Page 68 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2015

STAYCATIONS to-do list
eas abound for stay-at-home vacations
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of MS Gulf Coast Attractions Association
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t’s 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 live 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.
We could compile an amazing list across three counties but space won’t allow a complete list. The following are a few ideas to show how easy it is to become tourists right here at home and have some great experiences.
68 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • July 2015
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