Page 78 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2016

Staycations
a special section on how to vacation right here at home
It’s almost summer and the traditional season for vacation
trips. It’s good to get away from
the daily grind and responsibilities; to relax and return refreshed and rejuvenated. Ideally, getting away means a trip to a place where we don’t reside to experience something different.
However, trips are not always possible for families or individuals. Maybe the budget won’t allow it or there are health issues or children attending summer school or any number of reasons. In recent years
a sluggish economy and fluctuating gasoline prices put pricey trips out of reach for some families and spawned the idea of staycations — meaning make like a tourist while staying at home.
The new term and concept are
a boon for the South Mississippi tourism industry and a way for local residents to enjoy what’s in our own backyard — places and activities
we often ignore. We are fortunate
to live in a tourist area where there are many sights and attractions that visitors must travel distances to see.
78 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • May 2016 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net