It's a universal feeling that this summer is THE summer. Finally, we're free to enjoy the fruits of the season (handpicked English strawberries for us). And while some are heading straight to the airport, we'd also like to romanticise the simple act of exploring your own home on a few vacation days when the OOO is turned on. It's true that the city is never 'quiet' as such, but there are little pockets to discover; where things feel slightly less hectic as residents head out of town.
It's about time we start thinking of the towns, villages and cities we live in as places of wonder, rife with adventure and unexpected spaces to uncover. We can't deny the beauty of a pink lit sky as the sun goes down on a tropical island, but there's something equally as special when you're sitting on top of Hampstead Heath, skin fresh from a swim, surrounded by friends watching the sun descend behind the skyline.
Besides, how often do you get to be a tourist somewhere you've lived for a while? Here are a few suggestions:
Stay in a hotel in your own city.
Look up an independent gallery hidden from plain site.
Go to the restaurant with a terrace you've not been to before.
Order a glass or two of wine at lunch.
Swim on a Wednesday afternoon and read a book with your phone on airplane mode.
Cook an elaborate meal in the middle of the day and invite anyone else on a staycation over.
Go for a stroll around the residential parts you usually miss out on in your neighbourhood (and use this walking guide from Modernist Estate as your compass).
It's easy to get bogged down in the planning of holidays or the fear of airport queues and cancelled flights. Even the drive down to the coast can feel more anxiety-inducing than relaxing; and then counting down the days until you have to come back. By creating a little staycation environment at home, you can eliminate the travel woes and just live in the moment. It's as simple as that.
It's about time we start thinking of the towns, villages and cities we live in as places of wonder, rife with adventure and unexpected spaces to uncover. We can't deny the beauty of a pink lit sky as the sun goes down on a tropical island, but there's something equally as special when you're sitting on top of Hampstead Heath, skin fresh from a swim, surrounded by friends watching the sun descend behind the skyline.
Besides, how often do you get to be a tourist somewhere you've lived for a while? Here are a few suggestions:
Stay in a hotel in your own city.
Look up an independent gallery hidden from plain site.
Go to the restaurant with a terrace you've not been to before.
Order a glass or two of wine at lunch.
Swim on a Wednesday afternoon and read a book with your phone on airplane mode.
Cook an elaborate meal in the middle of the day and invite anyone else on a staycation over.
Go for a stroll around the residential parts you usually miss out on in your neighbourhood (and use this walking guide from Modernist Estate as your compass).
It's easy to get bogged down in the planning of holidays or the fear of airport queues and cancelled flights. Even the drive down to the coast can feel more anxiety-inducing than relaxing; and then counting down the days until you have to come back. By creating a little staycation environment at home, you can eliminate the travel woes and just live in the moment. It's as simple as that.
