Summer Staycation: A Holiday at Home, Outside

A staycation is a vacation that you take withoutÂ- Camp In Your Own Backyard. Plan a weekend
really going anywhere. You can stay close to home,camping trip with your kids in your backyard. Set-up
like your neighborhood park, the campsite on theyour tents, pack up some coolers, throw together
outskirts of your hometown, or even your backyard.your camping gear, and maybe even set-up a simple
A staycation emphasizes what is most importantfire pit or purchase a small enclosure for a fire pit and
about vacations - time with your family and friends.enjoy the outdoors at home. By turning off your
You don't need to go anywhere special to enjoyphones and saying no to the TV and internet, you
each other's company.and your kids can experience the outdoors and the
Why Now?great weather this summer with very little cost.
For the most part, staycations are growing becauseÂ- Find a Local Campsite. Ask your chamber of
of the ever-rising fuel prices and the generalcommerce about camping areas in your city or just
economic downturn. A bigger percentage of aoutside your city limits. This is a great way to
household's income is going toward paying for theexperience how tourists to your town may see your
higher priced gas people need to get back and forthcity while traveling through. This is also a great way
to work and school. Additionally, increasing foodto get outdoors and meet other people who may be
prices mean more income is needed to buy foodsharing your camping area.
every month. Planning a vacation is hard workÂ- Take In Your Local Attractions. While you are
already, but trying to figure out where the moneytalking with the chamber of commerce, ask them
will come from to pay the gas (in addition to theabout fun things to do on the weekend in your area.
regular travel expenses) to get there can be evenSo many of us know very little about the interesting
harder. This is why staycations are becoming evenand exciting things available to us in our own city.
more popular.It might be a few more years before you can afford
A staycation is a vacation spent either at home orto take that road trip across the country. But, that
very near to home as a means to take a holidaydoesn't mean that you won't be able to spend some
without spending a large amount on travel. Bygreat quality time with your family and even with
eliminating the need to travel a great distance, mostyour friends. Go on an adventure, even if it is one in
vacation costs can be cut dramatically. Without theyour own backyard, and see what there is to see.
stress of trying to figure out how to pay for theNo matter what else happens this summer, you will
staycation, families will find that they enjoy a muchbe able to head into the fall months knowing that
needed respite that much more.you had a great staycation, where your family was
Below are some great ideas for easy staycationsable to just be together and to enjoy themselves.
you and your family can take this summer to cutThere can be nothing greater in the world.
down on fuel, food, and equipment costs.