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.
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
