Even with travel bargains everywhere, many shoppers are delaying big ticket vacations as the economic recovery remains soft. This year like last, they’ll be staying home or taking the popular 'stay-cation'.
Stay-cationing doesn’t mean you turn into a couch potato and vegetate for two weeks. And even if you need a time-out from the job, the bills, and the news, it’s important to use this time to reenergize yourself. The trick is to make the most of your stay-cation by making it special. You can stay close to home, make memories and have all the fun of a vacation with a little planning.
Look for activities close to home. Most people have visited more sites in other states than in their own. Go on your state government’s website and do a little research on what’s available that’s a 2-3 hour drive away. These might include winery tours, outdoor concerts or movies, festivals, or art in the park. New York City’s Public Theater presents Shakespeare in the Park, a summertime tradition, and it’s a way to see some of the biggest movie stars performing live free.
If you want to get active, try a hiking, canoeing, or rock climbing. Less than two hours out of Columbus, Ohio is the beautiful Hocking Hills region of southeastern Ohio. An area rich with geological attractions like caves, mirror lakes and waterfalls, one of the newest attractions is a Canopy Tour, a zip-line ride through tall trees and walks over swinging bridges. You’ll feel like a kid again as you get a bird’s eye view of beautiful woods, broken only by the occasion scream of a particularly scary tree-to-tree zipping interlude.
Just don’t let the season get away from you. The summer goes by so quickly. Make a staycation plan and see it through. Get the kids involved and be creative in the planning. Revive some of the activities you did as a kid like fishing, backyard croquet or a romp through a sprinkler. Celebrate the summer and make staying home the best vacation you never took.
