Many people today are opting for a staycation instead of a vacation to another city or state. A staycation allows you to use your home as the base for your adventures around your local area. Opting for a staycation can save you a considerable amount of money on travel and lodging expenses, as well as providing you with an opportunity to explore things in your local area that you have never done before. Here are some great tips that will help you make the most of your staycation.
Explore Free Activities
Many cities have free activities scheduled for the summer that are great opportunities for children and adults to have a good time. For example, in my city, we have a free summer concert series that is held near the statehouse every week. There are also free movie nights that are held in local parks, festivals with free admission and free entertainment, and free days at our local museums. Many of these free activities are listed in the local newspaper or online on the events calendar maintained by the city’s Visitors Bureau. When planning your staycation, look to see what free activities are being held that you may want to join.
Explore Local, State, And National Parks
Another good activity for a staycation is to explore the parks that are available in your area. These parks generally have free admission, or a nominal entry fee, and can provide a full day of activities for you and your family. You can choose to hike the trails, fish in the lakes, have a picnic, or play some sports in designated areas. The parks may also have scheduled activities available, such as guided tours, crafting projects, and wildlife viewing opportunities. State parks and national parks generally have a website that lists the various activities and their times. Local parks may also have a website or publish their schedule of events in the local newspaper.
Have A Treasure Hunting Adventure
A popular activity for those on a staycation is geocaching, a fun type of treasure hunt where you try to find an item that has been hidden by using a GPS-enabled device. These “treasures” are generally hidden by volunteers interested in expanding the activity and getting more people to explore unusual places around the city. There are a number of websites dedicated to geocaching aficionados, with one of the most popular being geocaching.com. There may also be geocaching groups in your local area that you can join for a group treasure hunt.