You don’t have to leave home to have a vacation. In fact, that’s exactly what a staycation is all about.

Local actor Reba Terlson found that taking an at-home holiday had mental health benefits she says she doesn’t get from a regular vacation.

“When I think about having to book places to stay, where you’re going to eat, if you’re going to try and cook on your vacation to save money, plus trying to plan daily activities – it can be a little overwhelming,” she says. 

Terlson booked time off work during the run of her Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival play. She says this allowed her to get the most out of the experience, as she was able to see other shows by both local and international artists.

“I describe it as like kind of a huge theatre camp. It’s a camp I wish I had gone to when I was younger,” Terlson says.

By staying home during her time off work, Terlson was able to focus on doing the things she loves doing at home.

“I think choosing a staycation can be less stressful, and you can do things that you haven’t thought of doing in your city before.”

For those looking to indulge in some local luxury, there are many options available.

Thermëa spa, next to Crescent Drive Golf Course, offers Nordic relaxation techniques. A day at the Manitoba Museum can include history lessons, stargazing and scientific discoveries. McNally Robinson regularly hosts inexpensive events for book lovers.

Inside The Fort Garry Hotel is Ten Spa, a space with employees who pride themselves on making people feel special, spa director Elena Zinchenko says. 

“Perfect Ten is what we strive to deliver to each customer and for every treatment. We call it an attitude-free zone,” Zinchenko says. “Good enough for a queen.” Queen Elizabeth stayed at The Fort Garry twice before, she adds.

Zinchenko says out of the thousands of guests she books each month, 90 per cent of them are locals. She says the spa offers many packages that include overnight stays to provide a “no-brainer staycation” option for Winnipeggers.

For Terlson, sleep was a top priority on her staycation. 

She normally opts for inexpensive but noisy hostels while travelling, which didn’t help her have restful vacations. Being able to stay home and sleep somewhere familiar eliminated the stress of adjusting to sleep in a new bed, Terlson says.

“My daily job at that point required me to get up at 5 a.m. at least twice a week for my 6 a.m. shift, so being able to sleep in even until like 9 or 10 felt like such a relief.”

Terlson says while her staycation was necessary due to the time off she needed to perform in  the Fringe Festival, she looked forward to it more enthusiastically when she clicked into vacation mode.

Terlson says her staycation left her with a well-rested body, new friends and knowledge of Winnipeg neighborhoods she had previously not explored.

Published in Volume 71, Number 5 of The Uniter (October 6, 2016)