Renaissance Man and I decided to grab a week of vacation before the summer ends, and after freaking out over the interisland fares (we miss you Aloha Airlines! You helped create some competition!) we decided to do a stay-cation and do it up here on Maui like the tourists do.
It helps, when you choose to do a stay-cation, to already live in paradise. That said, to make a stay-cation work, you have to do things differently than you usually do them.
Stay-cation is about creating newness in a setting that's already familiar. So if you decide to stay-cate, plan with that in mind or you'll end up feeling a little ripped off–after all, variety, treats, and adventure are part of what make vacations, vacations.
So, we went to and Hana did some things different from how we'd always done them– i.e. we usually camped or stayed at cabins in the state park. This time we stayed at a vacation rental on the beach at Hana Bay.
We ate at local food booths except for one dinner out. This was an adventure in itself.
We found the elusive Red Sand Beach. It was totally awesome. I'll email you directions if you ever want to find it, and you won't find it without help.
We bodyboarded, fished, took naps, and took lots and lots of pictures. Then we did the other side of the island and stayed at Napili Bay in a condo. Also wonderful and something we'd never done before. Dinner at Merriman‘s in Kapalua, listening to our good friends Phil and Angela Benoit (Benoit Jazzworks) play, was a highlight of the week.
This is how the other .0001% lives!
I came home with a whole new appreciation of why people go to Maui on vacation.
But you don't have to live in Hawaii to have a good stay-cation. You just have to spend a little coin and do different things than usual, try out the things people come to your area to experience and see them with fresh eyes.
Stay-cation: it's a great way to save a buck and make the most of where you live.
Looks like a wonderful place that I really would enjoy. However, we live in Hervey Bay where we can do our own staycations. Works a treat and it’s cheap. Tomorrow I go watching the whales play.
That’s what I’m saying! Do what the tourists do in your hometown and see your usual surroundings with new eyes. Such a joy.
Way too beautiful and no matter what you say, Missouri will never look like Maui. It seems to be allergic to the ocean.
I can think of a lot worse places for a stay-cation! 🙂