Did you know that in 2013 the average vacation expense per person in the United States was $1145? That sounds incredibly high, but once you factor in plane tickets, accommodations, activity fees, and food, I guess it’s not that outrageous of a sum. That being said, a $1000+ vacation is definitely not always feasible whether it’s due to low funds or time constraints.
But vacations don’t have to be that expensive – honest!
Consider the humble staycation – a term I absolutely loath but which encapsulates a concept I adore. If you’re not sure, a staycation is exactly what it sounds like: a vacation where you stay… at home. But before your crinkle your nose, roll your eyes, and make a noise of disgust, hear me out.
A staycation is only staying at home if you make it. The fact is there are plenty of ways to make a weekend or holiday break stuck at home far more interesting than just sitting in your dark house, twiddling your thumbs. Don’t believe me?
Staycation ideas that don’t suck
But first: a few tips to get the most out of your at-home vacation experience:
Disconnect. I get it. You’re technically still at home so it’s easy to slip into the same old habit of getting up, checking your email, and doing what you do every day. Stop. On your staycation you are band from all non-essential work and the only data you should be using is to upload sweet, sweet photos of your adventures (be sure to tag them with #LLLADVENTURE!).
Don’t give in to the pull of your to-do list. Again, just because you’re in the same city doesn’t mean you can’t have a break. Don’t do your chores. Don’t stop by the pharmacy for floss while you’re adventuring. Take this break seriously or it’ll feel like just another day.
Plan like you would for any trip. In my case, this means not at all. But if you’re one of those strange people who don’t like traipsing around without a plan when they travel, be sure to plan your staycation just as thoroughly. If you’ve got a set plan with exciting activities throughout the day/weekend, you’re much more likely to get into that awesome vacation spirit!
Make a budget and stick to it. Again, treating this break like any other trip is important so you can enjoy the experience – both before and after (ie. without being shocked by your empty bank account!). If you’re a staunch anti-spender like me, this may swing the opposite way: if you decide to spend $X, spend it! Don’t shortchange yourself by being stingy – this is a legitimate break and worth spending what you’ve saved.
Can you agree to those simple, logical rules? Of course you can. So let’s get straight to the staycation inspiration:
GO VINTAGE
DO | Sometimes I think hipsters have the right idea (I mean making the past cool, not those thick-rimmed glasses). Do something a step out of time by enjoying a vintage staycation. Ideas for vintage-themed adventures include pulling up to a drive-in for a movie, visiting an antique bowling alley or skating rink, or exploring one of the strange attractions near you c/o Roadside America. Alternatively, cuddle up and watch a vintage movie paired with a perfect old-school cocktail.
EAT | Is there anything more retro than dining at a perfectly intact vintage diner? Chances are you already know of one near you – head over and order something you might not normally. If you’re not sure of the diner closest to you, Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives has a great list of the some of the best places from all over the States!
STAY | Retro Roadmap has an incomplete list of hotels but all are great if you can find one near you. Most major highways have vintage-style hotels dotted along the side hearkening back to a time when the road trip was king. Alternatively, you can get really old-school and choose one of the still-open hotels on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list.
Grab an AirBnb & be a tourist
DO | Being a tourist in your own city can be a ton of fun if done right. The trick? Put as much effort into discovering cool things as you would on a trip somewhere else! It also helps if you’re not waking up in your own bed which can make your staycation feel like just another day.
Great ideas for exploring your home turf:
Check with your local tourism board for events going on during your staycation.
Search for any walking tours offered (usually through the tourism board or a local historical society).
Do as the tourists do: choose something from the top 5 rated activities on TripAdvisor.
8 IDEAS FOR WEEKEND ADVENTURES
EAT | On my staycations (again, yes, I really do this and it’s awesome!) I love picking out a restaurant to splurge on. Usually it’s an expensive place that I haven’t been able to justify going to in my everyday life – but hey, not traveling long distance has put some extra money in your account perfect for that culinary splurge you’ve been waiting for!
STAY | I am an embarrassingly late convert to the AirBnb hype, but I’ve finally tried it out twice and had a great experience both times. For the purposes of this staycation, choose an apartment within your price range in a relatively unfamiliar neighborhood of your city to get a taste of something different. USE THIS LINK TO GET $20 OFF YOUR 1ST AIRBNB BOOKING!
Plan a Yelp-venture
DO | For those of you who don’t know, Yelp is a site/app with user reviews and recommendations of local restaurants and businesses. Yelp is huge now and probably in your city already (NOT in Russia sadly…) Check out the right column of Yelp’s main page and you’ll see plenty of local events listed, most of which are free or low cost. Be sure to also check out the ‘Local Flavor’ page for your area, full of your cities best-of-the-best, according to Yelp.
EAT | Try breakfast/brunch at one of those top-rated restaurants you’ve been meaning to try for ages. For lunch, mix it up a bit by checking out the highest-rated deli or specialty food shop and grabbing something to go for a picnic. Finally grab drinks at the best dive-bar in town and stumble out for a late-night snack at the closest 4*+ place around!
STAY | What really gives me a heart eyes emoticon about Yelp is that you can easily sort through their reviews not only by rating but by price. So no matter if your budget is $ or $$$$, Yelp’s got you covered. Simply search for ‘hotels’ in the main search bar and dive into plenty of no-holds-barred reviews about local hotels.
Mini Staycation Ideas
Let your day be led by a scavenger hunt. I have not done this, but some of my Russian friends swore by these types of scavenger hunts that took them all over the city. For my Stateside friends, the company Crazy Dash offers scavenger hunts in a large number of US towns. In their words, “all you need is a Smartphone and a sense of Craziness.” Each hunt comes with eight or more checkpoints where you’ll have to answer a question or complete a task; plus, there’s a local guide always available if you end up having trouble. Best of all there’s a great Groupon deal right now – $20 for a two-person adventure.
Adventure with Groupon. Groupon has great deals for all kinds of services, but for a truly memorable staycation idea look into their adrenaline-pumping offers. (Head to ‘Things to Do’ –> ‘Activities’.) For example, I found a $150 paragliding offer for an introductory lesson. Let’s be honest – how often would you otherwise do this unless you were on a staycation?
Hunker down in a cabin. Best undertaken in winter months accompanied by the bae, a heavy blanket, and plenty of hot chocolate, renting a cabin in the colder months is often far cheaper than you might thing. Check out this TripAdvisor page for local cabin rentals.
Have you tried the whole staycation thing? If so, has it worked for you? My favorite “at-home vacation” involved staying in a fancy hotel and eating dinner at a restaurant with panoramic views of Moscow – definitely not my day-to-day experience in Russia and it certainly felt like a vacation!
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