Staycations
By Shawn Dell Joyce
This summer many people are rethinking their travel plans. AAA reports that slowing economy and high fuel prices “have pushed some Americans to what we call the traveling tipping point. It’s clear that a small number of us may choose to stay home … and relax with friends and family rather than take a vacation.”
Instead of making pricey travel plans this year that damage the environment as well as your bank account. Take a local vacation, or “Staycation.” This is a chance to rediscover the beauty of our home region by taking the time to visit cultural attractions and natural places that you may be too busy to see in your daily routine.
A staycation does not mean staying home and doing yard work, or the list of jobs you’ve been putting off for the past year. “Instead,” suggests Pauline Frommer of Frommer’s Travel Guides, “become a tourist in your own hometown.” Plan to see tourist attractions, historic sites, take an art class, learn to swim, or a number of small adventures you always wanted to do if you had the time.
A fringe benefit of staycations is that you develop a deeper connection to your community and home town. People feel more connected to a place when they experience the history and natural beauty of it firsthand. Try to see something different each day; a different spectacular view, a different museum, a new restaurant. At the same time, you benefit your local community by pumping vacation money into the local economy.
Some staycationers go so far as to camp in a nearby campground to get away from the daily routine. If you are addicted to technology, and can’t imagine a day without email or internet, then consider leaving the house and staycationing in a local campground or Bed and Breakfast. You’ll still save gas money and travel expenses, but you’ll feel refreshed after being away from the computer for a few days.
As an artist who paints in plein air (outdoors), I visit spectacular places in Orange County each week with the Wallkill River School. It is a constant reminder to me that we live in one of the prettiest places in the world, and are blessed to have so many picturesque farms and downtowns.
Here are a few tips for a successful staycation:
Explore the rail trails in your area by foot or bicycle. Especially the lovely new section in Walden.
Try kayaking on the Wallkill from Benedict Town Park, or the Bashakill Preserve and see how beautiful the river can be.
Go back in time at Hill-Hold Museum, or the Brick House. Both fun for the whole family.
Pine Bush has a wonderful farmer’s market on Saturdays with dozens of eclectic shops and restaurants in walking distance. Spend the day in downtown Pine Bush.
Harness Racing Museum in Goshen offers free admission! You can catch trotters training on the historic track behind the museum most days.
Ice Caves Mountain is still open at the Sam’s Point Preserve. This is a fun day trip that combines history, green architecture, and exercise with some of the loveliest views of three counties. Visit the Cragsmoor Library on your way up and learn about the Hudson River School painters that started an art colony in Cragsmoor.
Do something you ordinarily don’t make time to do, take an art class in Montgomery at the Wallkill River School, see a live performance at the Rose Theater in Walden, or learn to play a musical instrument at the New York School of Music also in Walden.
Spend a day touring the local farms that retail to the public and see what our farmers grow locally and taste local flavors. A few I visit are Hoeffner Farms, Belmond Farm, Walnut Grove Farm, C. Rowe, Soon’s Orchards, Manza, Whitecliff Vineyard, just to name a few.
Shawn Dell Joyce is a sustainable artist, founder of the Wallkill River School in Montgomery, and an author of “Orange County Bounty” local foods cookbook.
Shawn can be reached at Shawn@zestoforange.com.
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