8 Tips for the Perfect Staycation

I canceled my trip to New York this September.

I don’t travel very often. Sometimes, I feel like the only millennial in the world who’s not interested in that nomad lifestyle. I love being at home.

For me, vacationing doesn’t feel that different from everyday life. The only true difference for me is a change of scenery and a little (hopefully a lot) less work!

When I’m home I eat, drink, shop, and walk around. When I’m on vacation I eat, drink, shop, and walk around in a NEW location.

Upfront, I know that I’m privileged and have had the opportunity to travel in the past. The first few times you travel it is absolutely transformational and I don’t want to downplay that in any way.

But, as someone who hates flying and detests traveling/being trapped in a moving vehicle for an extended period of time, I prefer not to do it. Add in the emissions, and I feel like I have plenty of good excuses to stay put.

All that being said, I do enjoy a brief weekend trip/trips close to home. Even staying in a hotel in Napa a few miles away feels like a major treat, and is something I LOVE to do!

My goal of this blog post is to convince you to cancel one big trip in lieu of staying someplace nearby because taking one fewer flight is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.
I’m super excited to be partnering with Icebreaker for this post all thoughts and opinions are my own for more information please see my disclosure policy.
Icebreaker is the perfect clothing for going on vacation because it is so versatile and you don’t have to worry about washing it. You might remember the Icebreaker challenge I took earlier this year. The goal was to wear one t-shirt for seven days without washing it.

And, it was a success! But, the true testament was with Ben Lecomte from The Vortex Swim.

Ben swam from 350 nautical miles from Hawaii to San Francisco through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch collecting micro-plastic samples for research and the entire crew was wearing Icebreaker. They only washed their clothes once a month, so they took the challenge much further.
Related: Learn More About the Vortex Swim
Icebreaker uses merino-wool which is anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and rockstar for temperature regulation. Wool has been my favorite natural fiber for a very long time.

Icebreaker has a very strict animal welfare policy that ensures a healthy, low-stress quality of life for the sheep. They use small family farms that treat their sheep with care!

Icebreaker produces a transparency report every year that covers everything from social responsibility, worker safety, animal welfare, and environmental integrity. Read the Report

One of the things I love about Icebreaker is how easily it packs. It’s wrinkle-resistant, making it easy to shove in your suitcase and go.

If your trips include a lot of outdoor activities like hiking, running, camping, backpacking, etc then this is absolutely the brand for you.

I am not a very active traveler. I prefer leisurely walking, delicious meals, and watching shows. But, what’s great about Icebreaker is that no matter what you like to do their pieces easily transition from active settings to more leisurely ones.
Icebreaker is offering free shipping to GZW reader in the US until the end of November
I will say, the one place I really like to visit is New York. Having majored in musical theatre, and being very passionate about the art form, I really like to see shows.

But more than ever I’m extra conscious of my transportation footprint. Taking one fewer transatlantic flight is one of the best things that you can do for the environment.

I’ve seen a push among many sustainable living advocates for taking trains, busses, and transportation with lower emissions, and I think that’s AMAZING!

However, the public transportation sector in the states has a long way to go. For me to get back home to Arkansas it would take me more than 80 hours with a train/bus combo. Surprisingly, it would take around the same amount of time to get to NYC, but it would cost $2,000 one way.

If I were single and had no responsibilities at home, I could definitely see myself taking off for an extended period and exploring the states via train. But, unfortunately, that’s just not in the cards for me at this time.

I think it makes more sense to travel less frequently so I decided to try and accomplish my entire New York vacation list but at home!

3-Day Vacation Plan:
Walk All of Central Park Eat Ice cream at Serendipity See a show Eat great food and drink fancy cocktails Walk the Brooklyn Bridge Go thrifting
PACKING LIST:
T-Shirt Dress Biker Shorts White Tee Sweater Fancy Dress Tennis Shoes Wedges
I am all about packing light so I try to prioritize versatile pieces that I can mix and match. Icebreaker has a great selection of clothing that can easily transition through all of your planned activities.

All of my pieces fit nicely into a small backpack. Justin and I are both very reliant on public transit so packing in a small backpack is preferred.
DAY 1 | San Francisco
T-Shirt Dress / Biker Shorts / Tennis Shoes

I got a head start on Justin for day one!

When I’m on vacation I want pieces that can move with me. I want to be able to look cute when out and about, but also be able to walk A LOT.

I love wearing short skirts with tennis shoes so the t-shirt dress is perfect for a day at Golden Gate Park. I wear shorts underneath the dress to prevent my thighs from chaffing. I just fold the shorts in half so they don’t peak out under the dress.

My first stop was to walk the entire length of Golden Gate Park. I made a pit stop at the Japanese Tea Garden for some tea. This is where Justin proposed so it holds good memories!

Then a stop at the Conservatory of the Flowers is a MUST! It’s one of my favorite parts of the city.

Be warned! CotF is VERY humid and quite warm. The plants love it, and thanks to Icebreaker, I don’t mind one bit.

Synthetic fibers like polyester aren’t breathable so it traps in your natural body heat. Natural fibers like merino wool are very breathable making it easier for you to adjust to a quick changes in temperature.

Merino Wool also wicks moisture very quickly allowing you to stay cool and dry!

Then I walked all the way down to The Giants - the big windmills at the end of Golden Gate Park, and walked all the way down to the Ice Cream Bar, where I grabbed a black bean burger and a GIANT Vegan Sundae!! It was magnificent.

The rest of the afternoon was spent thrifting up and down Haight and Ashbury and then stopping for dinner at my favorite restaurant Cha Cha Cha for excellent food and drinks. My go to is roasted potatoes with plantains and black beans.
DAY 2 | Albany
White Tee / Slinky Dress / Wedges

I love how easily this outfit will go from day to night. I wanted today to be a bit more relaxing, so the morning starts with breakfast at one of my favorite spots Sam’s Log Cabin which is right near downtown Albany.

I love Albany. They have a bowling alley, cute restaurants, and shops. We window shopped in antique stores went to my favorite spice shop, and I saw a psychic - something I’ve always wanted to do, but never have!

Afterward, we had to stop at Mr. Dewies Cashew Creamery. I have to say we definitely got our fill of ice cream!

I didn’t find a show playing that I was super interested in seeing so Justin and caught a movie at the Albany Twin a landmark theatre. Theatre’s always tend to run a little chilly so adding a merino wool tee over my favorite summer dresses was an easy way for me to stay warm and cool.

We finished the day with dinner at Little Star where I ordered several Old Mexico’s one of my favorite cocktails to date!
DAY 3 | Sausalito
White Tee / Khaki Shorts / Sweater / Tennis Shoes

Today is the day! I have never walked the Golden Gate Bridge before. September and October are the closest things we get to summer months. You’ll find that you don’t need a jacket during the day which is amazing.

But around 5 or 6 the fog rolls in and it’s great to have a sweater on hand. I have this one from Icebreaker which has been my go-to! Justin and I started in SF and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge before venturing into the Marin Headlands which is absolutely breathtaking.

It was a little windy, but not too bad. We finished our little weekend vacation in Sausalito. Where we grabbed brews and dinner at The Barrel House and before heading back we, of course, had to stop and get some ice cream.

I hope I’ve encouraged you a bit to get out and enjoy your town! I had a blast getting to hang out with Justin and explore new parts and old favorite parts of where I live.

I wanted to leave you with a few tips for when you plan your next staycation:
Plan your trip. If you were going to go somewhere else, you’d make a plan so do the same thing for when you stick around town. Pack appropriately! Finding a few versatile pieces that transition through all of your activities is a must. (I, of course, am a huge fan of Icebreaker!) Budget for your trip. This is the time you can treat yourself and really splurge. Go to a nice fancy restaurant you’ve always wanted to try. Support a local artist or maker. Unplug! When I’m on vacation, I’m completely unplugged. No laptops, Instagram, or working. This allows me to really get into vacation mindset. Get a souvenir. Now, I know that might sound crazy coming from a zero waste blog, but I love to get souvenirs when I travel. But, my souvenirs are typically edible… like a big loaf of sourdough from San Francisco or chocolate from Ghiradelli Square. Clean your house before your trip starts. One of the best things about going on vacation is staying somewhere else. I just love walking into a cleanroom. Take photos! If you were somewhere new, you’d probably break out your camera to capture a few moments. Do the same when you’re on a trip close to home. Relax and have fun!
I want to give another shoutout and thank you Icebreaker for sponsoring this post.

Don’t forget, Icebreaker is offering Free Shipping to all GZW readers in the US until November! Rolled up t-shirts make great stocking stuffer gifts, you want to get a head start on that holiday shopping. ;)

I would love to know if you’re considering sticking around town for your next vacation?