This question probably comes up in your household multiple times a year – over the winter holiday break, spring break, summer break or just about anytime you need a break!

Usually, this question sets us off on our computer to travel sites, but what if you could find a place to vacation where you already know all the hot spots, the accommodations are perfectly suited to your needs, it’s easy to get to and it’s inexpensive, too? Sounds too good to be true? It’s not…it’s called a staycation, and lots of people are doing it these days.

What is a staycation?

A staycation is when you, or you and your family, stay home and participate in activities that are either within your own city, or within a few hours of your home and do not require overnight accommodations.

If you live in a large city

A staycation can be very easy to do in large, or even medium-sized cities. No doubt there are plenty of “tourist” spots that you, as a resident, haven’t yet visited and there will be lots of new restaurants to try, too. To create a fun staycation, you can:

• Check out your city on vacation sites like TripAdvisor to see what people coming to your city from other places are doing when they get there
• Book a walking tour or a city bus tour
• See if there are interesting historical tours or maybe spooky “ghost” tours – most large cities will have these
• Try a food tour that includes restaurants you’ve never been to before
• Visit local museums and art galleries – most will offer a specific night or time when admission is free or greatly reduced
• Find bike paths that take you to areas where you’ve never been and enjoy a picnic lunch (You can rent bikes by the hour in most cities, if you don’t have your own.)

If you live in a smaller town

Staycationing in a small town can be more challenging than if you are in a large city but you just have to get creative. Do a Google search for what to do within a 2-hour drive of your town.  You may be surprised by what is happening just a few hours away! Depending on the time of year, there might be fairs, festivals, holiday markets or other annual or weekly events.

You can also focus your staycation on activities, rather than sightseeing. For example, research the local history of your area and create a scavenger hunt to find items that tell the story. You can fill your whole small-town staycation with these fun activities:

• Have a board game tournament
• Camp in your own backyard, complete with ghost stories and s’mores
• Have a picnic in a local park
• Buy the biggest puzzle you can find and complete it during your staycation
• Do a craft day, consider making things like your own candles or bath bombs
• Do theme days like “Visiting France” where you learn some French online, cook some French delicacies, enjoy some French wine, and watch a French movie complete with subtitles
• At night, if it’s clear, try some stargazing and see if you can spot any of the constellations

Whether you live in a big city, or the smallest of small towns, a staycation can be a fun, affordable vacation option that won’t leave you feeling jetlagged!