If you are anything like me you are staying close to home this summer. I thought it would be fun to talk about staycations. There is an art to a staycation. For instance, it wouldn’t be much of a vacation if you had to cook, so takeout is a must. :) Basically, if it’s something you normally have to do while at home, then plan a way to not do it during your staycation, unless you truly want to do those things.
I’m blessed to live in a central location that will allow me to be at the coast, the mountains, large cities, small towns, the country side, or multiple lakes in under two hours. Think about what is near you that you could easily travel to and enjoy in a single day and then return home for the night.
Maybe it’s a trip to the swimming pool in your backyard or a friend’s who is willing to let you take it over for a day. Some of my fondest memories are of spending the day poolside–we didn’t have a pool, but we knew people who did. Just remember the sunblock! I had way too many sunburns growing up. I’m not sure they even had sunblock in the 70s.
Perhaps, a day hiking in the woods is more your speed. Don’t forget the insect repellant. Or maybe a hammock in the backyard along with a good book is more to your liking.
Whatever you choose to do, do it with style and make it special. And don’t forget your latest read. :)
Have you taken a staycation? What did you do?
Have you ever read a book that included a staycation in it?
I wanted to let you know about a book that I have on sale right now for only 99¢. It’s also in Kindle Unlimited. Melodies of Love collection includes the entire series.
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance, romantic mystery, and romantic suspense that warms the heart and feeds the soul. Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Staycations can be so relaxing. Just letting the days unfold as they may.
Since I haven’t been on a “real” vacation in about 7 years, I guess a staycation for me is the same old thing I do all of the time! When a friend visited earlier this year, we went to Kennedy Space Center and did take out for a few meals.
Staycation can remove a lot of stress from planning for a trip. :-) I enjoy staycations, especially during COVID.
For sure, Mary. :)
It sounds like you had a fun adventure. :) My husband and I had planned to do that this past January, but ended up cancelling. It’s his dream to visit there.
So true, Melissa!
We enjoyed our visit to KSC in 2016. Hubby has worn out his T-shirt that said “I Need My Space”! Perfect for an introvert LOL.
We don’t have ocean close enough to visit on a staycation, but berry-picking and kayaking feature large on our day-trip plans! And just going for a day hike. Wow, the mosquitoes are abundant this year!
LOL Love it, Valerie.
I noticed the mosquitoes were bad too. I ended up buying this awesome lantern that has an odorless thing in to top that keeps the bugs away. It’s amazing.
I’m the Queen of Staycationing since we bought this ranch. I have too many animals to leave!
But once a year everyone goes camping and I have the house to myself! For one week I don’t cook, do dishes, laundry, deal with children, and I can DO whatever I want 😊
Obviously it’s coming up soon and I’m excited, ha ha!
No I haven’t as when I’m home there is always work to do.
I sure understand that, Lelia! Especially when your work is based at home.
One of my favorite things to do is visit this cute little town about forty-five minutes from my house. We get coffee and crepes then walk around.
Maybe you can get away for an afternoon or morning like that.
It sounds like a great week, Dalyn!
Yes, we’ve had a few staycations while keeping safe during these times! We are also blessed to be so close to the ocean, and mountains just a few hours from us. We live on the Oregon coast, so we’ve taken day trips just driving down the highway, eating a take-out lunch & parking somewhere overlooking the water. That’s one of our favorite activities anyway, just driving on a nice day. :-) There’s so many places here to take a walk too and avoid a lot of people.
We’re also planning a trip at the end of this month to go visit my sister-in-law for the weekend. We’re not planning on going much of anywhere while we’re there, but it’s just the idea of getting away from our “normal” everyday life that’s appealing. I think we’re all going a bit stir-crazy, lol! I’m hoping by October/November to go up to her house by myself for a week, I desperate need my “girls time” :-)
I don’t recall ever reading any books featuring staycations. I think I like ones where the characters go on vacation somewhere because then I can travel vicariously through them!
I picked up your book set on Kindle Unlimited to enjoy when I finish my two review books. It will be a treat to myself! Especially since I don’t eat sweets, but devour a good book instead. Those don’t go right to the hips…haha!
I need to follow your example and read for my sweets rather than eat them. Great idea!
You live in a beautiful area. We wen’t to Astoria and Long Beach in the fall. I’d never been up that far before on the coast.
I hope you get your girl time!
Thanks for picking up Melodies of Love!
We live in Seaside, OR just a hop & skip from Astoria (about 1/2 hour?). We also love to go to Long Beach when they have the Saturday Market during the summer, though I’m not sure whether they are doing that this year. It’s a beautiful part of the country for sure! Did you visit Cannon Beach? That’s where my husband works at the resort hotel and home of the famous Haystack Rock. :-)
We lived in Lincoln City before we moved here, which is about 2+ hours down the coast. So every once in a while we take a nice long drive down that way, it has my favorite beaches! I want to stay down there for a weekend one of these times soon to visit friends we have there. And to just visit the old stomping grounds!
Yes, you should trade a good book for sweet treats, lol! Those you can enjoy for years and not gain a pound…haha!
I didn’t see that one!! Lol! Great one, though!! This is the first time I went that I didn’t see a waterspout, so that was great for me!!
Trixi, we only went to Astoria and Longbeach. I had a medical issue while we were there and we ended up going home early.
I’ve never been to Cannon Beach, but I’ve been to Lincoln City more times than I can count. My book Direct Threat is set there. :)
My husband and I went to Lincoln City for our honeymoon too.
Actually I’d like to revisit the topic of cooking as a staycation activity! I cook everyday but I sort of tailor it to what I know hubby likes. But shifting gears into a staycation activity, I would: scan through Food Network recipes looking for dishes I watched the hostess make on a cooking show, and wanted to try. Select a salad course, meat dish, veggie side AND dessert! Make a shopping list and LEISURELY shop for ingredients. The key is to remove pressure of deadline or whether hubby will like it. Then experiment and make them all. Take all day and enjoy!
Laurie, that’s a great idea for those who enjoy cooking!
If you get to come, we’ll need to meet up. I live in Brevard County, where KSC is. It’s about 45 minutes to an hour drive from my house, depending on traffic.
I’m not sure if you’re responding to me or Valerie but I’m game.
Though we’ve already decided it will be years before we feel comfortable flying across the county again.
Any Inspy author, actually, Kimberly!! I’m up for meeting any of y’all, especially if you come that close to me in Florida!!
Okay ladies, you heard it here. If you’re ever near Trudy you have an open invite to meet up. :)
Because of our kids’ sports, we haven’t had a real vacation in years. Staycation is the closest I get to a vacation.
Ah yes. I remember those days. Staycations can be great! Much cheaper and less stress.
Right now, staycation is our life. No schedule, lots of reading, watching movies. Although we live quite near to Washington, DC, going up to the district is definitely work!
I haven’t really had a staycation. I haven’t really been away for more than a night since last Jan (that was 3 nights for a wedding). I know of people doing it and I guess as a kid we did it a bit. For us we are a country hour from the beach, regional city about 2 hours from mountains. But I don’t drive. I do get a day to the regional city a couple times a year.
I always had from Christmas to New year where I don’t do a lot at home. (watch Cricket on tv) but not doing much else. (we have a swimming lake, and caves nearby) We don’t have cinemas.
Right now books with staycations would be good as people cant travel far and it can be interesting how imaginative people can be. I know we use to create treasure hunts with clues. The funniest one was under Yings collar. (he was a little cute dog) but we couldn’t find him. It could be done in the yard and keep us (as kids) entertained for hours.
I do know some people who have a staycation but don’t let people know they didn’t go away for a break. If they either don’t go away or make it look like they are away they still get the interruptions they want to avoid. (Drs, Pastors etc.) I know a friend who is a Dr has a holiday home an hour away at the beach and to get away they go there if they stay home people will constantly ring or drop in for advise.
Hi , our staycation is going well, we are much safer at home. Our numbers here in Texas seem to be going up every day. So we are just fine at home doing what we are doing . My husband and I are both retired. I have never read a book about a staycation. About 3 weeks ago my husband and I went and had a picnic about 2 hours away from here in the wilderness, we were actually going to go on a hiking trail, but when we got there we found out it was closed, but my husband did pack us a picnic lunch and so we walked for a little bit around the area and we had a very nice picnic in the forest, so it was really nice. We also went riding around and just enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you and your family.
Having loads of time to read and watch movies sounds wonderful. Enjoy!
A pile of books and a comfy spot to read without interruption sounds fantastic!
Alicia, your picnic in the wilderness sounds idealic.
Blessings to you and yours.
We don’t really plan staycations. We rather plan single day or 1/2 day outings around our various work schedules – perhaps bicycling a section of the nearby converted Sioux Line RR trail system or taking a short morning flight (hubby is a private pilot) our for eggs or Carmel rolls. Evenings, after work, we might browse through and select a dvd and watch it together at home. We try to keep it simple and doable.
With COVID this yr, we have planned a cpl wkend outings just into the next state (rather than across the country or further) where we know they have wonderful bicycle trails to enjoy for a few days. I always try to get simple lodgings with a deck for sitting outside evenings for reading & unwinding. Simply, close and easy works best for us, especially this yr.
It sounds like you have great plans. Have fun!
Wow, I had no idea. My idea of a staycation was to stay at home and do whatever I felt inspired to do, which occasionally is absolutely nothing. :)
Nothing wrong with that, Dianne. :)