly recommend it for a colorful and nostalgic trip through 1960s USA.
Once you've finished with the books, and realize an hour or two has mysteriously disappeared, visit the Audiovisual area on the first floor. Find a place to set down your books so you can saunter unencumbered along the captivating DVDs. Don't hesitate to pick them up to read the small print. Take a few home, and marvel at the rugged scenery of "Into Alaska," or the sea-and-sand vistas of "Blue Water Cruising." Rumble along with "America's Scenic RV Adventures" and revel in "The New Zealand Experience." While you're there, be sure to pick up one of the DVDs by award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns.
If that "spring is in the air" sensation is turning your thoughts to travel, visit the Schaumburg Township District Library and begin your next adventure. From venues just a stone's throw from your own backyard, to destinations abroad, you'll find insights, information and beautiful photos to inspire your wanderlust. Step into the 917s, and let the travel magic begin.