Follow a group of strangers touring a city on some kind of vehicle — a bus, a duck tour boat, a party bike… anything that transports passengers!

Posted in Adventure on Aug 23, 2024

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✍️ 24 stories

“Skunk Train” by Aleta Nolan

Submitted to Contest #265

I was supposed to go on this mini vacation with my husband. Now my ex-husband. I am going anyway. I deserve a vacation after the last month. In fact, I deserve a months’ vacation! Who would have thought I would be riding a train; one called the Skunk Train. I had to travel six hours to get here just so I can ride it for a couple of hours. My thinking might be screwed up. Now I am waiting to board till this slow, self-centered bunch, (I mean five people) get on the train. The trainman reaches out his hand to help me up the steps. I feel reall...

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“Reaching Orbit” by Franklin Stein

Submitted to Contest #265

Reaching Orbit Frank Stein The plane seemed massive for just a crew of ten. There were four of us tourists - going to space for the first time, and there were two shuttle pilots and two airplane pilots and two others who, well I am not sure what they did, they said that they made sure that nobody died. So I was glad to have them.The plane was an old airliner with a winged rocket perched on top. They were going to take off like a normal plane and when we got high enough, and if everything was okay, we would climb into the rocket and get...

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“A Thousand Ways to Die in Costa Rica” by James Barrett

Submitted to Contest #265

Follow a group of strangers touring a city on some kind of vehicle — a bus, a duck tour boat, a party bike… anything that transports passengers!A Thousand Ways to Die in Costa RicaAs the morning sun rose, my wife Linda and I were the first to climb aboard the small, gaily painted tour bus at the San Juan bus depot in the heart of Costa Rica’s throbbing commercial district. The bus looked like it had seen better days—a lot of them. The windows were all wide open.We had booked a three-day excursion to Playa Quesera beach on the Caribbean side ...

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“Spilling the Tea” by Heather Foster

Submitted to Contest #265

A blur of a figure takes a seat in front of Charlotte just as the bus shudders and lurches to go. This is why they told us to be here fifteen minutes ago. She thinks with a roll of her eyes. Charlotte McFadden has always had a warm regard for schedules.By the time her vision has returned from the ceiling, the tardy man, now seated in front of her, has scooted in by the window seat and casually rests his plaid-sleeved arm across the old bench seat. He is alone, like she is. His shoulders rise and fall as he catches his breath. Warmth radiates...

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“Terra Safari” by A.J. Roberts

Submitted to Contest #265

The capsule was named Mary. The tour guide, a wispy blonde woman in her early forties, told them it was named after the mother of an ancient Earth god called Jebus, who had ruled over the world, bringing peace and harmony to the otherwise lost and broken Terrans.A lot about that explanation seemed wrong to Julia Sinclair. Having grown up on Mars in a family of academics, she was well aware of the ancient stories that had been told and retold for centuries, often adapted and warped over time. The capsule they sat in was shaped like a smooth, ...

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“The White Trolley Tour” by Tina Harden

Submitted to Contest #265

In the heart of Mississippi, the historic city of Corinth hummed with excitement. Anticipation of the annual Slugfest electrified the air. Word of mouth transformed it from its quirky origins to a regional spectacle. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, heralding the arrival of the Slugfest. Visitors were enticed by the tantalizing invitation of the wafting smell of fried goodness in the air as they traveled from far and wide. Amidst a kaleidoscope of laughter and smells, the carnival was in full swing. Standing in contrast to the backd...

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“Live a Little” by Joshua Petty

Submitted to Contest #265

The grand carriage waited poised, its elegant woodwork, four black horses, and delicate label, Queen Marie’s NOLA Ghost Tours, out of place against the dirty, plaster smothered brick wall and rusted iron gate separating the living from the dead. A confident young woman leaned against it, matching the angle of the sign post proclaiming the corner of Basin and Conti streets, and watched me approach with bright eyes. She took a puff of her slender vape and smiled as she warmly took my hand in both of hers. Her top hat and vest matched the elega...

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“Virtues in Motion” by Brigid Hanes

Submitted to Contest #265

Noticing the time being unusually late, fear rushes through me at the thought of not cashing my check in time. I must get to the bank. Time shows no mercy beneath the face of the watch that my Irish Grandfather gave me.As the cab pulls close, to a slow stop, I see a new driver sitting behind the wheel. Opening the door, a cold gust punches its way past me greeting the two men in the back. A man, in his early twenties, is in a fancy green suit with a dollar sign bowtie, as if he is already waiting for me. Another man, who appears to be ageles...

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“Over the Mountain ” by Ava Kenemuth

Submitted to Contest #265

When I had initially gotten the invitation to my best friend’s engagement party I was overjoyed. Elise and Andrew had been good friends all through our childhood and dated in college. I was about to bubble in the “Yes” space on the card, until I saw the location. It was Andrew’s vacation cabin just behind the mountains. I loved Andrew’s cabin, but the mountains always frightened me. I tell most people it's a fear of heights. Though not completely a lie, I really always get a bad feeling there. Sure it’s a great ski spot that I do use every n...

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Follow a group of strangers touring a city on some kind of vehicle — a bus, a duck tour boat, a party bike… anything that transports passengers!

Submissions are closed

✍️ 24 stories

“Skunk Train” by Aleta Nolan

“Reaching Orbit” by Franklin Stein

“A Thousand Ways to Die in Costa Rica” by James Barrett

“Spilling the Tea” by Heather Foster

“Terra Safari” by A.J. Roberts

“The White Trolley Tour” by Tina Harden

“Live a Little” by Joshua Petty

“Virtues in Motion” by Brigid Hanes

“Over the Mountain ” by Ava Kenemuth

🌟 Similar prompts

Write about someone who’s traveling to a place they’ve never been to meet someone they’ve never met.

Set your story in an airport where all flights have been canceled and all the passengers and crew members are stranded.

Write about someone’s journey to retrieve an important object that’s been out of their possession for a long time.

Write about someone who’s traveling away from their hometown for the first time.

Contest #265

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

255

Contest entries

110

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: