Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Don't hibernate all winter, resigning yourself to cabin fever. Escape with the Two Hour Staycation. Rates are great at hotels and deals are plentiful.
What is it?
The Two Hour Staycation maximizes the untapped abundance of a two-hour radius right around you. You start with a point of origin, usually your own home. Then you research anything and everything you could do, experience, taste, tour, and see within a two-hour drive. You plan day trips to an area, to experience that city or region ““ and you head back home each night.
Why it's a great way to get away – AND saves you money over a traditional vacation:
-You experience things in your own backyard you've never taken the time to do.
-Adults that need to work during the vacation time can still be included. After work, they can drive to catch up with the rest of the family at an activity or special dinner out.
-You can afford to do more, because you're spending less on typical travel expenses; like hotels.
-You can skip a day in the middle of your vacation, if commitments dictate, then pick back up with your staycation.
-You can, if budget allows, pick a hotel to stay in and do the Two Hour Staycation around that point of origin. The beauty is, you don't have to go to a pricy destination to get away.
-You can minimize eating out by having breakfast home each day, and packing a lunch and snacks for the day's adventures.
-You avoid other small expenses, like coin laundry and buying snacks at high prices.
How to work it:
Step One““ Using an online map (or on paper, if you wish), create a radius of two-hours around your start point. A great way to double-check your time calculations isMapquest.com.Be sure to take into consideration traffic volumes and flow. It puts a damper on your vacation if you drive 1.5 hours away only to sit in traffic for another hour trying to get to your activity of choice. So make that part of your planning when choosing your interests in Step Two.
Step Two““ Leverage the knowledge of online sharing to spark ideas, read reviews, find things you never knew were there, and more. Check out these sites, and use these search terms, to start a list:
–Groupon or LivingSocial deals at your destination
-Input the search term “things to do”, followed by the name of the city or area
-Input the name of the city, followed by the search term “Chamber of Commerce”
-Input the name of the city, followed by the search term “Visitors Bureau”
-Your local city or state website ““ likeMichigan.orgorMyFlorida.com
Step Three““Review your list and categorize:
-Divide the list by type of adventure (such as dining, activity, tour, and so forth).
-Group together by driving distance. You'll want to group things together so once you go in a direction, you have a day's worth of fun close together.
-Eliminate anything that doesn't fit or is outside your budget.
Step Four““ Make a plan and follow the rules:
-Take your top ideas and begin scheduling them into your vacation time. (A typical day might be a small museum in the morning, followed by a bag lunch. Then a nature center visit in the afternoon, wrapped up with dinner at a restaurant you've always wanted to try.)
-Compare the total amount you'll need for any tickets, meals, etc. against your budget. Adjust if needed.
-Plan and prepare ahead to ditch normal routines. It won't feel as much like vacation if you do what you always do once home at night.
-Limit phone calls, email checks, and hovering around on social media.
-Let people know that you aren't available ““ just like if you were out of town. Don't say yes to baking those cookies or chairing that meeting even if you might be back home in time.
-Consider hiring someone to come in and clean while you're gone the last day. Although this is an additional expense, you'll be able to relax more, and let the house go during your vacation.
