Staycation Ideas

Archive for the ‘Fall Staycation Ideas’ Category

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

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

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

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

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

1. 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.
2. Read a book on historical American landmarks. Pick one to go visit.

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

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

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