Need to Get Away Without Breaking the Bank? Check Out These 'Staycations'

staycation a popular way to get away this year

Everyone needs a chance to decompress every once in awhile, but not everyone gets the chance. According to one study, some 55 percent of Americans weren't able to use all their vacation time last year. Some people hate the hassle involved in traveling, some can't afford an exotic vacation, and others just don't want to come back to a mountain of work.

But just because you have all these excuses about why you can't go on vacation, there is another option - a 'staycation' could be the best answer to helping people get away, without really getting away. After all, millions of people across the world come to the U.S. for their vacation, so, why not take the opportunity to play tourist in your own hometown or in a town just down the road?

Thankfully, WalletHub has gathered data on more than 180 cities and compared them across 43 key indicators to find a fun-filled, wallet-friendly staycation for you and your family.

Unsurprisingly, the best places to have a staycation are located in places that are already popular with tourists. Honolulu, HI, Orlando, FL, Chicago, IL, San Diego, CA and Portland, OR are among the top five recommended options for people to take their 'staycations.'

Honolulu and Chicago are great because of how many things people can do while they're on vacation, (ranking #1 and #3), while San Diego and Orlando are ranked as great cities for foodies who want to eat their way through their vacation.

Depending on the type of 'staycation' you're looking for, Portland, OR offers beer lovers a wide-variety of beer gardens, while history buffs can get their fill of culture at all the museums in New Orleans, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, CA. If you want to get some rest and relaxation by camping out at a spa, you'll find plenty of those in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and Las Vegas. Golfers looking to hit the links can take a trip to Warwick, RI, Gilbert, AZ or Tempe, AZ where there are plenty of public courses available for anyone wanting to swing some sticks on their staycation.

staycation stuff

The point of going on a 'staycation' is to do things in your city that you and your family wouldn't normally do. Experts say the key to a proper 'staycation' is preparation! According to Professor Matt Vosler at Ithaca College, that a staycation is more than just a chance to not work for a week.

"Often we assume that the very act of not working will lead to a deep and meaningful leisure experience. While this may help to decrease stress temporally, it is important to get into a leisure mindset before you start your staycation. A few ways to do this can be making sure that you are prepared to let work, or other life responsibilities, fade to the background while you are on your staycation. That doesn't mean that you can't get to those house projects, but allow yourself to do things on your time and in your way. Maybe add some mindfulness activities such as taking a casual walk or meditation to the front part of your staycation to allow yourself to be present in your day.

Vosler says people taking vacations should structure their vacations will intent.

"Many of us will try to over structure or even understructure or staycations. Intentionality can help here too. We often try to overcompensate for our structured lives with absolutely no structure on our time out of work. This can lead to too much time on the couch and, even though you were able to binge watch that new show, your time slips away and you don't get the reward of a deep leisure experience," Vosler says. "My recommendation is to really think about how you can best use your time and be sure to add some activities out in your community and especially in natural areas! Natural areas are shown to help restore our attention, aid in self-regulation, reduce stress, and help to decrease background anxiety."

Plus, you don't have to break the bank to have fun. Vosler points out that being conscious of how your family spends money can go a long way in adding 'high value activities' without comprimising fun and engagement.

"If your big cost is food, try packing a lunch or eating at home before heading out. If your typical recreation pursuit has a high individual cost, such as going to a movie theater, try diversifying your activities within your community," Vosler says.

Photo: Getty Images & WalletHub


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