If you’re like me, you have no plans for the summer. No fun vacations, no summer jobs lined up, no camps or activities, nothing. While all my friends jet off to exotic places, I will be staying at home for most of the summer. Experiencing major FOMO could cause one to feel upset or incredibly bored and cause a Netflix-induced coma for three months; instead; I’m determined to have the best stay-cation of all time this summer! How do I plan on doing that you ask? Here are six ways to have the absolute BEST vacation that isn’t really a vacation!
Tip 1: Explore someplace new in your hometown or home state.
I live in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is a town about 45 minutes from Charlotte. There’s not much to do in Mooresville, but there are also lots of places in the Mooresville/Charlotte area that I’ve never been to – I’ve always wanted to try my hand at an escape room! Maybe this summer, I can gather a group of friends together and we can try to escape in time. And if we don’t, we can treat ourselves to a “We Tried” feast at one of Charlotte’s best and fanciest restaurants…or maybe we’ll just go to Fuel Pizza. We are only broke college students after all.
Tip 2: Immerse yourself in the local art scene.
I am an avid theater geek and proud of it, and at Charlotte’s Blumenthal Performing Arts Center many touring Broadway shows and plays come throughout the year and during the summer. Last summer, my bestie Lauren and I got to go see the absolutely amazing Newsies, and I hear that this summer a new slew of shows are coming, including The Little Mermaid. Of course, you don’t have to see a professional touring production to immerse yourself in theater; you can watch a local community theater’s production of a timeless Broadway favorite. Or, if you are feeling theatrical, audition for a show! You never know unless you try!
Tip 3: Conquer a fear.
We’re all afraid of something, and this summer can be your time to conquer a fear that has been hindering you. I sometimes have a fear of talking to new people, and this summer I’m going to try to get a job or volunteer someplace where I’ll have to constantly be talking to people I don’t know. The best way to get over a fear is to face it! If you have a fear of public speaking, go back to Tip #2 and audition for a play!
Tip 4: Learn a new skill.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument and never had the chance? Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try your hand at underwater basket weaving? Well, this summer is the perfect time to learn something new! A new skill can be anything from figuring out how to play sudoku to learning to bake the most delicious cake. My summer goal is to learn how to play the guitar. Maybe this time next year, I’ll be playing sold-out concerts at Madison Square Garden…but probably not. Hey, a girl can dream!
Tip 5: Spend some time alone.
Even though it’s fun to constantly be making plans and doing things with friends, sometimes the best part of a stay-cation is having some relaxing alone time. Spend a day every now and then treating yourself to a Netflix binge and a favorite meal at the comfort of your own couch. One of my favorite things to watch on Netflix are the comedy specials, so if you’re in the mood to laugh out loud I would suggest watching John Mulaney’s two specials, New in Town and The Comeback Kid. I promise you will NOT be disappointed.
Tip 6: Find a way to document your adventures.
The best moments of life go by in the blink of an eye, and it’s nice to have a way to look back at happy memories with friends. Try to take lots of pictures when you do fun things, and get them developed right away – don’t do what I do and leave them on your camera for years! Put the pictures in a fun collage or put them in a scrapbook. That way, a few years from now you can look back and remember the best stay-cation of all time.
Now that you’ve got some tips on things to do this summer, go out and enjoy your freedom from school! We did it, everybody; we survived the 2016-2017 school year! And I survived my freshman year of college. After many ups and downs this year, I could definitely use a stay-cation.