STAY IN A HOTEL ROOM

To make a staycation feel like a vacation, a hotel room is a must. How often do you get to stay in the touristy part of town, or even in a different neighborhood? More importantly, when was the last time you took a holiday from having to make your own bed?

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WARM UP IN A MUSEUM

Cozying up inside a local museum makes for an especially perfect holiday activity if you live in a cold-weather climate. If you’re a Chicagoan who’s never been to the Field Museum or a New Yorker who’s never admired the American Museum of Natural History, then it’s time to experience what tourists from around the world have enjoyed.

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GET OUT OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

City dwellers who tend to stay in their own section of town often miss out on attractions on the other side. So this holiday season, choose an activity that takes you to a far-flung neighborhood, then explore the surrounding area for a surprise adventure.

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FIND THE MOST “TOURISTY” ATTRACTION & DO IT

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: “Yeah, I’m from San Francisco, but I’ve never been to Alcatraz.” Or maybe you’re a Seattleite who's never done the Space Needle or a Bostonian who’s never been inside Faneuil Hall. Use your holiday break time to check out popular tourist attractions that you’ve been putting off.

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VISIT A LOCAL BREWERY OR WINERY 

Cheers to the holidays (and your days off) by sidling up to the bar at your local microbrewery or winery. Tourists know to visit places like 14er Brewing in Denver or Kalamazoo’s Arcadia Brewing Company in beer-centric Michigan, and you should too. Convince your friends to take a day off and join you for a tasting or three.

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TAKE A CULINARY ADVENTURE

Staycations are great for trying new things, especially when it comes to food, so use this time to go on a culinary adventure, sampling the best dishes your city has to offer. This is your chance to finally try out that Korean barbecue spot or hit up that Cajun place to make you feel like you’ve actually gone out of town. You could also try a kid-friendly culinary adventure, perhaps hitting up a few different pizza spots around town to see which slice reigns supreme. 

Find a new restaurant.

BUY TICKETS FOR A CONCERT OR THE THEATER

One of the easiest ways to make your holiday feel special is to highlight it with a big show. Find a venue you’ve never been to—like the House of Blues in Chicago—and pick the event that most interests you. Whether you’re hitting an intimate comedy club or a huge arena, getting advanced tickets will ensure you have a spot in case it sells out.

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TAKE A GUIDED TOUR

If you’ve ever looked at a building, a statue, or a monument in your own city and thought, “What’s the story with that?”, you’re not alone. With a guided tour, a visitor can learn more in one day than a local can learn in their entire lifetime. Whether you’re walking, taking a bus, or even riding on a Segway, a tour can show you a neighborhood in a totally different light.

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SURRENDER TO HOLIDAY CHEER

OK, is there a cheesy holiday festival or lights “spectacular” in your neck of the woods? You should go to it! The best way to get out of a Grinch-like state of holiday grumpiness and into a state of holiday Staycation serenity is to dive into holiday cheer. So pack up the family, put on a Christmas playlist, and head to something like the Peppermint Park Holiday Festival in Dallas or ICE! in Kissimmee.

See festivals near you.