Home for the holidays

33 inexpensive things you can do on your stay-cation

With an uncertain economy and a crazy stock market, this may be the year you stay home for the holidays.

After all, two adults traveling on vacation spend $244 each day on average for lodging and meals, according to the AAA Annual Vacation Costs Survey. Even more per day if you visit Honolulu ($673), New York City ($606), Los Angeles ($332), or Seattle ($272).

Add it all up, and suddenly a trip to the local ski hill sounds very reasonable.

Taking a so-called "stay-cation" doesn't have to be boring. And you can turn your holidays into a memorable event -- without a memorable credit card debt.

Here are some inexpensive ideas when you're home for the holidays:

  1. Take salsa lessons.
  2. Roast marshmallows on a bonfire in the snow.
  3. Invite grandma to teach you an old family recipe.
  4. Ride the Riverfront Park carousel.
  5. Wear tasteful PJs to a Garland Theater midnight show.
  6. Go ice skating.
  7. Volunteer with a local mission, food bank, or other organization.
  8. Ride the horse-drawn carriage through downtown Spokane or Coeur d'Alene.
  9. Create homemade holiday gifts -- cards, bread, jewelry, and more.
  10. Do a taste-testing tour at the local wineries.
  11. Live one day like the pioneers by candlelight, with no electricity. Talk about the experience with your family.
  12. Learn how to make stained glass windows.
  13. Attend a high school basketball game. Or gymnastics match.
  14. Buy an STCU Visa® Gift Card for those hard-to-shop-for friends or family. Available at any branch location.
  15. Rent all six Rocky movies. Or all five Harry Potter movies.
  16. Look for holiday discounts and check into a local hotel you've always wanted to visit.
  17. Throw a potluck.
  18. Plant vegetable, flower, or fruit tree seeds in cartons to transfer outside next spring.
  19. Organize your music collection.
  20. Enroll in an Extended Learning Class through the Spokane Community Colleges.
  21. Learn rock climbing at local climbing gyms.
  22. Bring out your unorganized photos and clippings and hold a family scrapbook night.
  23. Visit a museum.
  24. Meet a semi-famous elected official, actor, musician, or writer for breakfast. Who knows? They might say yes.
  25. Visit a church or synagogue you've been curious about.
  26. Shovel the snow off your neighbor's walk.
  27. Tour the holiday lights.
  28. Go to a concert. Or hold your own.
  29. Buy an all-day bus pass and explore mysterious parts of the city.
  30. Rent cross country skis.
  31. Visit http://www.spokaneparks.org/ for endless activities available at parks, community centers, and more.
  32. Spend time with friends and family. (It's hard to go bankrupt when you invest in memories.)
  33. Learn a foreign language so that next year, when you finally get out of town, you'll be ready to travel.

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