Summer Lovin’: Summer Staycations
Hi! I am Mila from the blog, Lofty Appetite, and I am so very excited to have been invited to guest post on A Couple of Crumbs’ Summer Series today!
Staycation - according to wikipedia - is a period of time in which an individual or family stays and relaxes at home, or vacations in their own country, possibly taking day trips to area attractions.
The popularity has grown due to the rising prices of gas and airline tickets. People are finding ways to have that vacation feel and relaxation, right in their home town, or state.
Overwhelmed by the daily grind of work, home, errands, it’s easy to not notice the potential of your own local area.
I grew up in the suburbs, and then proceeded to go to a tiny town (Ithaca, NY) for college, and an even smaller rural area for my first job. So, I have had some experience trying to find the fun with very little to offer. I now live in Maryland, and am excited to finally be near a city as large as D.C; but based on where I used to live, I have grown an appreciation for exploring the little things around me, in Maryland, as well as the big city.
But whether you live in a fun city or the middle of nowhere, a staycation is possible! A vacation (by my definition) is going out of the norm of our everyday lives, and seeing/trying something new. You can do that anywhere.
Here are some ideas to start you off:
Public Market. Fresh, locally grown fruit, tons of samples, odds and ends that you can’t find at your local Wal-Mart. These are all the joys of exploring a farmer’s market. The prices tend to be lower, and the fruit is more natural, and higher quality. You’re supporting your local farmers and doing your body good. Gotta love that.
Local parks/beaches/waterparks. I didn’t know how many parks MD had until my parents came to visit. The options were endless, and I had a chance to explore some gorgeous views over the Potomac River that I definitely do not see on my daily drive in and out of work. I have yet to go to a local beach, but I’ve hunted down some that are about an hour away, and I can’t wait to check them out one of these weekends. Parks, lakes, beaches all provide a multitude of summer activities like hikes, picnics, kayaking, swimming, or even camping!
Local festivals. No matter where you live, there are always a ton of festivals in the summer. The themes vary by culture, music, holiday, food, etc, but the good food, live music, and the entertaining time spent people watching is all the same no matter where.
Sporting events. What is your local team? It can be a high school, college, or city team. Go to a game and enjoy the outdoors, (an obligatory hot dog) and local pride.
Explore an unknown part of town. Now, I don’t mean the side where the daily muggings/shootings are reported on the 10 o’clock news. I mean the neighborhoods around you. The town centers, locally owned stores and shops, etc. My boyfriend and I love going for walks and just exploring neighborhoods around us, peeking in windows for decor ideas, and seeing how differently people live in different areas.
Be a tourist! Go to all the “sites” that your area is known for. Most people know what they are but have never really explored it the way they explore places when they are out of town. It’s strange, but true. We know the historic landmarks of NYC better than where we live every day of our lives. Sure, NYC is cool and large, but every town has its own claim to fame!
Stay home. Huh? Yeah why not? If you’re like me and don’t spend too much time at home M-F, then this is a luxury. Do things around the house that you can never get around to. Make a scrapbook about your last big, European vacation. Enjoy your backyard/deck/pool, whatever. Invite your friends over for a barbecue. Catch up on all the new Netflix movies added to the streaming.
If you do a combo of the things above, I’d say that was a great vacation. Relaxing, productive, and wallet friendly. It can also give you a better appreciation for the area you live in, so that when you are commuting to work everyday you will now know that behind that huge concrete wall of the highway, there is a gorgeous park or an amazing restaurant.
Thank you, Red Velvet & Funfetti for inviting me to guest post! Stop by my blog for more about my own vacation plans this year and some delicious recipes!
{photos via: pinterest, weheartit, and google}
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Summer Staycations is part of our Summer Series.
