We aren’t going to New York this year due to putting in a yard for our home, and due to the fact that I lost a little bit of work. So, instead, this summer my family is working on the art of the staycation.

Last weekend, my husband, son and I went on a bit of a staycation. We drove two hours to my parents’ house, and the next day joined them in driving to see some sights in Southern Idaho. We stopped briefly at Craters of the Moon, and less briefly at the Shoshone Ice Caves and continued on to Shoshone Falls. We drove back through City of Rocks. This trip only took a weekend, and it cost considerably less than going somewhere far away. Even if we had decided to stay at a hotel instead of with my parents, it would have cost less in a medium sized Idaho town than in comparable lodgings elsewhere.

Staycation

With the new emphasis on frugality, more families are choosing staycation over their counterparts, standard vacations. Staycations are generally shorter — since you go to relatively local sites — and they are usually much less expensive. Without having to buy meals for more days, worrying about lodging for multiple nights or spending money on gas or plane tickets, it is possible to have a nice family experience for a reasonably modest amount of money.

When planning a staycation, keep these things in mind:

1. Get online. Look for local attractions within a 5 hour drive. Many towns’ Chamber of Commerce Web sites include travel information.
2. Look for lodging. Find out what kind of options are available for overnight stays. If you have relatives in the area, your staycation can be a family visit as well. You can also look for discounts to area hotels. If you are the camping kind, you can save money by utilizing a campground in the area.
3. Plan for food. With a staycation, you can provide some of your own meals. You can get a cooler that will keep your food good for two to five days for between $20 and $50. Pack sandwich stuff, fruit, beverages, cereal and other food. If you are camping, you can bring foil dinners for the first night. Bring inexpensive, nonperishable snacks that can be eaten in the car. Get refillable water bottles for everyone, and use them when you stop for gas. You may have to pay a small fee for the water, but usually not.
4. Activities for the kids. Books, travel games and DVDs (for those with the equipment) can help keep kids occupied. I talked to my son about the geological features of the area we were passing through (he’s fascinated by volcanoes right now) for part of the trip.
5. Consider day trips. Once you start looking for things to do close to home, you will be surprised at home much is available within an hour or two of your home. Consider a weekend day trip instead of an overnighter. It’ll cut costs even more.

Are you taking a staycation this year?

In a couple of hours I’ll board Amtrak in downtown San Diego for a train ride to Irvine, CA – an hour and a half up the track. There my youngest son will pick me up and whisk me to his house in Costa Mesa. There I’ll get to play with my youngest granddaughter and share in a family Easter feast. Around 3 my son will return me to the train station and home I’ll go.

Sure, I could drive. After all, I’m a native Californian, which means, almost, I was issued a driver’s license right along with my birth certificate. But traffic along our I5 corridor has become close to horrendous. I might or might not save time driving, depending, and there’s no way to know in advance.

Instead, I’ll pick a window on the west and watch rolling surf much of the ride. I’ve I’m really lucky I’ll meet an interesting person or two; if not, I’ve got a book to read.

Best of everything to all of you,

Write well and often,

Subscribe to Abundant Writing News