Next time you take a vacation, try getting away from it all without really getting away.
One of the hottest trends in recession vacationing is the "staycation," a money-saving way to relax and rediscover the joys of traveling locally.
Matthew Stoff/The Daily Sentinel |
Samantha Mora with the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau gave a talk about vacationing locally to attendees of the Chamber of Commerce's Fourth Friday Luncheon.
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In a pep-filled talk at the Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce's Fourth Friday Luncheon, Samantha Mora of the Convention and Visitors Bureau explained the virtues of this leisure phenomenon and offered tips and suggestions for staycations here in Nacogdoches.
"Vacation doesn't mean you have to travel to a far away destination. It's a state of mind and one you can enjoy right here in Nacogdoches," Mora said.
Mora said spending free time in your home or in the area is a big money-saver, eliminating airfare, high gas prices and, if you stay home, a hotel bill. Staying local also reinvests money back into the local economy, which is good for area businesses.
But just because you're in familiar territory, doesn't mean the same old routine. Quite the opposite, Mora said.
"Pretend you're a tourist in your own area," Mora said, encouraging the audience to enjoy the area as if they had never seen it before. Revisiting classic attractions and snapping photos can recast a familiar scene as a new, fun-filled experience for the whole family.
The idea for a vacation spend near home is not new or confined to East Texas. Mora cited statistics showing that half of all families have revampted their vacation plans in some way to save money. And a survey of dozens of magazines and other media outlets turned up plenty of stories about the latest travel trend.
To help navigate the many travel options nearby, Mora recommended several resources to find specific attractions in the area, starting with the CVB's Web site, www.visitnacogdoches.org. Mora showed off other Web sites, like www.yelp.com that can map possible destinations in a given area or simply help to find local activities like bowling.
The success — and the value — of a good staycation lies in its stress-busting relaxation. To rejuvenate properly while staying home, it's essential to declare a "chore-atorium," or an all-out stop order on work, chores and errands, Mora said. It might help to roll up the welcome mat, too, and stay away from home improvement tasks or anything else resembling something less than fun.
Arts and crafts, movie night, backyard camping or gardening are all inexpensive ways to unwind without leaving home, Mora said. But there are also plenty of day trips within a short driving distance of Nacogdoches.
Mora's slide show presentation reviewed a dizzying number of fun activities in Nacogdoches, more than enough to schedule something to do every day of the staycation. Mora even suggested checking into one of Nacodoches' charming bed and breakfast inns for a deluxe staycation. And for business owners in the room, Mora summarized some ways to offer discounts and incentives for others on staycation.
Mora said the effects of a good local vacation won't be limited just to feeling relaxed or entertained. Spending time in the area can inspire you to fall in love with Nacogdoches all over again, she said.
"You can learn the history of your hometown and it also instills a sense of pride knowing about your community."
At the end of the talk, Mora suggested everyone put her advice to good use. "It's Friday," she reminded the audience. "Start your staycation today."
