You are feeling that wanderlust again.

However, your budget, work, and family obligations, or some other factors are getting in the way of taking a major trip.

NextTribe takes small groups of women ages 45+ on fun, immersive adventures across the U.S. and around the globe. See where we’re going next here.

What can you do to “escape” without spending a ton of money or leaving people and your responsibilities hanging? I am all about the staycation or close-to-home travel fun.

Here are seven ways you can get away and hit the “refresh” button on your life without traveling across the globe or even venturing far from your home state.

Ideas for a Staycation: 48 Hours of Time Travel

Pick a time in history that intrigues you. Perhaps you’ve always wondered about the settling of the Wild West. I happen to live in Arizona, so that’s especially relevant:

• Take a book out of the library about that era.
• Find a local museum that features the period.
• Search online for documentaries on demand about the topic.
• Visit a historical home nearby that will immerse you in the time that intrigues you.
• Cook yourself a meal that people during that time might have eaten. There are loads of websites and social media accounts with this kind of intel. Which leads to the next idea…

Bites Across the Globe

If you love to cook and eat, you can indulge in a culinary adventure without going far from your own kitchen. While it’s not the same as, say, having the perfect croissant while eating your way across Paris, it can give you a taste of travel.

Having a taste adventure in between trips can satisfy your hunger and your wanderlust.

• Find recipes that reflect a particular region or period in time.
• Research local markets that sell the ingredients you need. You may be surprised to discover ethnic retailers right in your own community.
• If you don’t know how to cook, you can build your culinary adventure by taking a class at a local kitchen store or gathering friends for a potluck. (You handle the decor…they bring the themed food and beverages!)
• Of course, take pictures of your concoctions, and share with your social media connections.
• Find a restaurant nearby that has a kind of food you are unfamiliar with, like shabu shabu or tapas, and plan an outing with pals.

Let the Music Carry You Away

If you’re on a limited budget, stay at home, but immerse yourself in tunes. Music has a positive impact on mood, cognitive function, and even brain structure. 

Pick an era or area of music that intrigues you: How about some Edith Piaf or classical Chinese music?

Whether you’re a fan of vinyl or you simply tell your voice-activated device what to play, you can:

• Pick an era, band, or musical style that intrigues you and comes from another culture. When was the last time you heard some Edith Piaf or some classical Chinese music?
• Build your own “playlist” around that theme, and crank up the tunes.
• If you’re particularly curious about a music style or period, you can combine ears and eyes and read-up about that type of music.
• See what live music is available in your area: Could you and a friend take in some flamenco music and dance? How about some Brazilian jazz?
• If you’re really committed to your personal music scene, you can take a lesson at a local music store. Don’t expect to be a rock star overnight, but trying out a new skill could open doors to a whole new hobby.

The Nostalgia Tour

Another of our staycation ideas to satisfy your wanderlust: Immerse yourself in your own past travels. Review and relive. Now is the time to organize those photos and scraps of paper from past “big” trips.

Now is a great time to organize those photos and scraps of paper from past travels.

• Invest in a scanner and digitize your old photos, or find a local store that can do it for you.
• Upload those favorite moments to the cloud. I use Google Photos, but many companies also offer archive services.
• Organize a virtual event with friends and family to look at the pix you’ve loaded and talk about your shared moments.
• Create travel journals so you have a physical record of a trip. You can add printed-out photos, tickets to favorite attractions and museums, and write in memories of places you visited, foods you tried, and other highlights.

Spring-Clean Your Suitcase

If that travel itch is so strong that you simply can’t distract yourself from thoughts about your next trip, do something that relates to your wanderlust. 

• Take inventory of your current luggage and decide if you need any new accessories or upgrades. (You may even be able to sell unwanted items that are in good condition to help fund new investments.)
• Organize your travel cubes, toiletries, electronics, and other items as if you are going on your next trip. You’ll save time when you are ready to hit the road again!
• Explore some of the AI that can assist with packing. Apps like this one can be like having a travel butler!

Extreme Day Trips

This alternative to long journeys is, as the name implies, extreme. Especially popular in Europe, it simply involves leaving early in the morning to travel somewhere and returning that night.

Have you heard of extreme day trips? They involve a couple of hours of travel each way to explore someplace new…a quick hit of adventure!

• You don’t have to fly. Find a destination that involves a 2-3 hour drive or a train or bus adventure.
• Pack a tiny and lightweight overnight bag, just in case you decide to extend your micro-adventure beyond 24 hours.
• Join Facebook or other groups of extreme day-trip travelers to pick up new ideas for destinations and travel styles. (You might also meet a new travel buddy!)

An Amped-up Staycation

The last of our ideas for a staycation is just that: a fun way to be a tourist in your hometown. You can limit it to a mere 24 hours, and it doesn’t even need to involve a hotel stay. But getting out of your home and into a new environment can feel like an adventure.

There’s probably something fascinating and fun to do right in your town. Go check it out!

• Get a day pass to a local gym, spa, or country club and just hang out there from dawn to dusk.
• Want the perks of housekeeping and complimentary coffee (or other resort amenities)? Find a deal at a local hotel, motel, or other hospitality venue. If you wait until the last minute or use loyalty program perks, you can find something budget-friendly. 
• Even if you don’t venture out of your room, wearing that hotel robe, ordering room service, or raiding the mini-bar, and binge-watching Netflx all day can make you feel like you’ve escaped from the pressures of reality.
• More of a social animal? If you’re staying at a local hotel, you’re likely to meet other travelers at the pool or restaurant. Don’t be creepy, but strike up conversations with other solo adventurers.
• How about that historical society, little museum, or a “too touristy” destination in your town you’ve never been to? Now is a great time to see what the fuss in about.

Just like flossing your teeth between visits to the dentist, planning and taking micro-adventures when you’re not on the road can keep your brain and body stimulated or help you unwind (depending on what feeling you’re seeking).

And wherever you go, be sure to check out NextTribe so that you can be inspired by fellow travelers! We may even be gathering not far from your home base!