4th of July Fun

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FROM THE EDITOR

Summer is in full swing as evidenced by this extreme heat.  Camps have started and the last of the graduations are over. Now it is time to travel or to try a STAYCATION and explore all that the First Coast has to offer. What is a Staycation you might ask? I learned the word a few weeks ago and I think it is brilliant. Staycations are an affordable way to take time off where there is NO PACKING involved! Set up a schedule for the week of new things you want to try without leaving home.

If you are like me and you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors, please use sunscreen and stay hydrated! Extra precautions in this hot and humid weather are always a good idea. Remember, the beach is not the only place we need protection. Read our tips to be sure that you are fully protecting yourselves and your kids. >>

• We know of several families taking advantage of all our beautiful area has to offer instead of traveling this summer. Click for a list of things to do >>
  
• Fourth of July Celebrations are happening all around town. We've compiled a list of them all (we think) If we missed one, please let us know. >>
• Read Leon's article, The Art of Becoming a Stay-at-Home Tourist... below for some tips on how to make the most of vacationing locally >>
• Be sure to read our Travel Reviews >> for some great insight from other parents on great places to go. We have reviews from places all over the country and beyond.
• Stay up to date on the latest weather >>
  

JaxParent.com Team

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The Art of Becoming a Stay-at-Home Tourist...

Submitted By: Leon Scott Baxter

Trying to find a vacation destination for you and the little ones while staying on a budget? No worries. There's a place you can go that the kids will love, there's not much drive time, you can't beat the rates, accommodations are spacious, and you'll feel right at home. No, it's not the newest kid-friendly cruise, Aspen, Europe, or even the Magic Kingdom. The answer is in your own backyard. Literally. This vacation, stay home. Wait, before you knock it, consider the perks.

• No bags to pack
• Gas and accommodations savings
• No question, the bed you sleep in will be comfy
• No need for GPS or maps
• No travel agents, no airfare shopping, no rental car

Last summer, when I found my vacation account all but empty, the price of gas skyrocketing, and American's not always getting the kindest of welcomes overseas, my family tried the home vacation. And, surprisingly, it worked so well, we want to go back next year.

Other than the convenience and financial savings, why vacation at home? Because we all get comfortable in our hometowns. We tell our visitors what spots to hit, but find ourselves driving passed them with the excuse, "Well, I live here. I can go anytime."
But, how often do we? I've lived in my hometown for nearly twenty years, and have put off many of the sites, because they're too easily at my disposal. Yet, it wasn't until my family stayed home for vacation, that we finally enjoyed the local tourist spots.

So, what was the trick? It was so simple. Become tourists. Think about it. When you're a tourist in a new city, you don't waste a minute. You try to do and see everything. You take in the sites, the flavors, the food, the feel. Because, who knows when you will return?
The hardest part of home vacationing is keeping that tourist mentality and not falling back into the same old day-to-day rut. So, to view your home less like a house and more like a resort, follow these four home tourist steps.

Think Like A Tourist
To make this getaway feel like a true vacation, rather than a series of daytrips interrupting your home life, you must first start to think like a tourist, which, of course, is easier said than done, when staying in town.
First, to break free of the hometown monotony, put yourselves in tourists' shoes. Think back to your last out of town family trip. Recall the anticipation leading up to departure. Remember the excitement, and the countdown: "Guys, just four more days and we're in beautiful Bakersfield, California."
This is what you'll need to do even before you hit your first destination. Convince yourselves that this truly is a real vacation. Talk about the trip as a family. Get the excitement levels piqued. Talk it up as if you're actually going somewhere. Once you start talking about it, the trip becomes real.
(Temp) SBTravel_ClubMedsmall_09.jpgWhen you've got the family talking about the getaway, like any other trip, set a budget. How much can you afford to spend on this vacation? What have you set aside for a vacation this year? Just because you're staying home, doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention to your finances.
If you usually pull out cash or purchase Traveler's Cheques, don't change that. Go through the same steps as any other vacation. In doing so, you'll really be able to let yourself "get away" while you're gone.
Finally, no good tourist would travel without having a few destinations in mind. Sit down with the family and make a list of the places you might want to visit and the things you'd want to do. Which brings us to step number two.

What Would A Tourist Do?
Being a stay-at-home tourist has its ups and downs. The ups: you know just where to go in the area during your vacation. The downs: you think you know just where to go in the area during your vacation. Let's start with the ups... continue article >>

Mom in the Spotlight

Meet Jackie Brooks, our Mom in the Spotlight for July.  Nominate our Mom for August >>

This week's columns

When you know you're a grownup by Leslie Dinaberg

Fathering Females by Starshine