Staying Home for Winter Vacation
36 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2017
Samantha Rhodes
Florida is one of those tricky states when it comes to the change of seasons and holiday vacations . It ’ s the time of year we yearn for foliage and snowy escapes ( if you ’ re into that kind of thing ). I am luckily from New England , so I am a quick plane ride away from enjoying some cool crisp weather or fluffy white snow , but not everyone can escape during the winter months . The problem ? Escaping on a vacation just isn ’ t in the budget .
If that is your situation , you ’ re not alone . Millions of people are in the same boat and are staying home to save money .
Fortunately , no matter how small your entertainment budget , you can always come up with creative staycations and simple weekend getaways for the whole family or maybe just a couple romantic nights for two . Here ’ s why – and how :
Staying at home may sound a bit boring , but keep these benefits in mind :
• You save a ton of money when you stay at home ! Just think about how much it costs to travel : plane tickets , car rentals , hotels , eating out , activities . It ’ s a big number .
• Staying at home gives you the chance to learn about your local area . You might be surprised at how much there is to do in your city , town or region .
• Staying at home can in fact be more relaxing and restorative than traveling . You don ’ t have to deal with packing , crowded airports ( and the headache of cancellations if there ’ s a storm ), navigating an unfamiliar place , or keeping the kids entertained . You also don ’ t need to worry about dealing with cold or flu remedies and treatment while traveling , and you ’ ll be able to beat the “ winter blues ” ( i . e . seasonal affective disorder ) by relaxing and doing something fun .
• Staycations keep the money you spend local , helping benefit the people in your own community . # CommunityFirst