Family & Parenting, How to Make the Most of Your Backyard Vacations


by ALFONSO ALVAREZ - Date: 2009-01-09 - Word Count: 627 Share This!

More and more people are finding that even when they are able to find the time, there is little room in their budget for a vacation getaway. They are having to opt instead for backyard vacations, also known as "staycations". The good news is that backyard vacations can be just as fun and satisfying as long distance ones. After many money-saving backyard vacations, my wife and I have come up with a few tips that we'd like to share.

First things first. This is your vacation. Keep it interruption-proof. Turn off the ringer on your phone. Keep your computer off. It can be used to research last-minute day trips, but do not check email and, most importantly, resist the temptation to check your work email. Anything that could have waited the week you were away can wait now. While you're at it, keep the TV and video games off; you can do that anytime. Do not allow friends or family members who know that you're not really away, to draw you into their projects. They'll understand when they have backyard vacations of their own.

Research your area. Decide how far you want to drive (if at all), and check out attractions and activities within that radius. Perhaps you'd like to get to know some of the local history, and sites that you've been too busy to explore. Maybe you'd rather drive a little further and see some sites in a different environment. The local papers list activities for adults and children. Write to chambers of commerce in your surrounding cities. Find out about state parks that are not too far away. The internet is also a good resource, but if you're already on vacation, don't get drawn into the depths of the ether!

Choose your adventures. Once you have decided where to spend each day of your backyard vacation, prepare any needed supplies ahead of time. You don't want to waste precious vacation time searching through the garage for that fishing pole or sleeping bag. Allow each member of the family to have a say in what will be done, even if you are literally just staying in your backyard. There are still decisions to be made about activities, meals, etc. Make it a point to have something for everyone.

What about cooking? There are two schools of thought here-"minimal", and, even better, "none". If the purpose of a backyard vacation is to save money, then some cooking may be required. Try to purchase things that require minimal prep time and cooking. This is a vacation for the cook in the family as well. If everyone pitches in, it can be part of the fun, especially in a "camping" situation. Ideally, however, no one should have to work on their vacation. Finding new places to eat is part of the adventure.

Planning ahead. Just as with anything else in life, the results of a backyard vacation can depend upon the amount of planning done to prepare. This includes researching, deciding what your goal is, choosing the path to that goal, and not allowing others to waylay that goal.

I'm happy to report that my family and I no longer have backyard vacations just to save money. If you're considering a change in your work situation so that you can take your family on more long distance vacations and enjoy more time with them at home as well, see my link below. Bon voyage! Alfonso Alvarez is a business coach and mentor based out of Los Angeles, CA, that assists serious entrepreneurs in building a profitable online business with multiple income streams. Alfonso is a proud husband and father, who enjoys world travel, real estate investing, and horseback riding.

For more information and to contact Alfonso, visit:http://ProsperousAlliance.com/


Related Tags: travel, home business, change, internet opportunities, staycations

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