Vacations are looking a little different right now. An extreme increase in post-COVID travel, mixed with staff shortages, has led to canceled flights, lost luggage, and chaos at airports around the world.
Getting on a plane doesn’t seem as easy and seamless as it did pre-COVID, and it is making a lot of reconsider our vacation plans.
But, if you choose to cancel your flight or not book it in the first place, that doesn’t mean that you can’t still have an amazing staycation right where you live!
The key is to think about your staycation like you would your vacation — an escape from your everyday life where you are going to explore, have adventures, and experience something new.
What to see and do during your staycation
Think about planning your staycation activities the same way that you would plan what you’re doing for any trip.
For a beach escape, you might plan on spending your days in the sunshine, enjoying the beach and beach activities, and then having a cocktail or a cold beer on a patio.
How to create a beach vacation at home:
Have a backyard?
Get an inflatable pool (anywhere from a small baby pool to dip your feet in to a large pool that you could float in), or a sprinkler to cool off, grab an umbrella and oversized towel and get ready to enjoy the sunshine outside. Then, find some awesome cocktail recipes on Pinterest and get all of the ingredients that you need to make that perfect cocktail at home.Don’t have an outside space of your own?
Take your sun worship to a local park! Pack a picnic and take a blanket with you to enjoy some sunshine. Don’t forget a spray bottle with ice water to cool off with when the sun gets too hot!Is there a lake, river, or ocean nearby?
Pack up your car and take a drive to a local watering hole. There may not be a true “beach” for you to hang out at, so find a spot where you can enjoy the sound of the water and commune with nature.Where are the best patios in your city?
Consider making a reservation on a patio that you’ve never been to before. Trying something new will make you feel like you are outside of your comfort zone — the perfect way to feel like you are escaping reality during your staycation. (Tip: Try the patio at a fancy hotel to really feel like you are on vacation, but without the expense of booking a room!)
If a city escape is more your style, you might be planning on hitting up art galleries, museums, great restaurants, popular tourist sites, and doing lots of walking and enjoying the city.
How to create a city vacation at home:
Do you love art galleries and museums?
Every city, even the smallest towns, has an art gallery or small museum. When was the last time that you visited yours? Do you even know where it is? Do some research and see what spaces in your city are worth visiting over your staycation, then book your time/ticket so that you can ensure you are able to visit during your time off. If you prefer to stay outside, check out some of the outdoor sculptures and murals in your city. Google “[city name] outdoor art” and see what you can find to plan your outdoor art tour!Are famous tourist sites more your style?
Checking out what Lonely Planet (or your travel guide of choice) has to say about the must-see sites in your city is a great place to get started seeing where you live through a traveler’s eye. Use that as a jumping-off point and then start doing a little research yourself to find some historic sites or monuments that you could visit and learn from. You also might want to consider getting in contact with a concierge at your local hotel. They will have great ideas about what to see and do in your city from a traveler’s point of view!Is eating your favorite part of visiting a new city?
Book a reservation at a restaurant you’ve never tried before, order takeout from a local hotspot, buy produce from a local farmer’s market for a picnic, or search out those food trucks that you’ve always wanted to try, but just never had time to. There are so many options for you to try out new food right where you live!Are you someone who likes to walk around the city you’re visiting?
There’s nothing to say that you can’t do that during your staycation! This might mean thinking about your city a bit differently, and also remembering that during a vacation, there is no rush. You can take your time exploring, wandering, and taking in those little things that give a city its character. Try this in your own town — you might be surprised what you see!
Where to eat during your staycation
One of the best parts of traveling is experiencing local food and trying something completely new or different. You can easily do this at home by just stepping outside of your comfort zone and being willing to try something new.
Other than finding a restaurant to eat at that you’ve never been to before, here are some other things to try:
find a food truck to try out
shop at an Italian Market, Chinese grocery store, Ukrainian food shop, etc., and create a meal out of all the unique food items you’ve bought
order a meal for takeout from a local spot
shop at a farmers’ market
Whatever you choose to do, just make sure that you try something new!
Exercising during your staycation
If exercising is part of your daily routine, you won’t want to miss out on it during your staycation, but why not try something different? Vacations and travel are all about new experiences, so this is a great way to try a new activity.
How to experience new ways to stay fit:
Hiking
There is sure to be a hike that you haven’t tried before in your town. It might be a nearby mountain trail, hill climb, ravine walk, river valley pathway, or paved shared trail. Get off the treadmill or your regular route and give it a try!Biking
Do you have a bike collecting dust somewhere? Now is the time to pull it out and go for a ride. Use it specifically with exercise in mind, or consider biking instead of driving as you are touring the city. If you don’t have your own bike, check out local sports shops for rentals.Canoeing and Kayaking
Now is the perfect time to get your paddle on. Check out local paddle clubs or sports shops to find a place that will rent to you and get on the water!Walking
I end up accumulating 20,000+ steps on my travel days, as I walk everywhere. Try letting your car sit at home during your staycation and walk wherever you can.
Reading while staycationing
Don’t forget the best part of traveling (for me at least) — having downtime to read!
I am a physical book fan, but whether you prefer an e-reader or a book, get stocked up on a few titles you’ve been dying to dig into and get reading. Try reading right before bed, while enjoying the sunshine, or during some relaxing time during the day.
And don’t forget magazines! My ritual when I get to any airport is to go straight to a newsstand and stock up on a bunch of magazines to flip through while on the plane, beach, etc. Head to your local newsstand, bookstore, or drugstore, and grab a handful of magazines to flip through.
Shopping for your staycation
Just like you would shop for a few things before your actual vacation (new bathing suit, hiking boots, bag, etc.), do the same for your staycation!
The money you are saving by not flying or staying in a hotel could be used for a new dress to wear to that restaurant you’ve never been to before or some solid hiking boots for exploring your local trails. It will make the week seem more fun to have something new.
“Packing” for your staycation
Just like you would prep everything you need and pack for a trip, get everything you need for your staycation prepped ahead of time.
Pre-buy all the supplies you will need (so you don’t end up spending the first half of your time off shopping), and lay everything out, so it’s easy to find and access.
What NOT to do during your staycation
Work
If you have been working from home, try and dismantle or hide the area that you work in, so you aren’t tempted to check-in or do any work while you are off. Also, make sure the people that you work with know that you are not available and will not be checking emails or answering messages.Run Errands
Try to avoid filling your time running the usual errands. If you don’t, your staycation will feel like work.Do Chores
Yes, you need to clean out that closet, but is that really what you want to be doing during your staycation?! Nope. Your staycation is all about taking a break from it all, so leave the chore list for when you get “back” to reality.Watch Netflix all day
I know that being a couch potato and watching movies and tv all day can be very tempting, but try and avoid the pull of the screen. You will be amazed at how much more alive you feel if you spend a day screenless.
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Meet The Author
Lindsay Shapka is an avid traveler and the creator of The Anthrotorian — a website dedicated to sharing travel tips, stories about adventures, culture quirks, artists you should know, fascinating bits of history, and more!
She is also an artist, marketing specialist, editor, and freelance writer who has work featured on websites, blogs, and in magazines like National Geographic Traveler.
