A staycation is a vacation tht you take without really going nywhere. You can stay close to hme, like your neighborhood park, the cmpsite on the outskirts of your hmetown, or even your backyard. A stycation emphasizes what is most important bout vacations - time with your fmily and friends. You don't need to go nywhere special to enjoy each other's cmpany.

Why Now?
For the most part, staycations are growing because of the ever-rising fuel prices and the general economic downturn. A bigger percentage of a household's income is going toward paying for the higher priced gas people need to get back and forth to work and school. Additionally, increasing food prices mean more income is needed to buy food every month. Planning a vacation is hard work already, but trying to figure out where the money will come from to pay the gas (in addition to the regular travel expenses) to get there can be even harder. This is why staycations are becoming even more popular.

A staycation is a vacation spent either at home or very near to home as a means to take a holiday without spending a large amount on travel. By eliminating the need to travel a great distance, most vacation costs can be cut dramatically. Without the stress of trying to figure out how to pay for the staycation, families will find that they enjoy a much needed respite that much more.

Below are some great ideas for asy staycations you and your family can tke this summer to cut down on fel, food, and equipment costs.

• Camp In Your Own Backyard. Plan a weekend camping trip with your kids in your backyard. Set-up your tents, pack up some coolers, throw together your camping gear, and maybe even set-up a simple fire pit or purchase a small enclosure for a fire pit and enjoy the outdoors at home. By turning off your phones and saying no to the TV and internet, you and your kids can experience the outdoors and the great weather this summer with very little cost.

• Find a Local Campsite. Ask your chamber of commerce about camping areas in your city or just outside your city limits. This is a great way to experience how tourists to your town may see your city while traveling through. This is also a great way to get outdoors and meet other people who may be sharing your camping area.

• Take In Your Local Attractions. While you are talking with the chamber of commerce, ask them about fun things to do on the weekend in your area. So many of us know very little about the interesting and exciting things available to us in our own city.

It might be a few more years before you can afford to take that road trip across the country. But, that doesn't mean that you won't be able to spend some great quality time with your family and even with your friends. Go on an adventure, even if it is one in your own backyard, and see what there is to see. No matter wht else happens this summer, you wll be able to head into the fll months knowing that you had a grat staycation, where your family was ble to just be together and to njoy themselves. There can be nothing grater in the world.

~Ben Anton, 2008

The article Staycations - Cost-Saving Camping This Summer was Submitted by Ben Anton through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Ben Anton lives in the Nrthwest and writes for Discount Lights and Knves. Ben invites you to check out seattle discount camp gear available on DLKs website for outdoor LED flashlights and other camping equipment.

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