Looking For Staycation Ideas? Check Out Matt Wixon’s Book
A staycation is “a budget holiday in which the vacationer stays at home, or near home, while creating the environment of a traditional vacation,” explains Matt Wixon, a Dallas Morning News columnist and author of The Great American Staycation. He adds, “It means getting out of the rut of your daily life. It means not planning a stay-at-home holiday that combines leisure time with cleaning out the garage, building bookshelves and a trip to get the car repaired.” Instead, the best staycation ideas are researched ahead of time, with as many household chores taken care of before the process begins.
Some of Matt Wixon’s favorite ideas for a successful staycation include behind-the-scenes tours at company museums, factories, fire stations, police stations, movie theaters, bowling alleys, TV stations, radio stations, newspaper production facilities and other places the kids might be curious about. Museums, observatories and planetariums also offer a great variety of thought-provoking displays for kids to look at. “My kids spent nearly two hours at just one exhibit involving golf balls rolling up and down hills to show the science of roller coasters,” says Wixon. “A new trend is the museum sleepover, a program aimed at preteens and teenagers.”
Scenic train rides ranging from 30 minutes to the entire day have a romantic appeal for adults but often cater to kids with specialty shows. Naturally, water parks are huge staycation hits with kids, as are zoos and aquariums that offer special lunches, VIP tours and camp programs for kids.
Sporting events and stadium tours make great staycation ideas for families, whether they’re interested in baseball, hockey, football, lacrosse, soccer or basketball. There are often family specials, food discounts and promotions to make a family event more affordable. Camping is one of those family activities that will never lose its appeal. A solid trip will combine hiking, biking, canoeing, wildlife viewing and barbecuing. Regional amusement parks are always a favorite for kids who will never forget the experience of conquering their fears of “the scary rides” and having a rare day dedicated solely to fun. City festivals offer a variety of activities and attractions for kids and parents alike, making them a great bet for you to plan your staycations around. Family fun centers with bowling, mini golf, go karts, batting cages, arcade games and laser tag are also appealing for the little ones.
Staycation ideas can be tailored to an adult couple’s interests. “I love sporting events, museums, comedy clubs, concerts, even just driving to a nearby town and exploring a little,” Wixon says. Or stay-cations can be more family-oriented. “With young kids, some of the simplest things create the best staycation memories. Riding the commuter train downtown is a huge thrill for my kids, and when the destination is the aquarium or a museum, it becomes a staycation day they talk about for weeks,” Wixon adds. One of his family’s most memorable staycations was a trip to an indoor aquatic center. Afterward, they went to a store to get cookies and his son said, “Dad, don’t you think this is the best special day ever?” Wixon recalls, “That was a reminder to me of how great a staycation can be. It might not be the vacation of a lifetime, but it’s the right vacation for this time in my life.”
A fun component of a stay at home vacation could be an inflatable pool in the backyard. There are some great inflatable pools available these days, from 18 foot Intex Easy Set pools to splash pools for the little ones. Click here to read some inflatable pool reviews before you start shopping.