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Daycation and Staycation Resources
Books to Help You Plan Your Close-to-Home Holiday
By Metro Parent Staff
When it comes to planning one of these “tourist in your own town” trips, The Great American Staycation: How to Make a Vacation at Home Fun for the Whole Family by Matt Wixon (Adams Media, 2009) is a logical standout. This book has a ton of creative ideas for things to do on your staycation as well as wisdom on what your mindset should be as you plan your “vacation at home” (e.g. “Rule # 1: A Staycation Muse Be Treated as a Real Vacation”). But, if you’re only going to buy one or two books to guide you in your staycation/daycation planning and implementation, you should probably consider the following:
Our & About with Kids: Portland by Nelle Nix (Sasquatch Books, 2006). This is the quintessential family staycation book for Portland area residents. Nix includes all of the expected destinations – plus many you’ve never heard of (or that you just need to be reminded of). Fun with the Family: Oregon by Cheryl McLean (GPP Travel, 2007) provides similar information for the rest of the state; Discover Washington with Kids by Rosanne Cohn and Larry Kahn (Johnstone Assoc. Int’l, 2005) does the same for Washington residents.
Best Hikes with Kids Oregon by Bonnie Henderson (The Mountaineers, 2007) and Best Hikes with Kids Western Washington and the Cascades (The Mountaineers, 2008). Both of these include great tips for hiking with kids in their introductions (plan “energy stops”, assign an “engine” and “caboose” and more) and rate the hikes with youngsters in mind.
The Northwest Nature Guide by James Luther Davis (Timber Press, 2009). Most of the books that are arranged by month or day of the year are really annoying. It’s a complete artifice to divide, say, tips for simplifying into 365 “days”. But the arrangement of entries in The Northwest Nature Guide by month is, well, a natural. This encyclopedic reference book of natural wonders is arranged by the animals and plants your family can view January through December in each Pacific Northwest area (Oregon, Washington and British Columbia). A wonderful planning tool and travel companion.
Great Trivia Books for the Road!
Oregon Curiosities and Washington Curiosities by Harriet Baskas (Insiders’ Guide, 2007). Young and old alike love learning about the region’s “quirky characters, roadside oddities and other offbeat stuff.”
The Oregon Companion by Richard H. Engeman (Timber Press, 2009). This book includes hundreds of entries, arranged alphabetically, about everything-Oregon, from information on cities and counties to details about companies and historical figures – and much more.
By Metro Parent Staff
