What does it mean to go on vacation? Everyone has their definition, and if they are not able to get that exact type of vacation, they have not had a “real “vacation. From another angle, vacation means to vacate, to leave. However, it does not include a time or location in that definition. It merely means to get away or out of the routine.
Has your routine been work, cook dinner, go to kid events, maintain the house, or work on the remodel? It seems like it never ends and that there are just never enough days in a row to get in the car or on an airplane and get away.
BUT… do you know that the least visited location could be your hometown? People come from all over on their “vacation” to see and visit those things you drive past every day but never stop to see.
Take a True Stay-cation Instead
The first step is to go to a local travel agent or search online to find out what is really in your town. DO NOT rely on your memory. You will be surprised what you find. There may be museums, ballets, art walks, concerts, trade shows, comedy clubs, historical sites, and the list can go on. If you happen to live in some larger metropolitan areas that list can be insanely long. Did you know that major hotels do special art shows or feature local bands to draw people to stay there? You could visit and not have the hotel costs.
Once you see what is available and when things are open, you can plan. Sit down with the family and decide if there is there a Saturday, or a Thursday after school, and or an evening that you can all be available for a few hours. Now, just as if you were going on a “real” vacation, decide exactly what you are going to do, where you’ll eat, when you are going to leave for the event, how you’ll get there, and the appropriate clothing. Do not forget that once you have this event on your calendar you must treat it just as if you bought the expensive airline tickets. There are no cancelations or changes. You will only get the best out of the day if you treat it that way.
Leading up to the day, start talking about it just as you would a "real" vacation and get excited about it. At first, it might seem weird, but remember that there are families all over the country doing that and they are to coming to your city to do the same thing you have planned.
If you’re new to your city, your real estate professional can offer suggestions for your first stay-cation!
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