Whether you live in a town or a city, chances are there are plenty of things to do and enjoy to keep you occupied and thrilled every single day. How well you know your hometown and how often you get out there and explore, however, will play a huge part in your relationship. If you feel at home, you’ll love your home, but if your home doesn’t extend anywhere beyond the four walls of your property, then things need to change.
Every day should feel like the ultimate staycation opportunity. You should feel excited about going somewhere new right at home. Whether you take time off from work or not doesn’t even matter. What does matter is that you get out there, explore your city, and enjoy your staycation by following this guide:
What to Try at Least Once Every Week
Whether you live in a small town or a big city chances are you haven’t explored all that your home has to offer. That is why at least once a week you should treat yourself.
Try a New Café, Restaurant, or Bar
New food and drink establishments are opened on a regular basis. In some cases, these openings even come with a soft launch or discounted event to help bring people into the door and to get them talking. See if there is a digital magazine or list of these launches to stay on top of what’s happening your town, and otherwise try to get out and try a new venue every so often. This way you can find your favorite local haunts in no time.
Familiarize Yourself with Galleries and Boutiques
Art and culture are two critical components of a happy life. You don’t, however, need to go to a museum to experience them. Simply go to the galleries and boutiques that are around town. As they are a store, there won’t be an entrance fee, and you can experience art and handicrafts at your leisure. Do this, and you might even become more immersed in the art world yourself, leading to more fun activities and friends.
Go to Local Markets
Local markets are a weekly must, especially the ones that sell fresh produce and other quality ingredients. Go with your partner, family, or friends and stock up on all the lovely local goodies that your town has to offer. You’ll enjoy better tasting meals throughout the week and have a lovely weekend tradition.
Fun Alternative Nights Out with Friends or Family
For most of us, friends and family are the most important parts of our lives. Rather than let work get in the way, or conflicting schedules, try to book and schedule time together more often. The more regularly you meet up, the less difficult it will be to get everyone together. You can host dinners at yours, go for a brunch every week, or if you need a fun, alternative night out to convince people to book time off, try suggesting any of these fun activities:
Solve an Escape Room
Escape rooms are relatively new experiences, and they are so much fun. The premise of an escape room is rather simple – solve puzzles to exit the room and even win a prize. You won’t be locked in there indefinitely. You are up against the clock and must work together as a team to solve the riddles and find clues. It’s fun for friends, for families, and even for co-workers in a bonding exercise. There are so many reasons to book a time slot at an escape room, just check it out!
Take a Class in Something New
Another fun alternative night out is to take a class. Learn how to do a fun, eclectic activity for the evening or sign up to an ongoing class that takes place over a few weeks. This won’t be something you can do all the time, of course, as most classes like these will cost a few hundred dollars to sign up to.
See Live Music or Performances
Whether it’s just a cover band playing at a local bar, or an up and coming music gig at the town hall doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you keep an eye on these sorts of events and make time to get out there and enjoy them. Live entertainment is a great way to make a date night any night of the week.
Stay on Top of Events and Activities
Performances at your local bar aren’t the only kind of events and activities that you can get up to in your hometown. From festivals to parades, to exhibitions and big charity events – cities and towns alike have a vested interest in organizing and hosting these events throughout the year. Some won’t be as well publicized or known about, however, which is why you need to check these platforms to stay up to date with what’s going on:
Social Media
Social media is a great place to start your search. Simply keep an eye on the location tags that are relevant to your down and have a peek at them every once in a while. Small business openings and other launch events are more likely to be advertised this way than, say, on the radio or on a billboard.
Local Magazines and Radio Stations
Local magazines, newspapers, and radio stations want to provide their audience with all that’s new and happening in their city. Either subscribe or listen to them on a regular basis so that you can stay on top of local news this way.
Bulletin Boards
Cafes, bars, and other local establishments are also a great place to find flyers and other notices of events, launches, markets, and more, so before you head out, check out what’s available and take a photo of any event that interests you.
What to Remember
There is so much to do, see, and explore right at home. That is the beauty of a staycation. Not that you necessarily must stay home because you cannot afford or do not have the time to jet off somewhere new, but because there is so much to enjoy right in your own backyard. Give yourself the luxury staycation treatment every weekend, and you can start to develop a lifelong bond with your hometown that will have you living a great, fulfilled life surrounded by friends and family in no time.
