No luggage needed: 10 creative ways to plan a summer staycation
July 14, 2023
Welcome to the first installment of Transact's "Hello Summer" series! As always, we're dedicated to bringing you the latest industry trends and product innovations, but summer is here,
so we decided to sprinkle in some fun topics over the next few months to help you live your best summer life.
Picture this: you're floating on a bright yellow beachy raft, eyes closed and relaxed. A tropical drink in a tiki tumbler awaits, and all is right in the world. You're not on a faraway island, though—you're in your own backyard.
According to a Vacationer poll which asked 1,000 Americans if they'd consider a staycation, more than 67% of those surveyed said they already have or are planning one. If you apply that percentage to the entire population of the U.S., about 173 million
people are planning on taking a staycation this year.
The Oxford Dictionary defines a staycation as "a vacation spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions."
Transact's best staycation ideas
There are a number of reasons why you might be considering a staycation. Perhaps it's not in the budget, or you can't take the time off work. Or maybe the pandemic has left you leery of traveling among the masses. No matter what the reason, staycations can be fun if you put a little planning into it. We compiled some tips from Travel + Leisure and Reader's Digest to give you some inspiration. Read on for 10 creative ways to plan a staycation to remember:
Relax at a local hotel or bed and breakfast. While your relatives and out-of-town guests may have experienced local lodging, you likely haven't explored all there is to offer. A soft, comfy bed you don't have to make, sleeping in, and breakfast made to order...sounds inviting!
Check out a local art gallery, museum, or science center. There may be cultural and historical sites you've never visited, and a staycation is the perfect time to do so. Research your local municipal website and get to Googling to make a list of potential destinations. You may learn something new about your city, the world, or yourself.
Plan a spa day. Treat yourself to a day of self-care at a local spa. Go full relaxation mode with a sauna, whirlpool, steam room, massage, mud bath, salt scrub, seaweed body wrap, clay or herbal body masks, or waxing. You can also indulge in a mani/pedi or massage, with a glass of champagne. Tip: Bring something to read and your favorite musical playlist/headphones — it'll be a staycation for the mind and body.
Take a virtual tour. Many popular museums, cultural sites, and wonders of the world now offer virtual tours. Need some ideas? Here are a few places you can explore from the comfort of your living room:
Great Wall of China. Thanks to Google Arts & Culture, you can virtually walk the Great Wall of China. The "Walk the Great Wall of China" experience includes an exclusive 360-degree virtual tour of one of the wall's best-preserved sections, including 370 images of the Great Wall in total and 35 stories that includes a narrative with architectural details about the landmark. You can walk nearly 22,000 km (about 13670.17 mi) without breaking a sweat! Learn more here
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian's virtual tours allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of several exhibits such as "Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt," "Butterfly Pavilion," and "Jurassic Dinosaurs, Plants and Insects."
The Louvre. Want to see the Mona Lisa or Venus de Milo up close? The Louvre offers online tours of its galleries, museum rooms, and architecture.
San Diego Zoo. The Zoo offers livestream (and pre-recorded) camera views of many of its animal habitats, allowing viewers to virtually visit their favorite furry friends any time of the day or night. There's a "Penguin Cam," "Koala Cam," and "Tiger Cam" to name a few. Don't forget the apes!
Rediscover "home sweet home." Light your favorite candle, open a book, or whip up a hot meal that reminds you of your favorite destination. Be sure to give your smartphone a rest and don your softest loungewear.
Book a local weekend excursion. Set aside a weekend for a spontaneous adventure. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce, Meetup.com (connects people who have likeminded hobbies and interests), and Facebook Events page for inspiration. ToursbyLocals.com allows you to enter your zip code and search for nearby travel spots and tours.
Schedule a food or wine tour. Chances are, there are winery and food tours not far from your home. You can choose from local restaurant crawls, progressive dinners, food festivals, city walking tours. Self-guided food tours are a new dining trend that allows you to discover new restaurants easily and affordably.
Visit a local, state, or national park. Get in touch with nature by discovering scenic parks and lakes that surround you. Most parks offer a variety of outdoor activities, from hiking and biking to climbing, kayaking, and wildlife-watching. Pack a picnic and plan some fun activities for your time in the sunshine.
Rent an Airbnb. Is there a nearby city you've always wanted to explore? Make weekend plans and research restaurants and fun things to do in the area. With Airbnb you can customize your trip according to location, budget, and type of lodging.
Go camping (or "glamping"). Experience the healing power of the great outdoors and plan a local camping trip. Camping offers a change of scenery and is sure cure to cabin fever. Even backyard (or living room) camping can be a fun change of pace. S'mores are calling your name!
These 10 ideas should give you a great jumpstart on your staycation, but here are a few honorable mentions:
Set up an outdoor movie theater
Take a bike tour
Host a summer-themed backyard party
Visit an amusement park
Your staycation adventure awaits!
Staycations come in all shapes and sizes. You can plan as little or as much as you'd like, with no worries about checking into the airport or breaking the bank for some R&R. Take a day, a weekend, or a whole week for a staycation escape from your everyday schedule. The solstice season has officially started, so let's make the most of it. From all of us at Transact, we wish you a happy and healthy summer ahead, because as someone once said, "Life is better in flip flops!"