I hate to brag, but I believe my parents invented the Staycation. I know, I know, you think people have been doing this for years. But have they? Can you honestly go back to 1980 and remember anyone doing a Staycation back then? I rest my case. These wonderful Staycations were most often just the four of us: me, my mom, dad, and younger sister. This is important as there are 12 kids in my family. Yet only the two youngest were treated to these mini getaways. My siblings may tell you something about us being spoiled. I think the truth is they quickly thought of the possibilities of a weekend on their own without parents or their youngest sisters around. Either way, I can tell you it was their loss. One of the more memorable Staycations was when I was about 11 years old and my sister was about 8. The four of us each packed a small bag and headed off. The destination was a hotel on the opposite side of the Potomac River from downtown Washington DC (where I was born and raised). To get there, we took the Subway which only added to the adventure. We spent the weekend swimming in the pool, strolling the shops, taking in nearby history, and of course going out to dinner. I still remember ordering chocolate mousse for dessert! My sister and I dressed up in our finest and likely pretended we were much older than we were. We drank Sprite out of the can (!) and had our own Hershey bars as we watched the fancy hotel television late into the night. I was in heaven. Fast forward to today and I admit my husband, John, and I still carry on this tradition! In the midst of this pandemic, Staycations serve an even more important role. They are our lifeline to adventures, a way to escape routine, an excuse to magically transform our home into a hotel complete with a personal chef and laundry service. Haha, I can dream, can’t I? Don’t worry, if you are unsure about how to plan (or even enjoy) a Staycation, let’s start with a moment by the hotel pool. I’ll meet you in the lobby in ten! ????
By Kristin Beise
