Staycation: 9 Ideas You've Got to Try

With summer coming soon, it’s natural for our thoughts to turn to planning vacations. But, have you considered a staycation?
 

There are many reasons a staycation could be exactly what the doctor ordered—a need to spend less money, a plan change that requires staying close to home (a sick loved one, work, etc.), sudden unrest in the area of planned travel or simply because it’s a last-minute decision. If you listen to critics, staycations are no longer trendy. Don’t worry about that—instead keep your focus on doing what you want and what’s good for your family!
 

A staycation can take many forms. Make it your own! Whether with your family, friends, significant other or by yourself, these ideas can make your time off very special and recharging. All it takes is a little planning!
 

Around the world in 80 hours 
Who says you have to hop on a plane to see the world? You can go wherever you want, starting from your very own sofa. Spin a globe or choose three or four destinations on a map. Then, let the adventure begin!
 

Food—Immerse yourself in one destination each day. Going to Greece? Sweden? Plan your menu and then pick up the ingredients in advance or order from local restaurants. Do some research and plan to eat like the people of that state or country—early, late, al fresco, fireside?
 

Entertainment—Plan to visit places in or nearby your own town to experience the culture of your chosen destination. A museum showcasing the people, a theater showing a film of the area, a cultural festival—there may be many options.
 

Or, plan to be virtually entertained. Many popular destinations have free virtual tours available on their websites. Places like the Sistine Chapel, Louvre, Smithsonian Natural History Museum and the White House have tours available online.
 

Relaxation—Start with a good book. It could be something non-fiction or a novel that takes place in the area you’ve chosen. Start reading at least one day before your staycation begins so you can get a jump on the imagery in your mind. Create a playlist of music from the area, learn a handful of phrases in the language and look for a couple of movies or TV shows set in the same country or state (check Netflix, Hulu and Amazon).
 

Find a location in your area that reminds you of the destination you’ve chosen. If you want a beach but you’re hopelessly land-locked, find a lake or even a public pool. If you want the grand mountains of the north but live in the plains, spend time in a park that has plenty of trees. Use your imagination!
 

Competing for supremacy 
This idea is great for a family and gets even better if you involve another family that lives close by. If your brood is competitive and loves a challenge, this one’s for you!
 

Food—Organize a Chopped-esque type of cooking competition. Put together a basket with unique ingredients and compete against each other (in teams or with multiple families) with other members as judges. If your kitchen is large enough, hold the competition indoors. If not, line up the barbeques in the backyard! Or, instead of everyone using the same ingredients, assign the same dish (lasagna, for instance), and come back together to choose the best version.
 

Entertainment—Every major city, and some smaller suburbs, offer an array of experiences that most people only think to try on vacation, or at least when they have the day off work. Do the real thing or find a place that offers a good substitute—think surfing (Flowrider), skydiving (iFly), paintball, archery, adventure courses, canoeing, roping, indoor rock climbing or even a board game tournament.
 

Relaxation—A local minor league sporting event may be just the ticket! Or, if you want to really relax, visit a local hot springs. Typically, this doesn’t cost much, some are even free, and the adventure of getting there can be fun all on its own!
 

Discover your own city 
Consider the many ways to take advantage of what your city or town has to offer. This is your chance—think like a tourist! Start by checking into a local hotel or picking out the perfect campsite—or not! It’s perfectly acceptable to staycation from home if that works best for you.
 

Food—Pack a picnic lunch and head to the mountains, down to the beach or to the nearest city square. Or take the opportunity to try out a trendy, new eatery.
 

Entertainment—Your city undoubtedly has some places you’d love to see—explore by trolley, bus, bike, foot or Segway. Or, try your hand at geocaching. If you want to head out of the city just a bit, you can try a desert Jeep tour, boat tour, gold panning, whitewater rafting or floating down a river.
 

Relaxation—If you choose to stay in a local hotel, hanging out in the spa, around a cozy fire or by the pool is probably a great choice. There are many other activities that can be relaxing, too—fishing, hiking, volunteering, visiting an art gallery, taking a class and playing bocce ball are a few options.
 

No matter how you want to spend your staycation, make it even better with a few, final tips from Mountain America Credit Union:
 

• Get everyone involved in the planning

• Take significant breaks from technology

• Get all of your chores done beforehand

• Put your best linens on your bed

• Skip the news

• Take lots of photos!
   

Still renting? If you’re ready to spend future staycations in a place of your own, look no further than Mountain America Credit Union. We’ll find the best mortgage option for your situation. We also have a paperless electronic closing option called Quick Close℠ and an amazing instant rate quote tool to help you learn about your payment options. We’re ready to guide you forward to your new home!