Staycations…A trend here to stay.

Loosely defined, a staycation refers to a vacation spent at home where, instead of going away, you do short day trips—typically within three hours from your residence. The concept itself has enlightened many to the tourist "treasures" quite literally in their backyards.

"We get so hung up on traveling to far away places that we really do overlook gems that are pretty close to home—like those places you might see in a brochure or flyer at a rest area while you’re traveling. A staycation makes it possible for you to schedule mini-vacations to those kind of places and keep your costs down," said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K.

So, what can you do on your staycation? That’s the beauty of it, you can do anything. Some easy, low- cost ideas include:

• Visit a local water park – In most parts of the country, you can find a water park within a three-hour drive of your home. Pack a picnic basket or, better yet, take some coals and barbecue. Many of these parks have barbies you can use.
• Hike and picnic at a state or national park – Be a little daring and venture off to one you haven’t visited before.
• Outdoor music or film festivals – Free outdoor concerts are in abundance during the summer. For many, you can just spread out a blanket or prop up a lawn chair. Also, more and more areas hold film festivals.
• Foreign Cuisine Night – Maybe a trip to another county is not in the budget. A night out to sample some foreign cuisine can be the next best thing. For example, have a "Mexican night" at a nearby Mexican restaurant, "Indian night" at your local Indian establishment, etc. If you’ve never tried that kind of food, even better.
• Museum Day – You’ve probably got several within a 45-minute drive from your home, yet how many times have you been to one of them? Take one day and hit as many museums as you can.
• Family Game Night – Lest you think it’s mandatory to go somewhere for your staycation. Hosting a family game night can be fun and relaxing—whether it’s a Wii golf tournament or board game marathon.
• Camp out in your backyard – Young kids especially will love the adventure of pitching a tent in the backyard. Plus, you’ve got the conveniences of your home without the expense of a campsite.

Added Hans, "Staycations provide a viable alternative to a vacation, allowing similar adventures you might experience on a vacation without the big expense. Who knows, you may even like them better. Especially when you can put your head down on your own pillow at the end of the day."

Resort Maps offer a number of ideas on possible local excursions for your staycation. Colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort cities and towns across 20 states, as well as parts of the UK, Resort Maps advertise restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. With landmarks prominently displayed on the maps, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what's happening around your town.

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.
About Resort Maps
Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.
For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.