We started by renting a condo through the StaycationLA network.   What a great idea.  The condo was located at the base of Mammoth Mountain’s Canyon Ski Lodge-arguably the best location on the mountain. 

We rented a small boat and I taught the kids to drive around the lake.  We fished in Lake Mary where rainbow trout are stocked weekly-even a city dweller like me was able to catch a fish!  In fact,  my son caught his first fish on the second day of the trip.  His face was precious, with a mixture of panic and excitement as he reeled in two pound trout.

Our Kids loved the horseback rides and during the drive back we were constantly reminded of the names of the horses that they rode.  Questions and made up songs about Peanut, King, Pal and Sandy will live in my memory forever. 

This was one of the best trips we have ever taken.  Get out and Staycation!

Vail Lake RV Resort, formerly known as Butterfield Country, is located in Temecula California. The 9000 acre resort is an ideal Staycation destination.  The family and I had a great time renting an RV and staying at the resort.  I know-the purpose of a staycation is staying close to home and not spending a lot of money on gas and travel related expenses.  Although the RV trip did burn a lot of gasoline, about $250 worth, it was one of the cheapest and most exciting get aways and, to my mind still qualifies as a staycation.

The 31 foot RV rented from Road Bear in Calabasas was stellar; roomy, easy to drive and fun to live in for our four day adventure.  We spent great family time at the pools, the lake and, of course, the world-famous water slides that even our 2 year old loved. 

I’ve become a big fan of the staycation vacation.  There are so many things to do and so many different ways to experience them that it makes for a truely enticing experience.

We also got the boys started on a summer digital photo journal. It is amazing how quick they take to technology. Tonight it is the girls turn.

When you return from your family vacation, you can find more ideas for kid-friendly projects with your photos and souvenirs. Services such as shutterfly (www.shutterfly.com) allow you to uplozd your photos and create keepsake memory books that you will cherish for years to come.

Most of us would not hop in our car or fly off to a vacation destination with out some kind of plan. Traditionally, the plan would cover transportation, accomedations, budget and activities.  While your Staycation plan specifics may be a little different, having a plan is critical for a successful staycation.

With all due respect to Clark Grizwald (from the Vacation movie series), I recommend keeping to a loose plan. First decide what you would enjoy doing (or not doing). Most us us are so caught up in our daily lives we have no idea what opportunities are available right around the corner. Without a plan, it is too easy to take the call from work or spend all afternoon doing laundry.

Don’t just think outside the box, blow the box up and shred the remains. Take some of the time and money you saved to do something special.

One drawback to camping in your backyard however is the easy access a staycationer has to their house.  I advise all my clients to enter the house only for bathroom and shower breaks.  Once finished they are to return to the backyard to complete the illusion of camping-which is the trick to a successful staycation vacation.  In some instances, staycationers cannot pull themselves, once inside their home, from the everyday allure of; paying bills, checking the mail, placing a few calls into work, checking the blackberry, cleaning the house, doing dishes, mowing the lawn…well, you get the picture.  For these individuals the staycation morphs into a few hours of relaxation in the yard with the family rather than being what it is supposed to be-a real vacation get away spent at or near your home. 

My advice-when camping in the backyard while on your staycation make sure to establish a clear set of groundrules of exactly what the house will be used for.  Keeping it to showers and bathroom breaks will ensure that your staycation vacation becomes an enjoyable get away from the day to day and a wonderful way to catch up with your family.

One of the best activities was camping.  But not just any camping.  We are talking about camping in the backyard.  We borrowed a huge three room tent from our neighbors and I brought out all the cooking and cleaning supplies we would need. The only time we went into the house was for bathroom visits and showers-no phones or blackberries!  We roasted marshmallows and sang campfire songs-just like we were a thousand miles away.  It was a great experience.  The next day we went fishing off the pier of a nearby lake and again-the kids loved it.  We rode our bikes to a nearby farm to pick raspberries and blackberries and again-what a blast.  That night we drove to a campsight about 15 minutes from the house and it felt as if we were in another country.  At the camp we practiced archery, fishing, bungee jumping and assorted other fun things. 

The week flew by-as it usually does when on vacation-and we put on less than 50 miles on the car.  I really was amazed at how fun a staycation can be.  Its all about the planning and knowing who to call to help you out.  Try it sometime-Staycations in LA are really the new vacation destination.

In Southern California we are fortunate to have some of the best weather in the world.  We are also blessed with arguably the finest national and state part system in the country.  For camping accommodations make sure you visit www.parks.ca.gov.  The California parks have online camping reservations and the site is well laid out with ammenities so you can select the perfect campsight for your staycation.  When you need some planning help there are staycation experts you can call that act as a concierge to make sure your staycation is everything you expect and more.  Stay tuned to this blog for more tips on having a fabulous staycation.