“Staycation” an Eco-Friendly & Economical Vacation
20 Jun 2008 ~ Categories: IO in the news • blog • eco-living • wellness
Are you taking a “staycation” this summer? Yes, the name is a tad too “cute”, but the concept is a good one. Shouldn’t we all learn to enjoy what’s in our own backyard? After all, true happiness is being happy right where we are.
Staycation is the new buzzword for Americans looking to enjoy time-off without leaving their local area. It’s an eco-friendly and economical replacement for a vacation that would otherwise require costly and carbon-emitting travel.
In an effort to simplify, I recently donated my car to Spirit Rock and became a member of CityCarShare so the staycation concept is looking even sweeter to me these days.
Mount Tamalpais is my favorite backyard haven for a close-to-home, healthy dose of nature. Many hiking trails meander through towering redwoods, birds soar overhead and there’s usually prettier weather on Mt. Tam than San Francisco summers yield. Mill Valley can be foggy, but on Mt. Tam it’s often a clear view to the whitewashed San Francisco cityscape and out to the blue ocean expanse of the Pacific. Peace of mind is easy to find just over the Golden Gate.
If you want to make it a sleepover, choose between the spartan West Point Inn nestled on the west peak of Mt. Tam (hiking in is the only option) or for more luxury and car access try the Mountain Home Inn not far from the trail heads.
If your legs are weary from all that hiking, melt into some spa treatments and yoga at International Orange. This week, Style.com and Victoria Traina gave our very own spa and yoga services the thumbs up as a staycation spot for “all things health and beauty… ‘amazing massages’ and Vinyasa yoga classes”.
Read what Style.com had to say.
Staycationing in San Francisco,
Amy