"Staycation" Destinations

[BarTopDancer]

With gas prices up and tourism down people are taking "day trips". I thought a thread with local destinations could be fun. This isn't meant to be a swanking idea thread (though if a swanking came of it all the better), just a thread of local destinations that you enjoy or would like to visit.

[BarTopDancer]

Places I'd like to further explore or find again:

Old Town Orange / Orange Circle
Newport Beach - there is a pizza place on the beach I'd love to find again
Crystal Cove
Hiking out in O'Neil park or other parks in the south county area
Old Town San Diego
Balboa Park

Places I'd like to go to (off the top of my head):

Griffith Observatory
Getty Museum
Catalina

[Kevy Baby]

Isn't a Staycation by definition mean that you STAY at home? I would think that going to all those neat places you mentioned would still fall under the "vacation" heading.

[BarTopDancer]

Maybe. I thought it meant you stay local.

[flippyshark]

I hope no one minds if I take this opportunity to bemoan the neologism "staycation." I heard it on the news a few weeks ago, and instantly hated it. I can't give much reason other than it just jangles my nerves, particularly to hear television "personalities" say it over and over again. (I think my annoyance factor is upped by the fact that these perky TV hosts giggled at what a clever word this was.)

If you leave your house, go to some place within a reasonable distance, then return home the same day, you took a day trip.

If you leave your house, go to any place at all (near or far) and stay in a hotel or other accomodation, you're taking a vacation. (or maybe a "getaway" if it's just the weekend or something.)

Kevy Baby is right. "Staycation" sounds like you don't leave the house. (And I've just demonstrated that if you do leave the house, our language is already well equipped to describe it.)

Okay, end of unsolicited rant.

I'll toss in a couple of good Florida day trip ideas, if you are starting from the Orlando area:

- Bok Tower Gardens and Sanctuary (very tranquil and relaxing)
- Fantasy of Flight - very cool aircraft museum and collection!
- Tarpon Springs, Florida - touristy Greek community on the west coast. Best Greek food you will ever eat.

[€uroMeinke]

Perhaps we should call it a Lo (as in local) cation?

[alphabassettgrrl]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

Places I'd like to further explore or find again:

Old Town San Diego
Balboa Park

Places I'd like to go to (off the top of my head):

Griffith Observatory
Getty Museum
Catalina

I'd join you for those!

Originally Posted by flippyshark

I hope no one minds if I take this opportunity to bemoan the neologism "staycation."

I'll join you in the moaning. I hate the "cutesy" words. I hate how everybody parrots it. Yeah, it's a day trip or a weekend getaway. Why coin something new and stupid?

I do enjoy the idea, though, since LA has so many cool places and those of us who live here rarely see much of it. I don't see much unless I have out-of-town guests. Gives me a great excuse to go see things.

My list of desired day trips:
Huntington (again)
Getty (the Malibu one)
Griffith Park
Catalina
some of the ethnic areas (Koreatown comes to mind)

[libraryvixen]

My friend and I did a impromptu trip to the Bay. We went to the Ferry Building, got some good salami, great cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery and bread from Acme. We went to the beach to relax and eat our picnic lunch.

I've never stayed overnight in the City, so I really want to do that. Places I want to go are:

Foreign Cinema
Beauty Bar
Citizen Cake
Steinhardt Aquarium (opening up in a few months!)
Cable Car ride
Alcatraz night tour
Go see Wicked next year

[alphabassettgrrl]

Oh, yes, go see Wicked! I'd like to see it again, check out the new Elphaba.

And add San Fran to my list of places to go. That's more than a day trip, though. I can't imagine being happy with a short visit.

[BarTopDancer]

Done.