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Planning your Winter Break Staycation

Metro Detroit Mommy Guest Blogger – Danielle Andresen – Suburbia Mom

School is almost out for Winter Recess and it’s time to
celebrate the holiday season with family and friends.  Some take off on vacation but many of us plan
to stay home. Instead of traveling long distances, why not plan a staycation!

A staycation has so many perks!  No need to pay for a hotel room or rent a
house which can be hard on the pocket book after buying presents and attending
all those holiday parties in December. Plus every mom knows that packing for a
weeklong vacation takes a lot of planning and organizing.  When you plan a staycation you only need to
pack for the day and your bed will be waiting for you when you come home
exhausted from having so much fun!

Metro Detroit has so much to offer. We have museums, sporting
events, The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the great outdoors and tons of cool
places within an hour or so to visit.   Let’s get out and do some of these
things!  Better yet, have your child help
you plan your staycation.  Be a tourist
in your own city. Take lots of pictures and learn new facts by reading
brochures and pamphlets.

Here are some ideas for the Perfect Staycation

1. Port
Huron
Have you ever been to
Port Huron?  We see the signs that lead
to Port Huron all over the freeways but have you actually taken 94 East until
it ends in Port Huron? Did you know that Thomas Edison has roots in Port Huron?
Visit The Thomas
Edison Depot
and get a beautiful glimpse of The Blue Water Bridge leading
to Sarnia, Ontario.  Take a walk along
the bridge and you are certain to see a freighter.  When you get hungry head downtown for a bite
to eat.

 2. Hit the
Trails
– The Paint Creek Trail and Clinton River Trail are perfect for
getting outdoors.  You are almost
guaranteed a deer sighting and the fresh air does wonders for the mind. Make a
day of it and park Downtown Rochester
where you can walk to either trails. 
Shop along Main Street and enjoy the Big Bright Light Show at night.

3. Eastern
Market
– Going to Eastern Market
is one of my favorite things to do on a Saturday morning.  I love supporting our local farmers and
getting meats from the butcher shops.  Detroit corned beef is a must!   Check
out the little antique shops and stop in Vivio’s for one of their famous Bloody
Mary’s and an order of their mussels.  When
you are done at Eastern Market head home to cook your dinner using the fresh
produce and meats from the market. 

4. Spend a
day in Detroit.
Check out the Michigan Science Center.  When you are
done, head over to Campus Martius to go ice skating.  There’s no need to own your own skates, they
have them for you to rent.  Skating is
sure to make you hungry so grab a bite to eat at The Hard Rock Café.   You
will be amazed at how much fun a day trip to Detroit can be!

5. Camp at Home- Sometimes a staycation
can literally mean staying home.  Pitch a
tent in the living room, start a fire in the fire place, get out your
flashlights and hang out as a family. 
Tell silly stories in the dark and let your imagination flow with
ideas. 



6. Ann Arbor- Take a day and head west to
Ann Arbor.  Walk the University of
Michigan Campus and check out the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum.  Downtown there are plenty of restaurants to
choose from and shops to browse.

7. Leave the Country- Have you been to
Canada?  Head over to Windsor and check
it out.  It’s so cool that we border
another country.  Many times I feel like we forget we have
such close neighbors.  Head over and make
friends!

8. Attend a Sporting Event- Check out a
game or play one yourself.  There is
always something going on

9. Visit the Detroit ZooA day at the zoo
is always a guaranteed good time.  There
are many indoor exhibits to visit that you don’t have to worry about being too
cold.  Plus the animals love the cooler
temperatures so they may be active.

10. Theater-
Go to an afternoon matinee and enjoy some popcorn. 

Help me out.  What can we add to
our staycation list?  



Please share below.

Danielle Andresen

Danielle loves to stay
busy with her two little ones and supportive husband!  If there is something fun to do, her family
does not want to miss out.  In her spare
time she enjoys writing.  She uses her
blog Suburbia Mom as an outlet and
also blogs monthly for Detroit Moms
Blog
.   

Amber Louchart
Author: Amber Louchart

Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment.  She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.