Fun for Moms and Dads: The Great "Stay-cation"

In the current financial climate, it's getting harder and harder to splurge on travel.

Add in the fact that with a child and three pugs, the idea of spontaneity is pretty much out the window, so... we must be creative.

Back when MacGyver and I first got together, we did a lot of traveling. One of our first trips was to St. Maarten. We did Disney with his family, our honeymoon was a two week tour of Maui, Napa Valley and San Francisco and we did another two weeks through Rome, Paris and Venice. We did a small cruise to nowhere and a weekend in the Bahamas (which I choose to gloss over merely because it ended in the worst case of food poisoning EVER, and I spent two days in a non-Atlantis hotel, collapsed on the bed, wishing for the end).

But that's not the point!

The point is how to have fun! Now! Without being slammed with a several hundred dollar kennel bill and stressing over expenses!

You go on a STAY-CATION, is what you do!

One of my very best friends introduced the idea to me a year or two ago, and luckily, a mom on a message board I frequent applied the term "stay-cation" to the concept. It was just so catchy. And so well-timed. I had to bring it to you, my readers.

How does it work, you ask? Let me tell you.

1. Set a budget. I know, I know. Bo-ring. But it's the right thing to do. Figure in gas for driving, attraction tickets/entrance fees, meals and snacks.

2. Pick your "travel" dates. A long weekend is best. Friday morning through Sunday. If you work untraditional days and hours, pick what's most convenient. This is all about relaxation.

3. Research your surroundings. Thank heavens for Google! Check out what's going on around your city for your dates. Consider tourist attractions you haven't visited, festivals, musical acts, things to do. Look at parks, amusements, zoos, aquariums, museums. Whatever. I would say to check out everything within a 30-60 mile drive. Gas is still pricey, so take this into consideration when making your picks. Also, don't be afraid to call and ask. Some attractions and activities have a discount for locals. It's usually a pretty hefty reduction, so check into it.

4. Make an itinerary. Ok, you don't REALLY have to do this. But for your type A planners, like yours truly, it's nice to list things out.

My suggestions:

Pick something ridiculously kitschy, like these Trolley Tours. Something that's just screams "tourist!" You'll thank me later.



Pick something historic and/or educational.



Pick something totally kid-friendly, like a zoo or aquarium.



And pick something nature-y, like a park or a beach.



5. Pick some eateries. Go. Local. Find the cash-only pizza joint with standing room only. The corner diner with homemade doughnuts. Go to new places. Places with breathtaking views or really amazing ambiance. Go kid-friendly, or plan to go at off-hours where kids won't be an issue.



And plan to splurge on something really, really, really fabulous.



6. And away you go!

Use your house as home base. Treat it like a hotel. You may sleep, shower & change, watch movies and nap there. You may even make the bed in the morning (put a mint on the pillow for that extra something-something). You may NOT cook, clean, do laundry, wash dishes, mow the lawn, organize the linen closet or do any kind of work. Don't even think about it. If you are a beast in the morning, you can make that first cup of coffee, but after that... ixnay.

I'm serious. Eat out. Treat yourself to Starbucks. Order a cocktail. Whatever you would do on a real, away-from-home vacation, do it now.

If you have pets, this is perfect. If you plan to be gone all day, see if you can have a neighbor check on them or let them out. We usually break our days up, so we can be home to feed and walk them.

If you have an early-to-bed kind of kid, and you find yourself with extra time before bed, pick up a bottle of wine, get dessert take out from dinner and rent a DVD or three. For maximum "vacation-feel", drink the wine out of red solo cups. Or coffee cups. It's fun to pretend.

Bon Voyage! Take lots of pictures and we'll see you when you get back!