Priceless Writer - Travel & Recreation

As parents scramble to gather the last of the required school supplies for the kiddies soon returning to reading, writing, and 'rithmatic, I decided to take the advice of my colleague, Danielle and suggest one more thing to do before the last days of summer slip away…take a day-cation! You don’t have to travel miles to enjoy a vacation away from the hustle and bustle of home life. Simply plan a getaway that takes place within the comforts of your own backyard (or at least, not too far from it)…

1) Zoo Time! – When is the last time you spent the day at the zoo, where lions, tigers, and bears (oh my) present glimpses of far-off lands and creatures. The list of inhabitants at the local zoo has a knack of changing, whether it's newborn tigers or a species you've never heard of. For example, at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY – sand cats have arrived. At the North Carolina Zoo, the new Watani Grasslands Reserve serves as home to Tonga and Batir – a mother/daughter elephant duo. At the San Francisco Zoo, families have the opportunity to enjoy overnight stays – the next one being held August 23rd.

2) Amusement or Theme Parks  - Whether it's slipping down a watery slide at Seabreeze or soaring through the air on an exciting ride at Six Flags, amusement parks are a great way to get away without traveling far. Games, haunted houses, water parks, carnival food, and great memories are just some of the features to look forward to when planning a day-cation to an amusement park. A couple of suggestions: Watercountry USA (Williamsburg, West Virginia); Sesame Place (Pennsylvania); and Legoland (Carlsbad, California) – where the Sea Life Aquarium opens on August 11th.

3) Visit the State Fair – August & September are popular months for state fairs to take place, such as the New York State Fair (a personal favorite of the Clintons), where butter sculptures, antique tractors, Syrian brown bear shows, dueling rock bands, culture, colorful flowers, High School High singers, and much more collide. Other notable state fairs include: Indiana State Fair (August 6th – 17th), Kansas State Fair (Sept 5th – 14th), and Georgia State Fair (Sept 23rd – 28th).

4) Museum Moments – Every region offers a chance to explore their city or state; explore the ins and outs of science and technology; or become familiar with geniuses of the art world. Why not spend the day at one or more museums that deliver entrance to a realm of educational enlightenment that's fun for the whole family? Been there, done that? Try traveling between 50 to 100 miles outside of your city to investigate regional nooks and crannies that you never knew existed.

5) Camping Out – Grab all the necessary ingredients to create stomach-splitting S'mores in the backyard while huddling under makeshift or real tents for as long as you can stand it. Bring along a flashlight to tell ghost stories under the glow of the moon. Slather on the bug repellant, lay back, and listen to the creatures of the night. Reveal and share innermost secrets with the ones you love. The possibilities are endless when you really put your imagination to work.

6) State Lakes and Parks – Doesn’t a day lounging about the great outdoors sound like a decent day-cation? Pack a picnic lunch and sprawl out along a sandy beach while the children create castles and imaginary moats. Not too far from where I live, Jamesville Beach offers rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats for really decent prices – ranging from $2 (half-hour) to $20 (full-day) rentals.

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