Don't Just Think Local, Vacation Local

By Carol Tady, Communications & Customer Response Supervisor

For most of the past year, many of us have put off taking time off work. Taking a day or two here or there didn’t really feel like a vacation when you can’t go anywhere, so why bother, right? I challenge you to think about what’s in our own backyard…or close to it.

I recently took a three-day trip to Paso Robles, which is about a three-hour drive from the Bay Area. I chose Paso Robles for a variety of reasons. It was close, but not too close, so it felt as if I was really getting away. There’s an abundance of wineries for your tasting pleasure. It’s just a half-hour drive to the coast (Morro Bay is a fun place to grab some lunch). And the hotels are a bit cheaper than staying ocean-side. It also didn’t hurt that the Gilroy Outlets were right off Highway 101 on my way to Paso Robles.

When researching the area, I also discovered I could get tickets to “Bruce Munro: Light at Sensorio,” a stunning exhibit of light (see photo below). Field of Light is a 15-acre walk-through experience, comprised of more than 58,800 stemmed spheres lit by fiber optics, illuminating the landscape. The half-mile walk also includes “Light Towers,” six-foot-tall towers composed of more than 17,000 wine bottles illuminated with optic fibers. The exhibit continues through September.

A nice finish to my trip included a drive up the coast along Highway 1. The views are spectacular and really took me away from the stresses of everyday life and work.

Like many of us, I’ve taken a Friday off and cleaned my house or just watched endless TV, but I recommend really breaking free from your home base.

Maybe three hours is too far for you? Think about the places right here in the Bay Area where you take friends and relatives when they come to visit. Here’s a few suggestions:

• Muir Woods is open, just be sure to make a reservation.
• The Napa Valley Wine train offers a variety of experiences for lunch and dinner.
• Escape your home “imprisonment” to Alcatraz Island for a tour. Try the night tour for a different experience.
• Take a walking tour in San Francisco or Oakland. There are tours for just about any interest you might have, everything from local cuisine to wine or beer and ghosts. To see a variety, try a google search.
• For kids and grown-up kids, hop onboard the Roaring Camp Railroad departing from the Santa Cruz Mountains.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium also is a great getaway for all ages.
• If you’re unsure about mingling this soon, think about one of the many scenic drives around the Bay Area – Skyline Boulevard, Pacifica to Santa Cruz, Marin to Point Reyes, the 49-mile drive through San Francisco.

Whether you decide to travel or not, remember to take care of yourself:

• Get enough sleep. Your body will usually let you know if you’re not.
• Get a massage (if you’re comfortable with that).
• Grab a manicure or pedicure (I got one before my trip and it felt soooo good).
• Add a day to the next three-day weekend to take a Friday and Monday off to really escape.