craftygal travels - Taking a Vacation in your own Home Town

More Mentos fun at the official site!

Tips for taking a Mini-Vacation

What’s the deal with Mormons and Jell-O?

Permanent Vacation?

by Jan

There’s nothing like being laid off from your job to make you feel like a stranger in your own hometown--I can tell you that from first-hand experience. Once the door to my former place of employment slammed shut behind me, I said goodbye to a life with structure and predictability that you could punch a timecard to and hello to a confusing existence in a foreign land with no commitments or expectations. Gone are the familiar folks saying "Hello!" on the way to the mailroom, the standing lunch dates, the post-work happy hours. I feel so out of my element; I’ve almost begun to miss the mindless routines and annoying pages to call the front desk. I’ve even been having visions of myself as the little match girl, peering hungrily in the window at my former co-workers, all toasty warm in their little cubicles, happily keying away.

Then it hit me. What was I doing the last time I was drifting aimlessly in a foreign land? That’s right, I was on vacation! So I decided to kick up my heels and play tourist for a day. You can do it too! There are probably dozens of inexpensive local points of interest you’ve never visited within an hour’s drive from your home. If you’re unfortunate enough to still have a job, don’t let that get in your way--take a vacation day and play tourist in your own hometown. Here’s how…

1. Call your local visitor’s bureau. Ask them to send you information about local points of interest. You don’t have to let them know it’s for you--pretend you have some friends coming in from out of town if you’re shy about your plans. Here in Rochester, NY, I scored a "deck of deals" that included discounts at museums, historic sites, restaurants, and even a coupon for two dollars off a 12 pack of locally brewed beer.

2. Find a traveling companion. This step is optional, but you can enhance your fun if you find the right cohort. I opted for my dear old friend Pete who was also recently relieved of his employment. Pete is the kind of guy who can start a conversation with anyone and is open to the odd adventure.

3. Wear a proper disguise. If you’re playing tourist, you might as well look like one. Without even conferring, Pete and I both donned T-shirts from past vacation trips. I had half-considered a Hawaiian shirt, but thought that might be a bit too much in late fall. Pete even added the extra touch of white socks with black shoes--‘cause he’s the kind of guy who goes the extra mile for fun.

4. Stop by the visitor’s bureau. This is a good place to test out your disguise. Pete and I had the staff completely fooled until we ‘fessed up. Plus, you may find discount coupons, flyers, or other free goodies here. We scored some lovely magnets depicting Rochester’s skyline!

5. Be chatty. Talking with staff and fellow tourists can add zest to your experience. At our first stop, The Dutch Market, Pete started up a conversation with the proprietress as she prepared coffee and baked goods for us. We quickly learned that Mentos come from Holland. Who knew? Our discussion of the Dutch passion for licorice lead to talk of Uzo, the strong, licorice-flavored Greek liquor, resulting in a complimentary swig of old Dutch gin--potent! Later, we learned that while the town of LeRoy, NY has a sad shortage of Jewish residents, it does boast a Sons of God chapter which caters to Christian bikers.

6. Buy souvenirs. You want to remember your trip, don’t you? A few tacky tourist trinkets will give you a chuckle each time you pass them by. A magnet from a museum on the fridge or a new coffee cup with odd local flavor will add a little vacation to your everyday life.

Souvenirs offer a little oasis of vacation fun in the midst of a regular day.

7. Send a postcard home. Why not share your vacation fun with friends and family? Maybe you’ll inspire them to take a trip as well.

8. Take pictures. Tourist attractions boast all sorts of photo opportunities--whether it’s poking your head through a stock photo set-up or just documenting the odd sights you come across. Think of the scrap-booking potential! I had a bit of confusion over operating my own new camera. I considered running home for the old standby, but Pete forbade it. We were on vacation, after all. So, a quick run to the drugstore for a cheap disposable camera and we were off and running again, secure in the knowledge that our adventures would be fully documented.

Don’t miss a roadside photo-op!

9. Visit someplace you’ve passed by a hundred times. There has to be someplace in town that’s been around forever without you ever setting foot within its doors. Go in and poke around--you’re bound to be surprised. For us, it was the aforementioned Dutch Market. This establishment turned out to be not only a food market with Dutch delicacies and souvenirs, but also a charming place for breakfast or lunch.

10. Get lost. There’s nothing like losing your way to make you feel like a real tourist. My poor navigational skills resulted in Pete and I stumbling across a favorite childhood candy store. Lose yourself in your travels--who knows what you’ll find.

11. Visit someplace kitschy. There’s nothing like a little kitsch to make your vacation experience complete. What’s the corniest local point of interest you can think of? A fun house? Prairie Dog Land? The novelty ice cream shop? Pete and I opted for a trek to the Jell-O museum in LeRoy, NY. Here, we learned that Jell-O isn’t made from hooves as is popularly thought (it’s sinews--who knew?). And we enjoyed a video presentation during which Jell-O advertisements, past and present, danced across the screen accompanied by classic Jell-O song parodies like "50 ways to make Jell-O."

What could be kitschier than the infamous "Jell-O brick road?"

Wherever you go, whatever you do, it’s easy to take a vacation in your own hometown. Whether it’s work or lack thereof that’s got you stressed out, a day trip is the perfect cure. Bon Voyage!