FAM ILY

better

taycation Summer

In your home, your garden, your neighborhood— inexpensive,

creative summer fun is right in your own backyard.

by PETRA GUGLIELMETTI photos KATHRYN GAMBLE market editor JENNIFER CONDON

There’s

no

place like hoige.

Who cares if you’re not really going anywhere—

vacation’s all about breaking your usual routine.

Tell the family that this year, you’re doing a

staycation. Decide the days, and then act as if

you’re going out of town:

•

Pretend you’re a tourist in your own area.

Visit the convention and visitor’s bureau Web site

for a calendar of events and attractions. If you live

in a smaller town, your chamber of commerce

may offer a similar list.

•

Do a Google map search for nearby parks,

batting cages, mini-golf courses, cultural centers,

and aquariums you’ve never visited. To get older

kids enthusiastic about a no-travel vacation, let

each one "own” one vacation day and come up

with ideas for what the family can do.

•

Act as you would if you were away. Sleep in,

let the beds go unmade. You’ll get back to your

good habits when vacation’s over.

Yelp.COm

Visit this site and plug in a

city name and “ playground,” “ batting

cage,” “ stable,” o r “ beach” — you'll get

reader reviews that help you find great

destinations youVe never visited before.

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS JUNE 2009 2