Start Your Engines

Figuratively speaking, anyway. Contrary to what the above image indicates, swimming in your bath tub will not suffice for the “pool” part of your staycation. And yes, there must be a pool contingency. But, more on that later. First off, here’s how to begin the planning process:

1. Take time off from work. Just because you’re staying in town doesn’t mean that a weekend will be enough R&R time. Unplug the internet!
2. Pick a theme: camping, beach, bed & breakfast, etc.
3. Decide who to invite on your staycation and for how long. 
4. Try to budget, because you’ll kick yourself if you end up spending MORE money by not leaving a 10-mile radius of your home.  That’s just silly!

Lounging Poolside

Okay, you could go visit the public pool, but that may already be part of your summer regimen. And the goal here is to bring the vacation TO you. Which means you should buy a kiddie pool for the backyard or living room. How can you say no to a $24.99 Banzai Elephant Park Spray Pool?

Sustenance Ideas

You can’t lounge in a classy elephant pool without an equally classy drink to go in your hand. (Some munchies won’t hurt either). My go-to girl for such classiness is, of course, Martha Stewart, and she is thinking that Lemonade Caipirinhas would ever so perfectly complement the hours whiled away in an inflatable water receptacle. Here is how to make them:

Ingredients

• 2 large limes, cut into 16 wedges each
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup cachaca
• 6 cups crushed ice
• 1 cup store-bought lemonade

With a wooden spoon, crush limes into sugar inside a large measuring glass or bowl; pour in cachaca.

Transfer the cachaca mixture to a large serving pitcher, add ice, and stir in lemonade. Pour into glasses and drink up!

Cinema Catch-Up

Usually when I’m on a real vacation, I take issue with watching or going to movies because it’s an activity that can be done anywhere, as opposed to swamp tours and parasailing. I have also happened to choose the wrong (read: not uppers) movies while at the beach: The Pianist and The Blair-Witch Project. Not exactly films that put you in the mood to be a lazy-daisy without a care in the world.

Go for comedies, watch the entire Star Wars collection or find a new TV series to view from start to finish.

Rainy Day Contingency Plan

Every vacation is met with a bump or two in the road: it’s called the rainy day. (Or snakes in the backyard, jellyfish stings, head cold, broken leg, or relationship meltdown). In the event of a lightning storm, the kiddie pool isn’t such a good idea. Not a good way to die, I’m guessing.

In my family, rainy days meant board game days. This is pre-wireless internet (or internet period) and pre-billion television channels, so Monopoly or Chutes & Ladders it was.

Leave The House Already

Taking a staycation doesn’t mean you are confined to your house. This is the perfect time to explore your environs, whether you live in a big city or small town. Make a list of places you’ve always meant to go to, or even places you’ve visited only when hosting people-museums, parks, gardens, historical landmarks-and plan a fun day out.

Where do you begin? Check out a travel book on your area, or log on to the local Tourism Bureau site. Pack a picnic and see what it’s like to spend a weekday in your city, without going to work.

Make It Memorable

Take pictures of everything you do, videotape it, or find some way of recording your staycation.