About Staycations

According to the Urban Dictionary, a STAYCATION is a vacation that is spent at one's home enjoying all that home, and one's home environments, have to offer.

In my opinion, a Staycation can even involve staying at a hotel, B&B or other accommodation, but still relatively close to home. Instead of spending a $600 a day to take the family on a vacation that involves airline travel, and major chain hotel - stay at a BandB or local hotel near an area that has plenty to do!

With the price of gas soaring, a Staycation is what most Americans will experience during the summer of 2008. According to a 2005 study by the Families and Work Institute, up to one-third of employees who get paid vacation time don't use it all. Many people said they would get too behind on the job if they took time off, while others cited not being able to afford to take a trip.

One of the tricks to a successful Staycation, especially if it's a going to be a day trip, is to take care of the home chores beforehand. Mow the lawn, do the dishes, the laundry, etc., so that's not on your mind all day, or all weekend! Being away, yet so close to home, it may haunt you the entire time!

I've started to compile a list of ideas, and links to area (I'm from NJ) resources, of things to do on a Staycation.

If you really think about it, there's probably a LOT do do where you live. For instance, I'm from NJ. I'm MINUTES from NY. Do you know how many times I went on a cruise out of New York? ZERO. Visited the Statue of Liberty? ZERO. Why? Because it's right there...it'll always be there (so we think). We take what's around us for granted.

Sit...think...what's near you? Swimming in clear blue water of a nearby lake, river or ocean, tennis and a little bicycling, hiking, camping in a beautiful parkland, barbecued meals, a concert under the stars, a ballgame with fireworks, maybe even a museum or two... and all for free. Well, okay, not for free – but for a fraction of what other people will pay.

Lets say you live near the New York area, like me. Think of the broadway plays, museums, sightseeing tours, river boat trips, dinner cruises, Statue of Liberty...do you know how many people come here each year to see these things? It's right at my back door and I'm ashamed to say, the only thing I've done - and force myself to do every month with friends - is go to a Broadway play.

Try it...You'll like it!! A Staycation is a fun and affordable way to enjoy your time off!