A Staycation: How to Play Tourist in Your Own Backyard

As we begin to plan late spring and summer trips here, there, and everywhere that are exotic, adventurous or beautiful, what about staying put and exploring all we can do in our own city, suburbs or even neighborhood? Each of us can be a tourist in our own backyard. It’s close, easy to get to, less costly and conveniently right under our noses! 

Recently, Barbara, new to Baltimore, went to see the blooming cherry blossom trees by Ft. McHenry and within view of the former, now damaged, Key Bridge. There weren’t as many trees as in Washington, D.C., but there were enough to marvel at the blossoms, plus learn more about the fort that played a major role in the War of 1812, which she barely remembered from childhood American history classes. The Battle of Fort McHenry, Sept.13–14, 1814, was a pivotal victory where American troops defended Baltimore harbor despite a 25-hour British naval bombardment. Inspired by the American flag still flying, Francis Scott Key wrote the poem that became “The Star-Spangled Banner."

This discovery occurs all the time when exploring your surrounding area. When Margaret moved to New York City, the entire city and all five boroughs were open for grabs and sightseeing. Unfortunately, shortly after her move, Covid-19 hit. As soon as vaccinations were available, she got out and about exploring, enjoying Central Park—the new boathouse and touring the Conservancy Garden in the upper parts of Central Park. She’s visited the Metropolitan Museum, the Jewish Museum, the Museum of the City of New York, MOMA, the Tenement Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, The Frick (once reopened and offering new galleries), the Guggenheim, the MADD design museum, the American Folk Art Museum, the Historical, the Whitney and the Natural History Museum. She walked The High Line and perused the surrounding areas of Chelsea (where she toured art galleries) and Greenwich Village. She also saw Union Square, SoHo, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the store windows at Christmas time, took a walking tour of food stops on the Lower East, toured Chinatown and Little Italy, took an architectural boat trip around Manhattan, checked out the main public library where she went to a memorial event, walked to the East River to see Gracie Mansion where the city’s mayor resides, took a ferry to Governors Island for a picnic and bike ride and so much more.

We’re both exhausted thinking of all the steps she’s walked, and she also learned to master the city’s subway and bus system. She already knew Brooklyn from both sons living there at one time, and the youngest playing musical gigs there frequently. She still has Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island to see. She also wants to explore Long Island and see the gorgeous, shingled houses and soft sandy beaches of the Hamptons. A trip to Coney Island is in the offing (or some beach town with a boardwalk) as well as a day trip to Beacon, NY, to visit Storm King, one of the largest outdoor contemporary sculpture museums in the country, plus the refurbished Nabisco box-printing factory now DIA Beacon, a contemporary art museum.

You can enjoy your surroundings in the same way whether you’re new to your area or have lived there for some time. Do some research—take out books or Google your area for ideas--and put together a to-do list on a yellow pad or your computer. Go it alone or grab a friend, put on your most comfortable walking shoes, and make it an all-day outing or a week-long adventure and stop at a restaurant for a break or even a pastry shop and a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Your neighborhood is your oyster, as a variation on the cliché goes. 

1.     What national parks are nearby that you might visit? The America the Beautiful Senior Pass offers U.S. citizens/permanent residents aged 62+ lifetime ($80) or annual ($20) access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites, including national parks. One of us used ours to revisit Gettysburg National Military Park; yes, not in the ‘hood, but an example of a worthwhile destination not far away.

2.     What museums and historic houses are close? In Barbara’s old neighborhood, she loved taking friends to see the Vanderbilt, Mills and Olana homes, the latter the house belonging to artist Frederick Church of Hudson Valley painting fame. Near the suburb where she grew up, Boscobel House and Gardens in Garrison, N.Y., is a Neoclassical-style historic house museum overlooking the Hudson River, curated gardens and acres where summer concerts are now held. And to friends in Chicago, we keep asking, when will you be able to see the new Obama Presidential Center on the South Side or have you recently visited or revisited Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio in Oak Park or the Frederick C. Robie House on the University of Chicago campus?

3.     What parts of your city or town haven’t you seen? Queens, one of NYCity’s five boroughs, is filled with many great ethnic restaurants and shops we keep reading about. Margaret has a few new friends who live there and with better weather now, she’ll visit. Barbara plans to visit one of the nearby Delaware beach communities or Maryland’s Eastern shore, and get back to a favorite, George Washington’s Mt. Vernon home on the Potomac, a great waterfront property. She may do this to celebrate the country’s 250^th birthday.  

4.     What restaurants are you eager to try? Madison Square Park in NYC is home of the first Shake Shack, a hot dog cart originally in 2001 that’s now a bigger food destination with founder Danny Meyer’s great burgers, fries and concrete ice cream concoctions; and nearby is his daughter Hallie’s first Caffe Panna ice cream shop with maybe Caffe Biano Stracciatella, a coffee-bean infused ice cream or other delicious treats. Or if you’re a steak lover, consider a splurge at Peter Luger Steak House in Brooklyn’s now chic Williamsburg, there since 1887. At this time of year, consider restaurants with outdoor seating and a bucolic setting. They line the streets at this time of year. For our friends in St. Louis, we say, have you been lately to Shaw’s Botanical Gardens, The St. Louis Zoo, one of the top zoos in the country, The Hill where there are many great Italian restaurants and where Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola Sr. grew up. Visit some of the churches such as the St. Louis Cathedral or St. Ambrose Catholic Church on the Hill. Toasted ravioli anyone? The Hill is where it originated. Or you might consider a cooking class in your area by looking online. Or try various bagels wherever you live for a taste-test, though we think Montreal (where Margaret’s younger son lives) and NYC may have the tastiest. Go Zabar’s and Tal Bagels, two NYC iconic destination! And there’s always a new ice cream shop to consider, though we’re in sticker shock after one tiny dish set us back $5.95 and a shake was $10.00!

5.      What hometown team can you cheer for? Learn to cheer whether it’s at the most famous baseball stadium in your area or at big-time tennis matches. Yes, seats to the U.S. Open are crazy expensive, but you might see a celebrity, or you could go the week before the main draw when it’s free and watch practice sessions and qualifying matches. Football. Hockey. Basketball. Sports at all levels.

6.     How about a concert? These let you hear hometown talent in new and old venues such as the New York Philharmonic indoors or outdoors, when the weather is good, in Central Park or at the iconic Carnegie Hall or even a jazz club for emerging talent, many of which are in Brooklyn, such as The Sultan Room or Baby’s All Right. Many communities host free concerts outdoors—the New York Philharmonic does so each year in four of the five boroughs--and encourage visitors to bring a picnic basket and blanket. Lincoln Center also has a list of free outdoor musical events. Outside Chicago on the North Shore in Highland Park, there’s the annual Ravinia Festival. And so many who live near the Berkshires in Massachusetts make an annual pilgrimage to hear James Taylor at Tanglewood Music Festival and other artists, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. And you don’t need to think about only fancy venues and performers. Many organizations and camps perform outdoors in good weather and support budding talent. 

7.     Why not relax by indulging in a spa visit? People pay hundreds of dollars, or more like thousands, to head to fancy spas all over the country and world. But you can achieve the same at home or almost the same effect from a day visit. Get a pedicure, manicure or both, have a facial and splurge if lunch is also offered. You’ll unwind without driving. If a spa day isn’t your thing but tennis is, book a lesson with a pro, or go hit golf balls at a driving range, or rent a canoe or kayak at a nearby lake. You get the idea; it’s time to unwind and pamper yourself.

8.     A little or a lot of spirituality? You can walk into most houses of worship, even those not of your faith and enjoy the splendor of the surroundings, the music, the prayers, fellow congregants or visitors. Go to a famous church such as Gothic-style St. Patrick’s, dating from 1858-78, or Moorish-style Temple Emanu-El from 1845, originally founded by 37 Jews on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, then relocated 23 years later to Fifth Avenue farther North, according to the temple website. Prayer does wonders to calm the inner you, even if you can’t read the prayers or sing the music.

9.     Maybe, a walk? Do some forest bathing. Sit on a bench and enjoy the beauty of nature. Or take your car or bus or train to a new destination you’ve read about in the newspaper or heard about from a friend such as Greektown Chicago, located on South Halsted Street in the West Loop, considered a vibrant neighborhood with authentic cuisine, tavernas and cultural spots such as the National Hellenic Museum. Or if you live in Los Angeles, why not visit Venice Beach with its Ocean Front Walk, Venice Canals, Muscle Beach gym and Mosaic Tile House. Wherever you go, look for new shops, take photos and post them on Instagram, keep a journal of where you’ve been and share notes with friends—and us.

10  Visit amusement parks and other sites for kids and be a child again? Consider The City Museum (for children) in St. Louis or the Magic House, also for children, in St. Louis or go up the St. Louis Arch or to the observation deck of many tall buildings. Visit nearby Six Flags. Or if living in NYC, try any of the many amusement parks. Here’s a link: amusement parks in NYC - Search. 

Why pack, spend extra money, deal with airports and long TSA lines or crowds at train and bus stations, the hassle and cost of renting a car, navigating directions in a strange place and binging on chips and soda in a car when the food at many places along the road or in airports isn’t healthy or appealing? A staycation allows you to relax, visit nearby sights at your own pace, then come home and sleep in your own bed.