Let’s face it! Everyone loves a vacation. Eating your favorite food, sunbathing at the beach, or simply doing nothing with your day–no traffic, no work pressures, nothing! A vacation can be a rejuvenating experience. However, the traditional vacation comes with its share of drawbacks. It may not give exactly what you are looking for. Additionally, you may not be able to afford one. This is where a staycation comes in.
So What is a Staycation?
Well, this is a mash-up of the words “stay” and “vacation.” The idea is to take a vacation without necessarily leaving your city, county, or state. The concept of a staycation is to enjoy a much needed break by experiencing local offers that you never get the chance to see when going about your daily routines. Staycations are ideal for just about everyone, whether you are a family on a tight budget, a workaholic who can barely afford a week off, or a pet owner who does not wish to carry their furkids away from home. Staycations are also perfect for people with medical conditions like diabetes that requires them to be close to a dialysis facility, hence traveling a far distance is not an option.
Staycations are increasingly gaining popularity among vacation lovers who do not wish to travel far. Planned well, you can have lots of fun staying in your own neck of the woods. The beautiful things about staycations are that you do not have to pack any bags, there is no traffic to fight, and you do not have to break the bank to fill up that gas tank. If you are looking for precious time with your family or a break from the office, a staycation is certainly the perfect way to have it all without paying an arm and a leg.
How to Take a Staycation
Just like with the traditional vacation, it is important that you have a plan. The same way you never take work with you on a week-long out of state vacation, neither should you work while on staycation. This is the time to relax, enjoy life, and make memories with loved ones.
Keep Your Budget in Mind
While a staycation is naturally budget-friendly, it is important to have a budget of how much you want to spend beforehand. Come up with a meal plan and a budget of how much you will spend eating out. Unexpected costs can stack up real quick and you do not want this kind of stress to ruin your staycation! Be creative without compromising on fun.
Staycation Ideas
Take a Nap Outside
Consider starting your staycation with some rest and relaxation. How often do you take time to enjoy a midday snooze? How about setting up a hammock for an outdoor snooze?
Read Your Favorite Book
You probably have a handful of books gathering dust on the shelf. This is the time to kick back and enjoy a good read–or several.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Whether it is a hike, a walk, a surf, or whatever it is you enjoy doing outdoors, seize this moment to enjoy the fresh outdoor air and interact with nature. Chances are, your busy schedule never lets you do this enough, so make sure you soak up all the fresh air you can on your time out. Don’t forget to dress for the weather; wear layers or prep your hair and skin if it’s chilly out, and bring sunscreen if it’ll be an especially hot and sunny day.
Explore Your City
This is the time to visit bookstores, local museums, and that recently opened coffee shop that you have been meaning to check out. This is the perfect moment to sample your city’s sights and sounds.
Transform Your Backyard Into a Fun Zone
If the weather allows, why not enjoy your backyard’s beauty? Mount a tent in your backyard, light up the fire pit, and create family fun memories. You can also turn the backyard into a little water park and have fun with the kids.
Treat Yourself to a Movie Night
You do not have to leave home to catch a good flick. Pick a movie from the library, or check out Netflix. Grab some popcorn, candy, and chips from the local dollar store and enjoy a great movie night.
Plan a Game Night
Clue, Battleship, Monopoly–these games have never run out of style! Dust off the board games and gather your loved ones for a great game night.
Try a DIY Project
Family bonding goes hand in hand with bowling. Visit the local bowling alley during the middle of the week for discounted games and enjoy a little friendly competition. Most bowling alleys also let kids bowl for free, especially during less popular hours.
These are just ideas to get you in the mood for a staycation. It works best when you sit down with your family in order to come up with a list of activities everyone will enjoy during your staycation.
Category: Travel