What is a Staycation? And Why You Should Take One
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a staycation in this way. A Staycation is a vacation spent at home or nearby. I would like to slightly amend this definition.
A Staycation is a vacation spent at home or nearby while maintaining the feeling and atmosphere of a traditional vacation.
Now that you know what a staycation is, I am about to tell you why you definitely need one.
5. Staycations are Restful and Relaxing - Life is so hectic. Most of the time, every minute of our day is packed. From work, to kids, to school, to sporting events and artistic pursuits, to church functions, we are truly busy. Sometimes, all we want, is to go home, lock the doors, shut off the media and rest.Taking a Staycation affords us a chance to kick back and relax and take a break from all the bustle that is filling our everyday lives.
4. Staycations are Not Stressful - The truth is planning a traditional vacation is stressful. First, you have to be sure you can afford it. Next, you spend hours and hours researching a place to decide what to do, how to get there, where to stay, what is the best deal, and what are possible hiccups in the trip and how to avoid them. Once you are actually on vacation, you run into things like airlines canceling flights or losing your luggage, hotel rooms not being what you thought you were getting, or rooms not being ready yet, crabbie cabbies, construction, and many other obstacles. By the time you return home you feel like you need another vacation to recoup from your vacation!
Not true with a staycation. In this case, you already know the lay of the land, you can avoid places with construction, do your own driving and sleep in your very own bed. All that's left to plan is your daily outings or decide if you want to go out at all.
3. Pets are NOT a Problem - My daughter and I were talking one day about traveling. She knows traveling is a passion of mine and I take opportunities to do so every chance I get. During this conversation, she said to me; "I'd love to travel, but I can't afford a Kennel." She has 2 dogs and 2 cats, so finding a sitter is a fete all its own. But a Staycation is a great alternative for her. Rather than going through the hassle of figuring out what to do with her pets she can simply travel to places nearby. If she chose pet- friendly outdoor options she could even take her dogs with her. Day trips can be just as enjoyable as a traditional 2 - 4 day vacation, maybe even better, because you can sleep in your OWN bed.
2. Exploring Close to Home can be FUN - Have you ever looked at your hometown or towns and cities surrounding your area through the eyes of a tourist. How many attractions are nearby, right at your fingertips, that you have never been to or only visited a few times at most? What about exploring through a new medium?
How about planning a Staycation around the same time as a local festival or event? The festival itself is outside the norm of the city and could offer the perfect chance for a holiday atmosphere.
Rather than being the typical tourist, here are some ideas that can be just as fun: Geocaching, Scavenger Hunts, Gaming Apps like Pokemon Go, Virtual Races, Pub Crawls, and Progressive Dinners.
Just try to find ways to make your everyday surroundings a new experience.
1. More Affordable - This is probably the number one reason I often select a Staycation over more expensive options. Many Americans live paycheck to paycheck, or are on tight budgets. A traditional vacation isn't always in the cards. I know, for my family, we have to save for quite awhile to afford a traditional vacation.
Flights, hotels, dining out, kennels are all items you don't have to worry about during a staycation. You can fit your vacation into whatever budget you are comfortable spending on a vacation.
So, are you convinced? I hope so. A Staycation is a great alternative to a traditional vacation and can be just as fulfilling for you and your family.
