Staycation Ideas » Spring Staycation Ideas

Attend Baseball Spring Training

Paul — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:31:53 +0000

The Boys of Summer are…well…not back, but on their way. In the months of February and March they’re in Spring Training, which makes going to watch them a perfect Spring Break weekend get-away. Visit your favorite Major League Baseball team as they hone their skills for the upcoming season. If you want to meet and greet your favorite players, collect autographs, and commune with fellow fans, a Spring Training break is the perfect plan.

How to Make it Happen

Location. Location. Location. That’s the key to pulling off this Staycation without spending a lot of money. But if you live near one of the hosting southern states, it can be done. Admission is charged for Spring Break scrimmages, but it is still considerably cheaper than regular season games. If you are staying overnight, be sure to plan ahead as hotels will fill up. Budget in money for food, although if you are road tripping from a nearby state, save money by packing a cooler with sandwiches and drinks for the car ride.

For a complete list of where and when your favorite team will be practicing and playing, consult the Major League Baseball website, MLB.com, or visit individual team websites (you can link to these from the MLB site). Arizona and Florida are the hosts for all Spring Training sessions. If you do live up North—or just too far away to drive––you still might want to splurge a little for the chance to see your favorite players up close. Look for organized air/hotel packages arranged by team travel agencies that often provide discounted, group deals. But start looking in early winter––you will need to plan ahead for this.

If a trip to Spring Training is just out of the question, try to attend a Fan Appreciation Day hosted prior to Opening Day. Teams will list these events on their websites.

Follow-up Activities

Attend an actual baseball game—MLB, minor leagues or even college.
Join a company or neighborhood softball team.
Play catch with the kids in the backyard and maybe help them start a baseball card collection.
Host a baseball movie night. Some suggestions include: Bull Durham, Eight Men Out, The Natural, Major League and Field of Dreams.

Take a Spa-Cation

Paul — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:02:18 +0000

Spa-Finder has launced a new advertising campaign just for the staycationer with their “Spa-Cation” a new “stay-cation” alternative that’s almost as budget-friendly (no airfare or lodging required) but far more rejuvenating.

From the ancient mineral baths of the Dead Sea to the legendary Golden Door spa of California, great spas of the world have been coveted vacation destinations for centuries. But with so many luxurious day spas located nearby, there’s no reason you can’t pamper themselves and still remain close to home.

We all know that life can be stressful. And our bodies and minds, without proper attention, end up taking the brunt of that stress. That’s why with haute mud wraps to hot-stone massages,chakra realignments to miracle treatments that have you aging in reverse, there has never been a better time to take care of yourself (mind, body and spirit) and take a spa-cation! Your body will thank-you!

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Create and Fly a Kite

Paul — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:42:19 +0000

There’s a trick to flying a kite. It isn’t easy-just ask Charlie Brown about those kite-eating trees. But if you can get that kite in the air, the site is awe-inspiring. Surely, you’ve been to a park where everyone stops to look at the kite flying above them. We all wish it was us.

How to Make it Happen

Perhaps the best way to learn is by doing. Buy a kite, pick a breezy day and an open space, and see if you can get your kite in the air. If you find you need a little more help, check out this website, www.ehow.com/how_1289_fly-kite.html. There are also video guides on YouTube, which you can find using an online search.

If you want to make this a bigger project for your family, try making your own kites from a pattern or kit. Kite kits can be purchased from hobby stores. Let the kids help assemble the kite and decorate it anyway they want.

Additional Activities

Once you have the kite, don’t let it get crushed by shoving it on a shelf in the garage. Take it out again. Become an expert and give advice to others trying to get theirs in the air!
Have everyone in the family design his or her own kite. Have a family contest to see which kite flies highest. Which stays in the air the longest. Which looks the best.

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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

Make your own waterpark.

Paul — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:23:00 +0000

My neighbor’s son celebrated a birthday at his house this past Saturday. As I watched him and his friends drench themselves with water guns and water balloons, I thought to myself how fun it would be too make your own waterpark! My nearest waterpark is about 60 minutes away, cost $10 to park and admission is $27.99. I roughly figured that to take my wife and kids for a day could cost me at least $115 including admission, food and $4.00 a gasoline there and back.

I did a little search and found some great alternatives to spending a day at the waterpark…make your own. The nice thing about investing in a waterslide is being able to use it again and again. It can quickly pay itself off versus weekly trips to the waterpark. The other added benefit is being able to entertain your kid’s friends. Can you imagine the cost associated with taking your son and his 5 friends to the waterpark for the day? Outrageous!

Here are some nice slides available from Amazon.com (yes, they sell more than books and CD’s!)

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