When taking trips to other places, vacationers make the most of their time and visit everything they can. Whisking themselves away from their home and workplace, they're not sidetracked by everyday activities. However, sometimes traveling elsewhere isn't possible. But many gems exist right in your backyard. And it's easy to overlook them in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
A staycation can be an unforgettable experience especially since you won't have the expense of a hotel, transportation, or gas. These ideas for taking a vacation right in your hometown aren't just for Memorial Day. You can use them in the summer, spring break, and long weekends.
Museums
Most cities have a few museums that everyone visits. They also tend to have smaller, little known museums. Even if you've been to the museum, you may have missed cool side shows like the planetarium or observatory. Most museums have temporary exhibits worth exploring.
Zoos and aquariums
Weather-wise, Memorial Day is usually a great time of year to go to the zoo. It's not as hot and muggy as summer and it's not as chilly as it could be during spring break. And if the weather is frightful, the indoor aquarium makes a great Plan B.
Water parks and community swimming pools
This can be hit or miss as it depends on the weather. Some kids prefer it to be at least 90 degrees before they'll dip in the water. If that's the case, you may have a rec center with an indoor pool. Some now have water park-like features such as fancy water slides and a rock climbing wall in the pool that keep families entertained.
Sporting events and stadium tours
By Memorial Day, Major League Baseball is in high gear. If you don't have an MLB park near you, look into minor league teams. They can be a lot of fun as they're smaller and tend to have more activities. For example, a Texas minor league team has a lazy river around the ballpark.
Also, ask about stadium tours as they can be a memorable experience. A NFL team has a stadium tour that ends with photos on the field. You might sign up for a 1-mile fun run, 5k, or 10k race as usually there's one for just about every holiday. Races include more than just the run. They have live music and entertainment throughout the course and at the end.
Music and theater
Think beyond movie theaters and rock concerts to ballets, operas, musicals, and symphonies. They're very different from the typical music on playlists. You can find many music concerts beyond the large ones with well-known singers and bands. Try the smaller venues. Need laughs? Head to a comedy club.
Special Events and Festivals
There are lots of fun annual festivals such as Oktoberfest, Mayfest, Artsfest, Wine, and more. Do a search for your city to find a calendar of events.
Escape rooms
Escape rooms have been popping up everywhere. These rooms contain puzzles that you must solve to move on to the next puzzle and the next, until you break out. It's a fun way to get the kids to use the little grey cells.
Gardens and farms
Discover the beauty of nature at botanical gardens, arboretums, and farms. Some farms sell things made on the farm and let you pick from the crops. A Texas lavender farm opens its door to visitors who can pick lavender. The farm also has animals, a store, and a restaurant serving dishes with lavender as an ingredient. Don't knock it until you've tried it. Farmers markets also make a great little trip as they often sell more than just fruits and vegetables.
Lakes
The lake can be a great spot for fishing. Before you go, check the rules at some don't allow fishing. It may provide rentals where you can rent a boat, water skis, canoes, and paddle boards. For adults, some places may have sunset cruises with dinner.
Wineries
Many wineries offer wine tasting and tours. They may have special events and live music. Search for your local winery to see what they offer.
Tours
Speaking of wine tours, you may have access to other types of tours. Look up fire stations, police stations, movie theaters, movie studios, TV stations, radio stations, newspaper facilities, historic homes and places, and government facilities. A honeybee farm provides behind-the-scenes tours a few times a year.
Camping
Leave the electronics at home (or in the car) and just commune with nature. Make s'mores, cook hot dogs over the fire, go fishing, take a hike, or identify the stars in the sky. Or you can go simple and camp right in your backyard.
Indoor and outdoor fun centers
Don't forget the fun centers that may have miniature golf, go karts, laser tag, bowling, ziplining, video games, and rock climbing, or a mix.
A successful vacation at home means relaxing and enjoying the time away from your daily lives. Give yourself permission to pass on the chores and skip worrying about work. Let go of everyday distractions and allow yourself time to rest and recharge! You'll return to your everyday life feeling refreshed.
Need more ideas or names of places to visit? Contact the office closest to you. They'll be happy to make suggestions.
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