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Some of you may be missing out on something wonderful. You have it in your head that a vacation has to be some sort of destination or, at least, a place that would be too far to drive back and forth in one day.
Do I see your head nodding in agreement?
Well, toss those thoughts out of your head right now because I’m here to tell you that a vacation is what you make of it, even if you only drive 30 minutes to a bed and breakfast in your own hometown for the night.
Getting away is not just about sightseeing; it’s about rest, relaxation, and escaping your busy lives. When you are a parent, it’s also about spending quality time with your spouse without the kids. You can accomplish this so easily in your hometown, so stop thinking a romantic getaway has to be a faraway destination.
Live it Up in Your Hometown
My husband and I recently traveled to
Durham, North Carolina, which is only 30 minutes from the area where I reside in Raleigh. Even though we live close to Durham, we don’t go often. I think we’re about to change that after our recent overnight excursion at the
AAA Four-Diamond award-winning bed and breakfast, King’s Daughters Inn, near Duke University. We lounged in luxury and ate the most scrumptious chocolate chip waffles I’ve ever tasted.
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Durham is quickly becoming known as a place for foodies to rejoice because it has some of the best culinary restaurants in North Carolina. My husband and I took the assignment of finding a restaurant for the evening very seriously. We didn’t want to go fancy schmancy, but we wanted great food in a casual atmosphere.
We chose
Guglhupf. It was fantastic. I felt as if I had been transported into a German Biergarten. In reality, we were only 30 minutes from our colonial home in Raleigh, but without a care in the world on this night, we felt that we were a million miles away. It felt good!
The next day, we felt refreshed, re-energized, and reconnected. The best part of all: We had to drive only 30 minutes to relieve my mother-in-law, who so graciously kept the kids overnight for us.
Ideas For Your Own Staycation
From my
“Pack Your Bags” features on my own blog, you know I have a fondness for luxury inns, but that in part is why I feel a staycation in my hometown is so fulfilling. I’m indulging in an “experience.” I suggest looking for special packages on a hotel or Inn’s website. A lot of times, you will find special perks to make your hometown getaway seem more like a vacation. For example, the
King’s Daughters Inn in Durham has a “Beer Lovers Package” in which you can tour several breweries while staying at the Inn, or perhaps a Broadway show and a romantic dinner is more your style. Hotels are realizing that people work more than ever now in America, so they are creating packages that cater to both their in-town and out-of-town guests.
If an overnight stay is too difficult for childcare, then create your own mini-staycation by booking a sitter early in the afternoon to mid-evening. Take in a leisurely afternoon at a museum, followed by dinner al-fresco at a restaurant you’ve never tried before. Be adventurous.
If you like to be active, then take a long hike on an area trail or a bike ride in a nearby county, then end all that activity with a splurge at a local cupcake shop.
The possibilities are endless. Once you realize that every destination can be a vacation, you’ll never look at your hometown the same way again.
Photos from Durham, North Carolina: Museum of Life and Science and King’s Daughters Inn