Staycation Ideas » Fall Staycation Ideas

Visit an Area Science Center

Paul — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:27:57 +0000

Be a science geek for a day and visit a nearby, accredited Science Center. These learning centers often feature touring exhibits on subjects like dinosaurs and robotics. In addition to featured exhibits are displays on everything from biology to mechanics to space. Many are often connected with planetariums. So take a day to learn about your earth, its inhabitants, and the universe around it.

How to Make it Happen

Visit www.astc.org/sciencecenters/find_scicenter.htm for a list of accredited science centers. Pick one near you and visit its website for hours of operation, special exhibits and admission prices. Many science centers feature planetariums and IMAX theaters, which will likely cost extra, but are worth the price. If you live nearby, consider buying an annual membership for yearlong admission and other perks.

Additional Activities

Buy a chemistry kit or science set for your kids and do experiments with them.
View stars in your night sky.

Go on a leaf tour

Paul — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:26:38 +0000

For some people, the only good thing about winter coming is the turning of the leaves. While you may not be ready for snow and cold, it’s hard not to appreciate the color show nature puts on right before winter. If you live in a state with four distinct seasons, now’s the time to get out and enjoy the reds, pinks, oranges, yellows and browns that are autumn.

How to Make it Happen

Mother Nature does all the work. All you have to do is go for a walk or a drive. If you go by car, pick the curviest road in your county and don’t rush. Let cars pass you by. Just enjoy the scenery.

Additional Activities

Create a leaf collection from leaves you found on your walk. Learn what type of trees they come from.
Fall is the perfect time to plant a tree. Plant one in your yard, or donate one to a city park.

View Migratory Birds

Paul — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:11:10 +0000

One of the great sights in nature is to see a flock of geese flying south for the winter. Seeing the geese, the ducks, the herons and others is a bittersweet good-bye ritual. We don’t want to see them go, but we love seeing them fly. Their departure means cold weather is coming, but we know also, that they will return in the spring.

How to Make it Happen

Migratory birds are in decline worldwide and several organizations are devoted to studying why. You can help them.

Visit www.charityguide.org/volunteer/vacation/bird-migration.htm for ideas on how you can help track the migratory patterns of birds in your area. (You can even sign-up for vacation packages that are devoted to this activity).

You can also call your state’s Department of Natural Resources for the best times and observatories to view migrating flocks in your state. Take binoculars, take a camera, or just take yourself and enjoy the site.

Additional Activities

Return in the spring to watch birds migrate north.
Learn some birdcalls and try them out on a nature hike.
Go bird watching in your backyard.

Oktoberfest

Attend a Football Game

Paul — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:10:14 +0000

The leaves turn, the air grows cooler, the days grow shorter…it all means one thing. Football’s coming. High school, college, pro…if you love the game, ya gotta have it. And what’s not to love…the cheerleaders, the colors, the band, the mascots, and, oh yeah, the game. You’ve got a whole season of this stuff. And the ending is Super!

How to Make it Happen

Of these three choices, obviously attending a professional game will be the most expensive. To find schedules and ticket prices for your favorite team, visit www.nfl.com. From there you can link to the website of your favorite team.

College tickets can be purchased through school athletic offices, but some colleges sell out season tickets so these might be difficult to obtain. High school games will be easier, plus they’re much closer and if you know the kids playing it’s a much more personal experience. But do expect to pay admission.

Maybe you just can’t get to a game. No problem. Host your own tailgate party in your driveway or backyard. Watch the Big Game from your house and play touch football during halftime.

Additional Activities

Volunteer to help coach a youth football team.
Join a fantasy football team.
Enter a contest to win Super Bowl tickets. Somebody’s gotta win.

No related posts.

Visit a Pumpkin Patch

Paul — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:07:01 +0000

Get your Halloween pumpkins, go on a hayride, and even pet a goat. Consumer pumpkin patches are a booming business and offer a variety of fun family activities including corn mazes, tire swings, hay bale mountains, and, of course, acres and acres of pumpkins to assure you get the perfect one.

How to Make it Happen

Locate a pumpkin patch near you by doing an online search. Visit its website for hours, admission price and location, or call the operators for details. Be aware that some businesses charge one admission price while others charge fees for different activities.

Additional Activities

Carve your Halloween pumpkin. Go traditional with the triangle eyes and crooked teeth, or buy a book with artistic designs and trace and carve.
Make a pumpkin pie. Canned pumpkin works fine, but if you’re really ambition, make from fresh pumpkins.
Make a fall arrangement using dried flowers, cattails, gourds, pine cones and other seasonal items.

Visit an Apple Orchard

Fall Staycation Idea: Research an Historic Site

Paul — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:02:13 +0000

Places, like people, can all tell their own story. If you pry hard enough, they will whisper their secrets and give up their ghosts. So meet a few ghosts. Pick an historical building or landmark near you and learn the when, where, how and who about why it exists.

How to Make it Happen

Start by picking your landmark. You can choose a location important to your local heritage, or a place of national historic significance. For a complete list of the National Register of Historic Places, visit www.nps.gov/nr/.

Local and state historical societies often have libraries and other resources available to help you start your research. Preservation societies can also provide information. Other important sources to use include records of newspapers, genealogical societies, historical reenactment groups, and state and county public records.

With background information in hand, visit your site. Ask questions of tour guides and get recommendations for further reading. Some questions to ask include:

Who or what group was responsible for building the site?
Why did they build it?
How was it originally used?
What purpose has it served over the years?
When was it erected?
Who has benefited from the structure?
What historical significance is associated with this site?
What was happening in the world when it was built?

These are just a few questions to get you started. As you delve into your research, you will surely come up with many more.

Additional Activities

Learn about your home.
Join a local historical or genealogical society.
Celebrate President’s Day (Idea #14)

Oktoberfest

Paul — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:08:21 +0000

America’s agrarian roots are celebrated every fall, all across the country. As pioneers settling the land, our fore bearers knew the importance of a good harvest, and celebrated their blessings accordingly. These celebrations of thanks remain with us today, a valued part of our cultural heritage. Even if you’ve never shucked an ear of corn, take the time to be grateful for our land of plenty.

How to Make it Happen

Autumn celebrations go by many names––Oktoberfest, Harvest Fair, Harvest Moon Celebration. Whatever name it goes by, join the party. The best way to find the celebration nearest you is to either do an online search, or to call your state tourism office for a published guide to the state’s annual festivals. These guides are usually free and many times are downloadable from state tourism websites.

Additional Activities

With tourism guide in hand, pick another festival in your state to attend. There’s surely one for every season.
Want to get back in touch with your agrarian roots? Start your own garden and discover how grateful you are when something actually grows!

Covered Bridge Drives

Paul — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:34:02 +0000

Remember the romance of The Bridges of Madison County? Francesca and Robert falling in love at Roseman Bridge? It’s time to create your own romance. Covered bridges became popular in America during the 19^th century, and those that remain can usually be found in rural areas. Threatened by arson, flood and age, these bridges are disappearing, although they are often the beneficiaries of organized preservation efforts. If you live near some of these historic landmarks, take advantage of the ambiance, character and romance they add to the landscape.

How to Make it Happen

Do an online search for existing covered bridges in your region, or contact your state tourism office for locations and directions to covered bridges in your state. For a complete list of the National Register of Historic Places, visit www.nps.gov/nr/. Travel by GPS.com also has a Covered Bridge GPS tour that you can download to your GPS device. This Covered Bridge tour is for certain areas of Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Vermont.

Once you’ve determined your destination, go for a drive, or a bike ride, and experience these symbols of America’s past.

Additional Activities

If there are no historic bridges in your area, you can still enjoy a scenic drive. On a map, plan a drive that includes the curviest roads in your county. Take your time, pack a picnic, and enjoy the scenery.
Read a book on historical American landmarks. Pick one to go visit.

Visit an Apple Orchard

Paul — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:41:18 +0000

My kids’ favorite Fall activity—bar none—is visiting a nearby apple orchard where they get to run through the orchard and fill bags full of apples they pluck from the tree. We pick, we run, we laugh, we even climb trees for the high ones (and try not to get caught!) When we’re done, we return with our stuffed bags and spend the rest of the month eating apples—apple pie, apple cake, applesauce, apple salad…

How to Make it Happen

Do an online search for apple orchards in your area that are open to the public. Search their website or call for hours, costs and directions. Most orchards will have pre-packaged bags for purchase, but since you’re there, have some fun and pick your own. Don’t forget to try the homemade apple cider and treat yourself to some carmel apples.

Additional Activities

Make an apple pie.
Plant an apple tree in your backyard.
Make an autumn-activity weekend by combining an apple orchard trip with a trip to the pumpkin patch.

No related posts.

Staycation Tips

Paul — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:51:41 +0000

The city of Denver has recently announced an interesting stimulus package: 100 bargains at the “mile high” price-point of $52.80. These bargains include special hotel rates, sport team ticket prices and other local Denver attractions. Designed at encouraging outside tourism to Colorado’s capital, the Examiner.com’s Diana Rowe, smartly pointed out that Denver-ites can also take advantage of these prices and enjoy a Denver staycation. And to further encourage other citizens of Denver to participate in these staycations, Ms. Rowe(a.k.a. “Denver Travel Examiner”) has put together a great list of staycation tips:

Here are some of her suggestions to make the most of your staycation:

Plan as though you actually are taking a vacation.
Research your destination.
Book a hotel.
Visit local attractions.
Finally, act like you’re on vacation (take pictures and buy a souvenir)

She provides several other tips and specific staycation ideas for the Denver area in her article. You can click here to read the article in it’s entireity:

Denver Travel Examiner: Tips to make the most of your Denver summer staycation