4 • Community Advocate •
Summer Guide • Friday, May 20, 2011
Be a hometown tourist
Key decisions for creating a great summer “staycation” If you don’t have the time or the money to get away this summer, there’s no reason you can’t have a memorable vacation. Everything you need is right in your hometown. Sticking close to home means you not only save money, but you avoid the hassles of travel and help support the local economy. What’s not to like?
Specialize in Getting WET! The Kid’s Omnium has all the performance features your little one needs to play in the water, along with added coverage for security and protection.
Sandals for kids!
The Girl’s Tirra offers signature Teva performance along with a fun, girly look. Multiple color options make for a sandal that is sure to impress. The amphibious Kid’s Toachi Teva sandal is ready for action and packed full of performance features even for the youngest Teva adventurer. FIT BY PEOPLE WHO CARE.
PP
kids
Your Westboro Stride Rite Store for over 25 years
Rtes. 9 & Rt. 135 • Westmeadow Plaza • Westboro • 508-366-5577 (Next to Papa Gino’s) Hours: Mon.-Wed. 10-6 • Thurs. & Fri. 10-7 • Sat 10-5:30 • Sun 12-5
When trading your or buying Fine Diamond Jewelry
2011
…come to the company you have known and trusted for over 30 years.
James A. Sinerate, Registered Jeweler
Rte. 9 • Westmeadow Plaza Westborough, MA We Ship Anywhere in the Continental U.S.A.
508-366-7232 MC/VISA/AMEX/DISCOVER
SUMMER PROGRAMS
Mutimedia Camp Robotics Camp Co-ed Soccer Camp Co-ed Basketball Camp Girls Volleyball Camp
- Let local deals help you decide. These days, there are hundreds and even thousands of deals available close to home for dining, spas, attractions, museums and more. In fact, according to a survey from Bing.com, 6 out of 10 adults will search 2 to 10 different deal sources every week. - Establish a “No Chore Zone.” This is not the time to clean out the closets, re-landscape the yard or tackle that home-improvement project. This is time for fun and family activities only. - Plan activities for every day. You wouldn’t go to Orlando and stay in the hotel room the whole time, so don’t just sit around the house. Find interesting places to go and fun things to do every day. Get the kids involved in planning, too - let them choose a place to go or a theme for the day. - Act like a tourist. Take photos and videos to document your local adventures. Pick up postcards and souvenirs from the museums or amusement parks you visit, just like you would if you had gone out of town.
Get extra cash for summer vacation!
GOLD FOR CASH
- Schedule it. Decide on a beginning and an ending date, then put them on the calendar. Clear those days of anything that smells of work or regularly scheduled events. You’re on vacation, remember?
Visual Arts Sports Camp Arts Camp (WASA) Science Camp Football Camp
WORCESTER ACADEMY 81 Providence Street, Worcester • 508.754.5302 www.worcesteracademy.org/campus/summer
Fun Staycation Ideas Here are just a few ideas for some hometown adventures: - Use great deals to eat out affordably. Use the Internet to find great local deals at that restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. This approach will let you eat out with the whole family, or even on a date night, and
PHOTO/SUBMITTED
The Basics The trick to having a great stay-at-home vacation is to create the environment of a traditional vacation. That means getting out of your normal routine and treating your time as true vacation time. Travel expert and creator of TravelingMamas.com, Shannon Hurst Lane, has some tips to help you plan:
Families can have plenty of fun just by staying at home.
still not break your vacation budget.
favorite local eatery and have an indoor picnic.
- Science and nature. Visit an arboretum or nature center. Bike the trails in a local or state park. Go horseback riding. Have fun in a local science center, or spend the day at the zoo or aquarium. Some zoos have overnight camping adventures available, too. Live near a lake or river? Try boating, water skiing or tubing for a day.
- Local highlights. You know all those places that out-of-town guests want to go to when they visit but you’ve never gotten around to seeing? Well, now’s your chance. Look for walking tours of historic districts; tag along on guided tours of famous landmarks; or take that scenic drive everyone talks about. - Take some time. Any vacation can be exhausting so make sure to take some “me time.”
- Amusement parks. You may not live near one of the big theme parks, but there are more options around town than you might realize. Check out regional theme parks, water parks, and even local community centers. Family fun centers that have mini golf, laser tag, go karts and bowling are a fun option, too.
“Your hometown is a treasure-trove of fun and interesting things to do,” according to Lane. “And you can make it even more fun by finding money-saving deals.” Get Local Deals No Matter Where You Are Nearly 80 percent of respondents in a recent survey said they were likely to pick their summer vacation destination based on whether or not they could find a deal or redeem a coupon to save money. Look for deals from Groupon, Living Social, Tippr and more.
- Family food fun. Explore the local farmers markets and pick up fresh produce and local goods. Visit a U-Pick farm and gather things like fresh blueberries right off the bushes. Treat the family to a night out at a fancy restaurant, and have everyone dress in their best outfits. Or, order in from your
Charlotte Klein
Dance Center
s
invite see our studen you to ts perform at th
HANOVER
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THEATRE
in Worcester
Dates: Saturday, Jun e 4th ~ 2:00 (W estboro) and Sunday, June 7:00 p.m. (Wo 5th ~ 11:00 a rcester) .m. (Westboro ) and 3:30 p.m . (Worcester) Tickets may be purc hased: In Per son at the Bo 7-571-7469 • x Of¿ce On Line: ww w.thehanove www.ckdance rtheatre.org .com
By Phone: 87