Valentine's Day is approaching and I really wanted to plan a quick weekend getaway for Marcus and I. Unfortunately, our work duties wouldn't allow us to jaunt off for the weekend. Instead of being bummed..(okay I was bummed, but only for a short while) I decided to plan a staycation for us to celebrate the weekend.

Staycations are awesome for a number of reasons:
- Little to no travel time= more time for adventures
- Fewer travel related expenses
-Discover new places in your area
-Support your local economy

Yeah, the list can go on and on. If leaving town isn't an option for you right now, here's some tips on how I plan the perfect stay-cation.

One New Place Rule
When planning a staycation, it is important to abandon your typical routine. The idea is that you're being a tourist in your own city. A good way to start is to plan a visit to at least one place you've never been to during your staycation. This could be a new restaurant, museum, local attraction... whatever you want! Chances are, you may discover a new favorite place right in your own backyard. A personal goal of mine is to go to one new place in my city each month.

Sleep Away From Home
If you're on a really tight budget, you can decide to skip this part. But if your budget allows and you want the true vacation experience, seek out a nice room at a unique hotel or an AirBnb. You'll have the flexibility to go whenever you want and can plan your stay around cheaper nightly rates. Aside from that, staying in a hotel automatically puts you in a vacation frame of mind.

Courtesy of Hotel Nylo Dallas South Side

Cheapies or Freebies In Your City
This is a tip I use both in and out of town! I scour Groupon for local deals and typically try to buy them when there's a sale on the sale! Sometimes Groupon offers an extra 20% off local deals specifically. This is the perfect time to try a new spa or restaurant. You can also follow profiles specific to your city to find free events taking place. I live in Dallas and Dallas Social and NightLife Dallas keeps me updated with all the fun free events happening in the city.

Indulge in Amazing Meals
Because why not?! Dining out is one of my favorite parts of being in a new city because I love learning about the city through local foods and restaurants. But there are TONS of restaurants in my own city that I've bookmarked on my Yelp account that I've yet to try. A stay cation is the perfect time to splurge on a nice dinner at the hot new restaurant that just opened in your city.

Incorporate Self-Care
Exploring in and of itself is self-care for me. Vacations shouldn't be stressful so neither should your staycation. Plan some down-time where you can do something that relaxes you. Maybe plan a picnic at one of the local parks or book a spa retreat at a local day-spa. You should end your staycation feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

The most important thing to remember when planning your staycation is that you keep an open mind and have fun. I know you'll enjoy exploring the gems in your own city!

What are some of your favorite things to do on a staycation?

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