Should I stay or should I go?
If I go, there could be trouble.
And if I stay it could be double.
So come on and let me know.
Should I stay or should I go?
If you have had that famous song from The Clash on your mind since school let out and summer holidays began, 
leaving you plagued with “this indecision’s bugging me”, let us help. Stay! As in Staycation!
What? You have heard of The Clash but not a staycation? According to Wikipedia, “A staycation is a holiday spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.”
Staycations have likely been around forever but the label is more recent. In fact, it was the credit crunch in 2008 that really put gas in the staycation engine (pun intended) as most families had smaller budgets for vacations.
Staycations, although rarely free of charge, are a good way to save some money, particularly when exchange rates make travel abroad that much more expensive. They save you the stress of finding passports, packing, airports and navigating destinations in a foreign language. Staycations also afford you the opportunity to discover and appreciate the hidden treasures in your own backyard.
Convinced? Hurrah! Now… what to do?
Hometown Hunt
If you are staying in your local area, using your home as a base, start researching what is available within a two hour or less drive. Zoos, museums, heritage sites and amusement parks are obvious choices. But more offbeat ideas – such as strawberry picking, outdoor concerts and festivals or helping a local charity for a day – can also be fun and rewarding. Look to your tourism office for ideas. And ask around; some of the best ideas can come from friends and colleagues.
One word of warning – there are some staycation traps to avoid. Being at home can leave you at risk of going into work, doing personal administration, tackling DIY projects or abandoning plans at the last minute because the weather is bad or everyone is tired. Be committed and make your staycation memorable!
With ten provinces and three territories in Canada, there are so many options. From the tip of Nunavut to the bottom of Ontario, from Victoria Island to St Princes Island, Canada is packed with wonders for your family to explore this staycation! Just a few ideas to get the wheels turning are:
Rent a lake house – There is no way around it, going to the lake is a guaranteed holiday success. And since Canada has more “lake area” than anywhere else on earth, it would be a shame to miss out!
Go camping – Whether you pitch a tent in your backyard or head out to one of Canada’s many campsites, the fun and adventure of sleeping under the stars and cooking on the open fire will make up for a sore back and squatting in the woods.
Visit one of Canada’s great cities – See the CN tower in Toronto, the Notre Dame Basilica in Montreal, the Capilano Suspension Bridge in Vancouver, Heritage Park in Calgary, the Rideau canal in Ottawa, the beautiful streets of Quebec City and much, much more!
Appreciate some of Canada’s natural beauty – Niagara Falls, Dinosaur Provincial Park, Quebec’s Magdalen Islands, Vancouver Island, Gros Morne National Park, Spotted Lake in the Okanagan Desert in B.C, Lake Louise in Banff National Park and the list goes on!
Explore Canada’s rich history – Prince Edward Island’s Charlottetown, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Lower Fort Garry in Manitoba, Batoche in Saskatchewan, Dawson City in the Yukon Territory or the Grand Pré in Nova Scotia. Again, the list goes on!
Whether you are staying or going, if you need some additional help in your home, SOSgarde can help. SOSgarde.ca is a Canadian portal designed to help you find local caregivers in your area, easily and quickly. The caregiver who is right for your family is only a click away.