A vacation sounds almost as good as fried chicken, ice cream or watermelon.
With school wrapping up and summer officially just a few weeks away, are you going anywhere? If you have small children or do not want the hassle of heading out on a far-flung adventure, a staycation could be the ideal solution for your holiday.
(Dinah Cotton / Los Gatan)
A “staycation” means stay-ing at home for your designated vacation-“vacay” time. It might be a weekend, or even a week, of staying local—and away from the rat race. Maybe even camping out in the backyard or even discovering more about the town that you live in.
A stay-at-home “vacation” is not exactly a new idea.
If you would like to forget the messiness of securing tickets, making reservations, getting on a plane, train or (into an) automobile, just stay home.
Fetch the camping equipment and pitch a tent in the yard, or head out to some nearby attractions.
We have so many parks in our small town. Surrounding us we have Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District‘s recreational assets at St. Joseph’s Hill, Sierra Azul, Heintz Open Space Preserve and Santa Rosa Open Space, with Belgatos Park inside.
The Town’s Parks and Public Works Department has put together a “Bike, Parks and Trails Map and Guide.” In the brochure, you’ll find all sorts of answers to your staycation-activity questions.
There may be a park in-or-around town that you have not visited. When, for example, was the last time you drove (or biked) up to Castle Rock State Park, which features stunning vistas of the Santa Cruz County side of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The crown jewel of the Los Gatos-area parks system is the 152-acre Vasona Lake County Park, which is right next to Oak Meadow Park.
It features boating, picnicking, fishing, space for children to play, gentle paths for walking or bike-riding—or you can just sit and watch the world go by. Vasona has something for everyone.
Other staycation ideas:
-Join a wine club
-Become a spa rat (or junkie?)
-Take up a new hobby (does shopping count?)
-Try cooking food from different countries
-Garden (try growing a new plant species, perhaps an orchid?)
-Go cell phone / electronics free. (Can you do it for even an hour?)
-Rent / buy an electric bike. (Very good to have one during gridlock. But make sure you brush up on the Los Gatos Youth Commission’s suggested rules for e-bikes at losgatosca.gov/2811/Electric-Bikes)
During your staycation, perhaps you will meet an “older person.” Take the time to engage in conservation. You might learn some fascinating information about our town.
Are second homes considered vacays or stay-cays? Local events producer and coffee supplier Teri Hope says, “The condo at Tahoe is my oasis. Even (when I’m) not there, I know it is there—with a different vibe than my beloved Los Gatos.” So, somewhere in between.
Unfortunately, the fountain at Town Plaza Park is still out-of-service. “The required repair includes upgrades and replacement of portions of the water treatment system,” Assistant Town Manager Katy Nomura told the Los Gatan this week, referencing public health and safety concerns. “The fountain cannot operate without that system functioning.”
But you could go “over the hill” to see what is happening at the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz: watch the waves adorned with surfers, walk in the sand, and eat cotton candy or a corn dog.
