Transformative Staycations Finding Respite and Adventure Close to Home


by April Thompson S


taycations—sticking close to home for new travel experiences—was a grow- ing trend even before the COVID-19


pandemic turned it into a practical necessi- ty for many of us. Staycations reduce costs, minimize travel time and also lower our carbon footprint by eliminating interna- tional travel. Happily, they don’t reduce the pure pleasure of finding new adventures, exploring untrammeled nature, seeing the familiar with fresh eyes and meeting people from all walks of life. All of that is close at hand, and especially when compared to foreign jaunts, the price is right. A good place to start is by checking out


state and regional parks, oſten overlooked gems offering scenic miles of trails for hik- ing, biking, birding, fishing, picnicking and other activities. “Whether mountains, prai- ries, rivers, forests in the country or heart of the city, there is always a state park waiting to welcome you, no matter what kind of rec- reation you enjoy,” says Jason Clay, spokes- person with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. In Colorado parks, people can, for example, river raſt in the Arkansas Headwaters Recre-


ation Area; boat, fish and hammock camp in Jackson Lake State Park; and rock climb in Eldorado Canyon. Parks can be discovered and trail maps


downloaded by visiting TrailLink.com, run by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. It provides searches for nearby trails using pa- rameters such as distance, types of activity and wheelchair accessibility. Its smartphone TrailLink app is free to download and $30 per year for unlimited customized use. State, local and regional parks across


the country offer rich educational oppor- tunities for kids and adults alike, including naturalist-guided activities, bird and botany walks, lessons in local history, ecology and geography, and more. Several states offer free admission to all state-run parks, including Hawaii, Tennessee and Illinois. State-by-state listings of fees and policies can be found at Tinyurl.com/StateParkPasses.


Making a Quick Getaway Weekend forays into natural and rustic set- tings can be ideal escape valves for people needing a simple, quick change of venue.


Camping, of course, is always an option, but for those that want to be in nature in a more comfy fashion, using “cabin” as a search word works well in websites like Airbnb.com and TripAdvisor.com. Te option of glamping—or glamorous camp- ing—offers surprisingly luxurious stays outdoors in tents, pods and domes; check out Glamping.com. Getaway.House offers woodsy out-


posts in 10 locations equipped with “tiny house” cabins around the country designed for quick escapes from cities. “If you were at your desk in need of an escape, you could cut out early and be there by 6 p.m.,” says Vice President of Marketing Rachel Mansfield. Te private experience, with no check-in desk or communal areas, enables it to continue operating safely during the pan- demic. Te cabins, designed to blend in with their natural surroundings, are equipped with food for purchase, stove, books, radio, firewood, fire pit and Adirondack chairs, as well as a map for local hikes and adventures. “I did a getaway at a point in my life where I wanted some time alone, away


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Austin Area Edition


AustinAwakenings.com


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