As a home-based business operator I rarely travel overnight, however, prior to this life I would travel Tuesday-Thursday. My territory was New England and I spent hours on the road and two or three nights in a hotel each week.

My family envisioned a glamorous life of room service (i.e. expensive cold food) and exciting night life (watching TV on the "other" bed in the room). I would frequently take craft projects for those hours when I wasn't working and since I visited the same cities, I came to know the hotel staff - but it was still boring business travel.

This was my life for the first 8 or 9 years in field management and then my last year on the road I got smart. I was traveling in New England and missing all the culture, history and local treasures.

I began planning a few hours each trip to explore what the local town had to offer; local parks, museums (the Vermont Teddy Bear museum is great fun), the adorable shops of Hyannis and the coast line in Maine. I never truly looked forward to the time away from my children who were small at the time, but I did find a new enjoyment in my business travel.

Entrepreneur recently published an article with even more creative ways to make routine business travel more enjoyable: Beat Business Trip Boredom.

1. Join a running tour.
2. Discover the city's nightlife.
3. Schedule an intense workout.
4. Take a leap. (skydive!)
5.Attend a play or musical.
6. Find a local spa.
7. Visit an art exhibition.
8. Tour a historical home.
9. Sample the Local Flavor.
10. Cheer for the Local team.

How do you take the boredom out of business travel?

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer