by Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore

The key to any successful Staycation is to make it a real vacation! Don’t do the things you do in your everyday routine!

• Stop cooking. Eat out, or if on a tight budget, take turns cooking. Forget the laundry for a week – you probably would if you traveled somewhere!
• Go to different restaurants in your area. If you’re stumped, go to chowhound.com and roadfood.com to find interesting food fare for your staycation.
• Join a local museum – they will send you notices of upcoming lectures, special exhibits and special tours!
• When is the last time you went to the zoo? If it’s been awhile, why not make an afternoon of it - pack a picnic lunch to take on your excursion.
• Stay one night in a local hotel. Let them know you are local and they may have discounts for locals!
• Volunteer this vacation – take one day and build a home with Habitat for Humanity, volunteer at your local food pantry or homeless shelter, hospital or nursing home. (go to volunteermatch.org or idealist.org)
• Make the planning a family affair. Have each member of the family give ideas on what to do! Together, choose the activities the family will undertake – but do something EVERY DAY! No hanging around the house doing nothing.

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We are the co-founders of Buttoned Up, inc., a company dedicated to helping stretched and stressed women get themselves organized and co-authors of “Everything (almost) In Its Place.” We welcome your thoughts! Please send ideas and questions to us at: yourlife@getbuttonedup.com or visit us at www.getbuttonedup.com