A staycation is when individuals or families stay home and participate in leisure or vacation activities within driving distance, but often sleep in their own beds at night. This can even include trips spent away from home for the night but are still relatively close. Most people usually choose things that can be done in a day trip to save the cost of lodging. With staycations taking less time than a traditional vacation and being more affordable, it has increased in popularity in recent years. Even though a staycation is close to home, it doesn’t mean it’s any less fun than a vacation farther away!
Why Staycation?
The main goal of a staycation versus a vacation is to save money. Because staycations are relatively local and not as far away as many vacation destinations, you don’t spend as much on gas or rental vehicles, and you can even skip the cost of hotels if you’re only doing daytrips. Because staycations are much more local than a typical vacation, it’s easier to take multiple trips and fit in more local attractions, finding something that appeals to everyone.
A staycation is fun for the whole family, while relieving some of the stress that a vacation typically brings. You don’t have to worry about booking and making flights, lost luggage, and more. If you aren’t staying overnight, it’s also often easier to bring pets along to enjoy the trip and not have to worry about their care while you travel.
A staycation is also a great opportunity to enjoy your surroundings. There are interesting and beautiful attractions everywhere. Often, though, people miss out on the opportunities that surround them. A staycation allows you to discover new places in your area. Something as simple as a picnic and a hike in a local park can make a great day trip. Once you start exploring the options, you’ll find plenty to do without traveling hundreds of miles.
Another plus of a staycation is that you can support local economies. Staying somewhere near your community means you’re keeping your money local and supporting businesses around you.
Overall, a staycation poses much less to worry about getting everyone packed and ready to go. If you’re traveling locally, you may not even need a suitcase. Even if you’re traveling a little farther away, the trips are still closer than many vacations, so you don’t have to get up so early and spend hours and hundreds of miles on the road.
There are many different areas you can consider when staycationing, and there’s something for everyone! There are arts and crafts, fairs and festivals, historical and educational places, state and national parks, roadside oddities, outdoor adventures, and relaxing retreats. Try searching online for destinations close to you. You might be surprised at what you find near you that you’ve never done! As we head into vacation season, grab your snacks, GPS, and hit the road!
Lesley Sears, WVU Extension Agent—Summers County
Financial Literacy Education Team