This post is sponsored by The Woodlands Resort. All photos, opinions, and information are mine.
Sometimes, you just need to get away. But with work restrictions and school schedules, taking a long vacation just isn’t going to work. That’s the beauty of a staycation. Staycations are when you stay relatively close to your home, but live like a tourist for a few days. You can stay in a hotel, experience local events, and the best part – not do dishes or laundry! Having a staycation is perfect for those moments when you need a breather from your everyday life but you don’t have the time or resources to travel far. Today, I’m showing you how, no matter where you live, you can have a mini vacation or “staycation” by keeping these 6 items in mind.
1. Location, location, location.
Stay in a place that is less than 3 hours away from your home. You don’t want to waste all of your time driving and in the car. Remember, the name of the game is relaxation, so you want to get to the relaxing part sooner! You’ll also want to stay at a place that has lots of amenities. Think pool, game room, spa, etc. The closer you are to amenities, the more time you can spend enjoying yourself and doing something different with your family! Recently, my family went on a staycation at The Woodlands Resort in The Woodlands, Texas (just North of Houston, TX) and it was great! It had a heated pool and hot tub, so we were able to enjoy the outside activities even though it was 60 degrees!
2. What’s going on locally.
Before you leave on your trip, be sure to look up local activities in the area you’re visiting. While we were in The Woodlands, Texas, we were able to drive around and look at mansions with elaborate Christmas light displays and there was a “Cars and Coffee” event going on in Market Street one morning that my husband and son especially loved. I tend to find these events on Facebook, Yelp, and city websites.
3. Think of the season
We took our trip around the beginning of December, so were able to take full advantage of the all the Christmas activities in the area. The Woodlands Resort where we stayed also had the most amazing Christmas decor, hot apple cider at check in, gingerbread house decorating, Christmas movies playing in the “living room” each night, a mailbox for sending off letters to Santa, and even an opportunity for one of Santa’s elves to bring the kids some cookies and milk and read them a bedtime story in their own beds. What a cool experience for them!
4. Go outside.
As nice as a hotel or resort is, you’re going to need to go outside at some point. So make sure you do a little research beforehand and find some local outside activities that the whole family will enjoy. At The Woodlands Resort that we stayed at, there was golf, tennis, walking trails, and a pool. We also found a community park (Northshore Park) nearby with canoes and a playground for the kids to run off some energy at. My kids loved riding around in the golf carts at The Woodlands Resort, so if you ask them, that was their favorite outside activity of the weekend.
5. Include your furry friends.
Don’t you hate it when you set out on a trip and you have that added expense of finding a pet sitter or a boarding facility for your canine friends? Why not opt for a place that is dog friendly? After all, man’s best friend could probably use a change of scenery as well! While we didn’t bring our puppies, The Woodlands Resort where we stayed actually has a pet package that includes a dog bed and treats! So cute!
6. Great food.
You know I love to eat, so I probably should have put this as the number one thing to think about when traveling, but here we go anyway. Stay at a place that has great food either right on the property or within walking distance close by. The Woodlands Resort has Robard’s Steakhouse on property and everything we had was amazing! We went for dinner, but they also have a Sunday brunch that looked delicious as well. And, of course, you can’t be room service! The kids also loved having breakfast in bed – they definitely don’t get that at home!
If you’re interested in staying at The Woodlands Resort yourself, check out their Stay and Save package! You can escape to The Woodlands Resort for rates as low as $150 per night. Simply spend $150 per day in onsite amenities including spa, dining, or activities to receive the reduced lodging rate. $150 spend does not apply to Resort Fee, room upgrades, golf or tennis. The package includes access to: Wi-fi, Lazy River and Waterpark, Fitness Center, golf practice facilities, golf bag storage, shuttle to world-class shopping at Market Street and The Woodlands Waterway.
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