“Wanderlust”: (n) a German word. A strong desire to travel.
Imagine you’re on a beautiful tropical island. It’s a perfect 76 degrees, and the warm sun is shining down. With your toes in the sand, a waiter comes by and drops off a refreshing beverage to your beach cabana. Nothing can get better than this. In fact, it almost feels like a dream…
…until you wake up and realize it was all just a dream. You’re in your house – not on a tropical island. So what do you do when you have Wanderlust but can’t wander? You have a staycation of course! The best part? You’re going to save a lot of money, time planning, and staycations are environmentally friendly.
Need some inspiration for your staycation? We’ve got you covered. Here are five ways to have an amazing at-home vacation that’ll make you forget all about that tropical island.
- Be a tourist for a day in your town
You may be wondering, how can I be a tourist in a town that I see every single day? Many of us tend to overlook all the amazing things our towns have to offer simply because we think we know all that there is to do already. However, there’s a very good chance that there are many attractions you’ve never taken the time to visit.
Pretending like you’re a tourist in your own town can give you a feeling of adventure. It presents the opportunity to do things that you wouldn’t on a daily basis such as visiting a museum or art gallery, sampling the cuisine at a fancy restaurant, or hiking through a local park.
- Have an at-home spa day
There’s nothing more relaxing than a spa day. This is the perfect opportunity to unwind, while maybe trying out some luxurious beauty products you’ve had your eye on. Purchase a soothing facemask, new robe, beautifully scented candle, nail polish, or other spa-like items that fit to your liking.
Don’t feel like going out and buying all the spa products you’ll need for an at-home spa day? Ordering a spa subscription box ahead of time will minimize the work of finding quality products, and allows you more time to relax.
After all, who doesn’t love to be pampered?
- Try taking a class
Vacations are a time to try out new and interesting things. There are many activities and excursions that we’ll try while traveling, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do the same while on staycation.
Try taking a class you normally wouldn’t while at home. Go and create a beautiful painting that you can hang in your office, learn how to cook that certain dish you’ve always wanted to master, or maybe even take dance lessons with someone close to you.
Whatever it is, you’ll find that trying something new on staycation can be just as exciting as trying something new while traveling.
- Pack a picnic and go hiking
Enjoying the outdoors is something that frankly, most of us don’t do enough. Hiking is an activity that is fun for the whole family, is great exercise, and really connects you to the beauty of nature that we sometimes take for granted.
Before hitting the trails, look up the area where you plan on going hiking and find a scenic spot to stop and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch. There truly is nothing better than taking a step back from the stress of work, disconnecting from technology for a few hours, and spending quality time with the ones you love.
- Dine out
I think we all can agree that one of the best parts of going on vacation is the food. It could be trying out a unique cuisine, new restaurant, or simply making food you normally wouldn’t while at home.
Staycations are the perfect time to go out and enjoy a delicious meal. You could dress up and try out a fancier restaurant that you’ve never dreamed of visiting, or enjoy a meal somewhere more low-key.
Final thoughts
Opting to take a staycation doesn’t mean you need to give up any of the adventure of traveling. You can create an amazing experience right in the comfort of your own home that you’ll remember for years to come.
Have some of your own staycation tips/ideas? Share them with us in the comments below!
