Have you ever noticed how expensive taking a vacation actually is? Especially for a family of five. And then there's always the fact that you feel like you need a mini vacation to recover from your other vacation. Then there's the actual planning a vacation that can be downright tricky, or make you think you have angina. It's all so overwhelming! Good thing there's a simple solution to all of that.
It's a staycation!
A staycation is when you stay close to home, but actually feel like you're on vacation. For some, this can be quite difficult to not keep up with the day to day activities. But for others, this is the time to finally check out all of those places that you've been meaning to since you moved into the neighborhood.
•Be sure to plan ahead, at least a little bit. Make a list of all the nearby places you want to visit & all the things you want to do. From that list, find out dates, hours of operation & other needed details to make sure you get most of your list checked off.
•Still keep a budget. If you eat out for every meal, visit theme parks, or take a mini shopping spree, you'll go broke - quick! Just remember that you wouldn't spend vicariously if you took a Disney vacation, so don't do it on a staycation.
•Rules on staycation?! For some, the only way to really relax on a staycation, is to completely disconnect. No phone? No email? No internet? Your decision. Just decide ahead of time & be sure that you stick to the rules too.
•A staycation doesn't mean you have to stay home every day. An overnight stay is completely fine during staycation. After all, you can't always make it through every square inch at the theme park in one day.
•Make everyone happy! OK, so if you have children, that's not always going to happen. But you can definitely try! The kids want a breakfast of pancakes with ice cream in bed? No problem! The hubs is an avid golfer & is itching to get on the green? Find a place with driving range or putt-putt for the kids too. You have been yearning for a massage? Give the hubs & the kids 60 min. of video game bliss at the arcade down the plaza while you relax. After all, relaxing is what a staycation is all about!
When I was about 10 when my sister was born my Mom and her Dad would take me to a local hotel every few weekends and it was a staycation (literally 5 minutes down the road) to enjoy a big in ground pool and have Denny's for every meal lol.
ReplyDeleteAhhh! That sounds like so much fun!!!
DeleteThat is the reason we love living in the White Mountains of AZ - every day is like a staycation in this beautiful country. We can just jump on our ATV's and hit the forest trails right behind our house, go about a block away and fish. It's amazing living here! Love your post - looks beautiful there, too!
ReplyDeletewe love staycations :)
ReplyDeleteI know with school starting I am itching to go somewhere. A stay cation is in order for me.
ReplyDeleteLol. When we plan a stay cation, we bring a lot of finger foods. I will make breaded cutlets for lunch with ziti noodles. Perfect for a picnic with kids.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya, we are family of 7 and it does cost a lot to go somewhere far and then have to spend all that money. We've been doing more staycations this month and love it.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips and I think disconnecting is a great ay to enjoy each other more!
ReplyDeleteWe do mini stacations.. its a good way to unplug and recharge
ReplyDeleteI live in a great place to do staycations. I love getting out and doing stuff but returning home at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I always plan on disconnecting but could not do it. I should try it once and see.
ReplyDeleteWe def need to plan a staycation, sounds like a great idea without dishing out a lot of money.
ReplyDeleteGood advice. It's all what you make of it.
ReplyDeleteHaha I've never heard of a staycation! I think I'll actually consider this before summer is over since I didn't have an actual vacation. Thanks for the tips! :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely need a staycation! I can't afford to take a real vacation right now so this would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I think I need to have a Staycation here and check out all the places I haven't had time to go to!
ReplyDeleteI think that I actually prefer staycations a lot of the time, haha. It makes for less time packing, preparing, and way less money spent! Thanks for the tips for planning one!
ReplyDeleteI think we'll be doing a staycation soon. We just moved and did almost a complete restart! So doing it "big" for a vacation isn't about to happen. But we do want to do something before the kids go back to school.
ReplyDeleteI am so rubbish at planning... I have to work on my skills.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I love taking "staycations" and learning more about my hometown!
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