How to Have the Best Staycation

With border closures and travel limits still in full swing, there’s never been a better time to indulge in a staycation. Exploring one’s own city, region, or province is an exciting and often eye-opening way to use up some time off and decompress. Whether you’ve rented a place in another city nearby, are enjoying a week(end) at the cottage, or you’re staying put at home, we’ve got some tips to make your staycation the best ever – R&R, here you come!

Choose one thing a day that you wouldn’t normally do – and do it.

Whether it’s taking a walk on a new-to-you trail or walking path or grabbing a donut or ice cream from a local shop you’ve yet to try, try doing one thing a day that you haven’t done before. Open a new book that’s been collecting dust on the shelf. Learn some new dance choreography. Try a guided mediation. Watch that new movie that you’ve been wanting to stream but haven’t. Make a recipe that you haven’t yet tried – we’ve got lots if you’re looking for a place to get started! Trying something new doesn’t have to be a big or scary endeavour – it can be something simple that keeps each day feeling fresh and invigorating. Breaking the everyday routine by incorporating fun, new activities is a great way to make a Monday or Tuesday feel like a true step away from the day-to-day. Besides, who knows? You may find a new passion that was lurking just below the surface!

Check out local attractions

Even if you aren’t travelling to somewhere far away or exotic, there can be plenty of attractions and destinations to enjoy! Making time for excursions – either places that are new to you that have always been on your “we should go there sometime” list, or places you’ve been before and love to go back to – can add an element of excitement to your vacation. Whether that’s a secluded beach, a zoo, a patio, or even a park, there are all kinds of options to safely enjoy. The best part? Most have a low or no admission fee – you don’t need to shell out major cash to have a great time!

Take in the scenery

Jump on your bike, or lace up those running shoes and take in all the sights and sounds in your area. With your favourite tunes or an interesting podcast, cruising around your neighbourhood is a great way to decompress and let go of stress. Walking and biking are both excellent low-impact ways to elevate your heart rate and keep your muscles active. Bonus – you can soak up all that necessary Vitamin D while you’re out during the day…but don’t forget the sunscreen! Prefer to hop in the car and take a cruise? Roll down the window and feel the breeze – it’s just like being a kid again.

Try some new foods

There’s no better time than a vacation to branch out and try some new foods. Kick the “normal” options to the curb and get creative! Always wanted to try liver, but have never taken the plunge? Now’s the time! Want to try out making ribs? Give it a shot! Enjoy a wing night with some new sauces or try cooking your first brisket. Stepping out of your comfort zone and indulging in some new flavours is a great way to keep your staycation interesting – and delicious! If grocery shopping feels like a chore, you can order meat online and choose all your favourite (or favourite-to-be) options – so you can continue relaxing at home or at the cottage.

Just relax

Always the simplest advice to give, and the hardest advice to take. Disconnect, unwind, and simply relax. No matter what that looks like to you – exercise, taking a break from email or social media, enjoying a few more afternoon naps than normal, or hanging in a hammock under a tree, taking time to yourself to decompress is a gift. Play your favourite tunes or soak up some (hopefully) uninterrupted silence. Take a few deep breaths and just let it all go. We know, we know – easier said than done – but it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

Article by: Trish Carnahan

Posted on January 18th, 2023