Staycations Are Here to Stay

The staycation, which the New York Times' Michael Wilson described last summer as "the absolute cutting edge of the cultural buzz saw" seems like it's, well, here to stay. Despite the significant drop in gas prices, the generally abysmal nature of the economy will likely preclude most of us from jetting off to wherever to soak up the summer sun and snap up souvenirs. Luckily, though, as long as you firmly resist the urge to curl up in front of your television and bask in the air conditioning, you're sure to have a memorable time taking a few days off while staying put.

The most common mistake that people make while staying home during vacation is treating the time as though it were an elongated weekend -- doing laundry, going to the park, dashing off to bbqs... all of which can be highly pleasurable activities (well, minus the laundry), but which together result in something of a slurry of routine. I would highly recommend stepping outside of your weekend routine -- if only for a few days -- in order to feel as though you have truly taken time off.

For Anna Dubenko, 23, a web editor who lives in the Bronx, exploring an unknown area of your city or town is key. "Go someplace where you need a map," she said. "And ask a local where their favorite 'secret spot' is." When pressed for her favorite hide-away in her borough, Dubenko suggested Wave Hill, a 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades. "It's pretty sweet," she said.

If traipsing out to the nether-corners of your city to explore an ethnic enclave or beautiful park doesn't really appeal, you might instead consider revisiting local iconic cultural landmarks. Your perspective on places like Ellis Island or the Griffith Observatory might well have changed since your last visit however many years go. Or it could be that you never in fact made it to the top of the Empire State Building because it wasn't high on your list of priorities when you first moved to New York. Plus, tourist-laden locales often provide quality people-watching opportunities.

Take advantage of the best parts of staying at home -- being able to sleep in your own bed and not having to pack your clothes and cosmetics into hermetically sealed plastic bags -- while pushing yourself beyond your typical habits or comfort zone. Instead of ordering in from your favorite Chinese place, why not venture to a more authentic Malaysian place across town? Some of the most enjoyable parts of vacation are also the simplest. So if you stop by a museum to take in an exhibition you've been meaning to see for ages, stock up on postcards to send off to your friends. And if you wind up at a local tourist's venue, by all means, take pictures. The current vogue for service-related holidays might inspire you to volunteer at a local soup kitchen or even a community garden for all or part of your time off.

Don't scrimp on the souvenirs, either. Jump over to Kiosk, a brilliant website (and store in SoHo) which curates a wide range of mostly inexpensive products sourced from all over the world that are notable for their straightforward beauty and arranged in country-themed exhibits. Currently, they are showcasing unusual American goods, from elixir-like Floridian sugar cane syrup to fairly all-purpose polka-dotted vinyl tape.

Comments

[ThinkTavern]

I love the idea of a Staycation, just taking it easy at home. But living in New york City, my STAYcation winds up being other people's VAYcation and they head on over! That's one reason I go elsewhere a lot.

But local trips within a few hours' drive is just as good, and there's less stress involved in travel.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Johanna- I like the way you write

Staycations are great for us- as we love to be in the Rockies

BUT after being home town-ish after 2 years we just returned from a 2 1/2 week trip to England visiting Deb's mum and our agent ...it was very productive.

I think when you have a staycation there are wonderful things you discover that you may not know were there

Joyfully,

Ed

PS- we are thrilled to be home

[Johanna Smith - Huffpost Blogger]

Glad to hear you had a nice trip!
Johanna

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Thank you!

[Rapid Ray]

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I noticed a lot of my neighbors who normally would travel stayed home.

It's not unusual to see a couple of them doing some spring cleaning around the house, but this year it seemed that almost every one was doing bigger projects. Hedges were being removed, houses were being painted, roofs were being repaired.
if the trend continues into the "staycation" season, it's looking like those who stay home are not so much concerned with day trips, but taking on some DIY projects and making improvements where they live.

I hope that trend pans out. The lumber and hardware stores have had a long, slow winter. With new housing starts still down, it would help them pick up some of the lost business.
And it never hurts to put a little more value into your biggest investment, too.

[Tracy Farr]

There's not as many "exciting" places to visit out in rural America as there are in NYC, but we can still do justice to a staycation. Why, just the other day -- wanting to break out of my monotonous everyday routine -- I visited our local WalMart, walked through the sporting section and was amazed by the variety of colorful artificial fishing lures they had on display. Then, feeling a bit hungry, I headed over to our local Whataburger and tried one of there Triple Meat & Triple Cheese hamburgers with large fries and a Coca Cola (ahhh, a meal fit for a king). Next, realizing that I had never climbed to the top of our municipal water tower, I headed over that way to give it a go. But alas, the gate was locked and I didn't feel like climbing the fence in broad daylight. (I guess that's an activity better enjoyed at night.) Finally, you can't go on staycation without visitng at least one souvenir shop, so I made my way to the local Ace Hardware store and picked up a Weber One-Touch Silver Kettle Charcoal Grill for only $69.99 -- what a deal! Yessirree, staycations are the way to go. I can't wait to see what I do tomorrow!

[Johanna Smith - Huffpost Blogger]

Good point, Tracy. Sounds like you need to be even more creative when it comes to staycations in more rural areas. Enjoy the rest of your time off!

[powerofslow]

Staycations are a great way to embrace the power of slow while learning to appreciate your surroundings. I have found inviting friends and family to stay at our house forces us beyond the comfortable radius we usual travel. Pushing the borders of your comfort zone is a fabulous method for bringing more gratitude into your life.

When my dad and his wife recently visited, we took day trips to various places as close as five miles away. I had no idea the world's oldest brewery was just a stone's throw from my husbands workplace, for instance. Sometimes changing up your routine just a little can release enormous bouts of energy, the exact thing a vacation is meant to do.

Thanks for the reminder!

[violettefemme]

Please share, where is the world's oldest brewery located? I'd love to know, and maybe plan a trip one day....

[devadasi]

Brooklyn has the best NYC neighborhoods.

[Gudrun]

Over the past many years, I was always amazed when friends and relatives would actually go into debt to finance a vacation. My husband and I almost always take our vacations at home because this is what we can afford. Take a look around your own region, you will be amazed at what you find.