by Sylvia Wallace Myrvold

Staycation
Definition: A staycation is a vacation spent at your home, or in your hometown. A staycation can be just as relaxing as a vacation and in some ways, it can be even better because it typically involves less planning and expense.

A few years ago I used to take an overnight “staycation” after every deadline. I would send the magazine off to the press, throw a few things into a canvas bag and drive over to spend the night with my friend Stacey in Capitola. It took all of 30 minutes to get there and then I was in for complete relaxation. My cell phone was turned off and the only person who knew where I was or how to reach me was my husband. Surprisingly, the biggest impact on my stress level was the phone. Whenever it rang I knew it was not for me, it was Stacey’s phone. I also never took my computer along with me. Heaven.
We never planned any big outings, just relaxing in her hometown (easy to do when you live in a place like Capitola!) Sometimes we would just pour some wine, get out cheese and crackers and work on a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes we would walk down to the wharf for dinner or the village for an ice cream cone. In the morning we walked to the local breakfast spot and then stopped off at Gayle’s Bakery for a mid-morning treat. Or we would just go to Gayle’s to begin with and sit outside with a pastry and a cup of coffee. And of course, plenty of talking. There’s nothing quite like relaxing with a good friend and talking for hours. It was a great staycation and I really have to give her a call and set up another one soon.
If staying with one of your friends is not an option, or you are looking for more traditional vacation time, well, that can also be arranged. Just take a little time and plan it out, like you would any vacation. Let’s start with exploring your surroundings.
Have you ever dropped in to the local visitor’s bureau or chamber of commerce? They are loaded with brochures, guides and local publications, like Out & About, that can point you in the right direction for things you may never have heard about, like The 15th Annual Good Old Fashioned Bluegrass Festival, August 8-10 at Bolado Park outside Hollister. Three full days and nights quality jamming and over 50 stage acts performing means you can go at any time. (Go to www.scbs.org/GOF2008/GOF08Home.htm for all the scoop on how to play or just attend.)
AAA offices are always full of books and maps to help you find those roads you’ve never been on before. For example, if you have never been to Uvas Canyon Park you just might not know where to find Croy Road in Morgan Hill. That would be a shame, it’s a lovely camping park.
So now you are armed with typical tourist material and are ready to go. The first thing you need to do for a real staycation, is turn off your cell phone! Use it only to make dinner reservations or to phone for movie times. Next, pack a picnic basket or canvas bag with basic picnic needs: forks, knives, spoons, a small cutting board, a sharp knife, wine glasses and a corkscrew, salt & pepper, napkins, plates, small bowls and some small plastic ziploc bags. Keep the basket and a blanket in the car for spontaneous meals at concerts or the beach. It doesn’t hurt to stock a little insect repellent and sunscreen as well. Throw in a couple of bottles of water and a towel for good measure. And your sunglasses, how can you take a vacation in California without sunglasses?
Next you need to decide where you want to go while staycationing at home. Turn to our community calendar for plenty of ideas. With very little gasoline you can leave the house early in the morning and stay out late, and lots of it can be done for free or for a very small amount. Check with the local movie theatres, most have special summer morning movies for $1 or $2. The Maya Cinemas in Salinas is showing The Wizard of Oz at 10am on August 30 for $1! From there you could go on a docent led tour of Elk Horn Slough in Watsonville. August 1 to 3 take in the Strawberry Festival also over in Watsonville. Or, if you happen to be in the Gilroy area, take that picnic basket out and start packing it with local goodies then head over to Christmas Hill Park on August 3 for a free concert in the park featuring blues band Pearl Alley.
You can take the day filling the basket. Start out with a trip to one of the local farms, like LJB on Fitzgerald just north of Gilroy or Gizdich in Watsonville with fresh pies or The Swank Farm in Hollister. There you can get all the fresh fruits and vegetables you could want. A few minutes at local restaurant like Cafe 152 on First Street in Gilroy gets you a delicious sandwich and pickles to go. If you are lucky, you can get a hot chocolate chip cookie. Head down Hecker Pass Highway for a little wine tasting. There are so many great wineries in our area, and they don’t charge for tastings. Pick up a nice bottle to add to that basket and you are now ready for the park. Or, if it is Friday, take it with you to any of the many free Friday night concerts on the streets through the end of summer.
If you are looking for some pampering, check in to a local hotel. You can benefit from the spa, jacuzzi, swimming pool, room service etc. without any of that time on the road. Pretend you are far, far away. Try the little local restaurants. Take in the community play, El Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista delivers world-class theatre every time. Or laugh out loud at the Pintello Comedy Theatre production of Pump Boys and the Dinettes. When was the last time you went to a comedy club? Now’s the time.
Can’t afford the price of a weekend at a hotel? Try trading houses with a friend in a town you always wanted to visit. (Be sure to leave them your maps, brochures and Out & About so they can enjoy your town.)
There are so many things to do locally, just look around, and read this months magazine from cover to cover. We have filled it with fun so that you can get the most out of not only your staycation but also out of your wallet.