Most folks know about federal holidays, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, and Thanksgiving. But there are celebrations for just about every day on the calendar; travel holidays, in particular, have a solid slate.
You can certainly refer to a long weekend over Labor Day as a travel holiday. But for the purposes of this story, we’re looking at the more unusual travel holidays around, as well as how you can properly celebrate.
National Plan for Vacation Day: Last Tuesday in January
Initiated by the U.S. Travel Association, National Plan for Vacation Day encourages Americans to plan their vacations for the year ahead. Observed the last Tuesday in January, the day emphasizes the importance of taking time off to recharge, reset, and explore the world while also highlighting an ongoing issue of U.S. workers not using all their vacation days. I’m proud to announce I celebrated this holiday in style by booking multiple trips!
International Tourist Guide Day: February 21
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations established International Tourist Guide Day in 1990. The holiday recognizes the vital role of professional tourist guides in enhancing travel experiences. I still remember some guides I’ve had from tours years ago, and they absolutely made my visits much more enriching. If you’re not traveling on February 21, feel free to offer a fun guide or story to someone in your neighborhood.
Plan a Solo Vacation Day: March 1
Solo vacations rock. You’re not beholden to anyone else’s agenda, you can weave down an alley into a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, and you may just seem some fantastic folks along the way. It’s also much easier to take a picture of just yourself than trying to get a whole group coordinated. Plan a Solo Vacation Day is right around the start of spring, and I hope you plan yourself a terrific trip this year.
World Wildlife Day: March 3
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2013, World Wildlife Day celebrates the world’s wild animals and plants and raises awareness about the threats they face (and maybe humans could stop creating so many of them?). The holiday promotes sustainable tourism practices that support wildlife conservation and habitat protection.
International Day for Monuments and Sites: April 18
You may also know this holiday as World Heritage Day. UNESCO established this holiday in 1983 to raise awareness about the diversity and vulnerability of the world’s cultural heritage sites and the efforts required to protect and conserve them. If you’ve spent any amount of time on this website, you may have noticed I LOVE a good statue, sculpture, monument, or other site. In fact, let’s check out some quirky ones below.
National Park Week: Dates Vary in April
Organized by the U.S. National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, National Park Week celebrates America’s national parks. Through various events and programs, it encourages people to discover their natural beauty and historical significance. One of those programs? FREE ENTRY INTO NATIONAL PARKS. We love discovering new spots and what a way to support such cool places.
World Migratory Bird Day: Second Saturday in May and October
Launched in 2006, World Migratory Bird Day raises awareness about conserving migratory birds and their habitats. The event is celebrated biannually, aligning with the cyclical nature of bird migrations, and focuses on the ecological importance of these species and the challenges they face. Birds also have the most delightful group names, like a group of flamingoes being called a flamboyance.
National Train Day: Closest Saturday to May 10
Choo-choo, y’all! Established by Amtrak in 2008, National Train Day celebrates the history and advantages of rail travel in the United States. On May 10, 1869, Leland Stanford drove a ceremonial Golden Spike to join two railroads, the Central Pacific and the Union Pacific. It marked the U.S. becoming fully linked together via rail. Amtrak hasn’t publicly promoted the event since 2015, but trains are awesome and plenty of us still love ’em. In fact, here are some Amtrak trips that take less than 45 minutes, which is a great way to celebrate!
World Environment Day: June 5
World Environment Day has been going strong since 1974, and it’s a global platform for raising awareness and taking action on pressing environmental issues. The holiday encourages responsible travel practices that minimize ecological footprints and promote conservation efforts. Considering this world is the only one we’ve got, it’s comforting to see young activists like Greta Thunberg trying to help save the environment and raise increase around climate change.
World Oceans Day: June 8
World Oceans Day is a newer holiday on this list—the UN only launched it in 2008—but it’s a big one, as it emphasizes the critical role oceans play in our lives and the need to protect marine environments and all the fun critters and plants living within them (including jellyfish, even though they sometimes bite your legs and that is not a good feeling). You can celebrate the day by practicing sustainable tourism that helps preserve ocean health and promotes marine conservation.
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: August 9
Proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples promotes the rights and celebrates the cultures of Indigenous populations across the globe. The holiday encourages respectful and sustainable tourism practices that honor Indigenous communities and their heritage.
International Day of Peace: September 21
Established by the United Nations in 1981, International Day of Peace is dedicated to promoting peace among nations and peoples. It encourages travel and cultural exchanges that foster understanding, tolerance, and harmony across diverse communities.
World Carfree Day: September 22
World Carfree Day is a global travel holiday that encourages motorists to give up their cars for a day to promote sustainable transportation. I try to celebrate this day basically every time I travel. Reduced traffic congestion and better results for the environment? Yes, please—let’s get more walking, cycling, and public transit out here!
World Tourism Day: September 27
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) celebrated the first World Tourism Day in 1980, and it’s only grown since then. The holiday aims to foster awareness about the role of tourism within the international community and its impact on social, cultural, political, and economic values. September 27 was chosen as the date since it coincides with the 10-year anniversary of adopting the UNWTO Statutes in 1970.
Wacky Travel Day: November 17
That’s right, we’re starting our own holiday! I launched this Wacky Travel website on November 17, 2023, and I think it’s a grand time to celebrate the quirkiness of the world around us. If you want to get in on the fun, share a photo of something unusual you encountered during your travels. It can be a cool piece of art, a bug doing something wild, a funky building, whatever. Embrace the strangeness with open arms!
Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day: December 8
This holiday requires a bit of acting, but I’m confident you can do it. The general consensus seems to be pretending you’re from the future and are visiting the modern day, though I don’t see why you couldn’t be dropping in from the past, either. The main goal is to commit to acting like you’re not from the present, which you can do via your clothing, your speech, and your behavior.
Now that you know about some of the wilder travel holidays out there, I hope you go forth and celebrate in style. Happy jetsetting!
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