STAYCATION

Three STA students took their at-home Spring Break last year as an opportunity to explore KC.

Story by Kyra Fieger | Lifestyles Editor

With spring break right around the corner, some students are packing their bags for distant destinations and in other cases, planning to stay in Kansas City to explore all the city has to offer. One group of students, who spent their break at home last March, still have fond memories of their experiences.

Current juniors Rosie Curran, Millie Flavin and Catherine Gyllenborg grew closer during this staycation and now hold a newfound love for the downtown KC area. The girls decided to record their expeditions via their Instagram account @sb.in.kc.

“The Instagram was just on a whim,” Curran said. “We weren’t really planning on making an Instagram account until it was the first day of spring break. I wasn’t really that close of friends with Millie before spring break. Catherine and I were friends and then she and Millie were friends and we were just like ‘we’re all staying, we might as well make something of it.’ Millie, Catherine and I are still super close now, partially because of [these outings.]”

Flavin believes that proper planning and a positive attitude can make a staycation a great experience.

“Having a staycation can be just as fun as traveling,” Flavin said. “ I would definitely suggest finding out who’s staying in town and make a plan to hang out with them. Create a list of new places you want to go to because exploring your own city can be super fun.”

Students who stay home can feel insecure, especially when seeing their peers’ vacations on social media. Curran said to stay optimistic and that being open to exploring new places can be eye-opening.

“You shouldn’t feel insecure about staying in town because you can make your own fun out of it,” Curran said. “Even if you explore by yourself, you can find the city in your own way and get the chance to look at your home in a different light.”

The students went to many different locations in the Kansas City area and certain places were greatly treasured. All three agree that Kansas City is full of hidden gems that are ripe for exploration.

“Some places I think people [would] love would be Mud Pie Bakery, The KC Zoo, Deanna Rose Farm, Messenger Coffee, thrifting, Billie’s Groceries and Jun’s Sushi,” Flavin said.

“Prospero’s Book Store is really cool,” Curran said. “There are a lot of levels and the basement bookshelves are made out of cement. People leave messages on the bookshelves all the time so they can come back and look at them. We also [went to] Revelation Records, pretty much just a lot of places that you wouldn’t really think of going to in downtown KC, which was fun.”

In addition to exploring specific places, the students also gained experience in navigating the city.

“We drove everywhere last spring break, but for people who don’t have a way of getting around the city, I know the streetcar is currently being built all the way down Main Street and there’s always the bus,” Curran said. “Some people may think being with your parents is lame, but I think it could be a good way to spend time with them if you need a ride somewhere. It’s [also] fun if you have an older friend or sibling to drive you places too.”

Curran said there are many ways to get around KC and visit local places. Regardless of what your spring break plans are, a staycation can potentially relieve everyday stress and help create excitement aside from normal activities.

“I love the term staycation because I think a lot of people can use it and relate to it,” Flavin said. “[This way students] can still feel like they had a well-spent and productive break.” B