Book a Staycation Vacation!
Congested global destinations, canceled flights, and high gas prices . . . oh, MY!
After two years of almost non-existent travel, we all have been excited to return to it. We looked forward to hitting the open road, flying the friendly skies, and sailing the seas for vacation. Now we regularly face changing our plans, sometimes daily, sometimes hourly.
Are you having travel nightmares you didn't or couldn't foresee? Well, there are many to contend with these days. We've been flexible throughout this pandemic with reasonable booking and pricing for getting to a destination. But now, we see frustration amongst airline passengers waiting to leave for a highly anticipated vacation due to delays and cancellations. We witness skyrocketing costs busting budgets for many travelers. How about those 60-plus minutes we face while waiting in long winding lines in Customs with hundreds of other new arrivals to a foreign destination? And, YIKES! Filling up your vehicle's tank at the local gas station has almost doubled in the past couple of months, causing people to re-evaluate their destination. Did I not just say, "YIKES!"
Well, how about doing something different this summer and enjoying a "staycation"! It doesn't mean not being "away on vacation" with your time off. Staying close to home can be a great way to feel like you're on holiday without drastically changing your life. You can still enjoy a getaway while not traveling far. And, experiencing a staycation can make it easy to feel like you are traveling and remove yourself from the daily grind.
Families love to immerse in national forests and camp in the great outdoors. Instead of being disappointed not making that trip this year, here's a fun, less stressful alternative! Transform your home's backyard into a private campground by adding a tent, roasting marshmallows, making s'mores over a fire pit, and gazing at the night's skies looking for shooting stars. So entertaining for both small and large families! Bonus: this can also serve as a good ‘test run' to see how much you may or may not be that outdoorsy-type, especially since you have easy access to your home's bathroom and kitchen!
What if you don't love planning trips to the beach, mountains, or woods? But you love eating and experiencing foods in destinations you've previously traveled. Enjoy dishes and not miss out on having those 'foodie' moments by using a keyboard and fingertips to make it happen. After easy online ordering, I'm sure waiting a day or two to have everything delivered right to your front door will be worth it. Soon you'll eat favorites like juicy stone crab claws dipped in spicy remoulade sauce from South Carolina, drool over each forkful of Key West's tangy key lime pie, or dive into gooey deep-dish pizza from Chicago. A great source featuring numerous choices of regional foods is Gold Belly to feel like you've traveled to those eateries without leaving home!
Oenophiles should consider coast-to-coast outings to countryside wineries to enjoy their varietal vintages. One of my fave destinations is distilleries and savoring cask-aged whiskey, comparing flavor notes, and meeting new people. There are thousands of craft beer breweries to experience and surprise your taste buds with regional and specific field-grown hops for different flavors. Great ways to toast to summer!
Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, one of Michigan's great getaways is celebrating 136 years!
Book a hotel in your region, city, or neighborhood for a fabulous getaway from the house to give you that vacation vibe. Why not take this opportunity to finally get a night or more away at that posh resort you've been dreaming of visiting. Have fun being in your clothes closet pulling outfits to dress up or down in, depending on where you want to stay. Deals are offered during the summer if you are flexible with booking weekdays other than weekends. Call the hotel of your choice directly to speak with a live person for better rates than you'll find online.
Do you live close to any big cities? If you love the bright lights, high-rise skylines, street noise, museums, parks, entertainment options, and restaurants a big city offers, summer is an ideal time to use vacation days. Most city-dwellers leave for less hectic vacations, making it easier and more leisurely for you to take in the sites without enduring bustling large crowds.
Lastly, enjoy the house you've spent so much time renovating as an excellent alternative to a distant vacation location. It can be the perfect destination to hang out, share with friends, family, and pets and enjoy all those changes you've made. Think about it. We spend so much time and energy planning to get away from our homes that we often don't take time to appreciate what is literally in our backyard!
Please take advantage of these challenging times; they won't last forever. Treat yourself to enjoy the local choices and sites, often skipped over. Learn more about your town, city, or rural countryside. Don't beat yourself up not getting to the far-away destinations . . . for this summer anyway!
So, relax. Take out those red shoes, click your heels and repeat after me, "There's no place like home!"
Connect with me if you would like to know more regarding this or any of my blogs. I’m happy to answer any of your questions!
