If you were going to plan your own ideal stay-cation (in your town) what would it entail?

To me, having $5,000 for a vacation is like living like a crazed millionaire.

I live in Europe. If I had $5,000 I would NOT stay in town at 64 degrees north. I could have a week or two weeks in Malta or the South of France with change left over. Or Croatia. Or Tunisia. It would cover airfare and swanky hotel accommodation, easy. I would go alone. (sorry Little Man, but mommy needs a break)

Home base is currently Memphis, Tennessee, USA. If a friend had $5K to burn in this town, I’d recommend booking hotel accommodations at the Peabody Hotel. They should visit Sun Studio, the National Civil Rights Museum and Graceland. Strolling down Beale Street is required.

For meals, there are too many restaurants to choose. I’ll save them for your other question.

$5k would be a hell of a lot of money for a week for me. I could spend it if I can travel a little. Do I have to stay in my town? Or, can we travel within 100 miles? I need more explanation.

I am on vacation almost every weekend in my town. You should be too.

In the town in which my home address is, I would have a hard time spending 5k in a week unless I hired a traveling circus or something LOL. If I were to just go to hotels and restaurants, I couldn’t spend that in a week. If I could go to neighboring towns, I could spend probably 200 a night in hotels (Crowne Plaza for example) and eat in restaurants. Still, I would have to spend about 1000 per day which is a lot of money in these towns, which are not primarily tourist towns. They’re just regular towns with hotels, restaurants, shopping, movies, spas. If I could spend the 1k per day shopping then yes, I could rack it up. To me, to spend 1k a day shopping is not really what I’d call a stay-cation.

Ha ha ha. The reason I picked the random amount of $5,000 is because I live near Disneyland, Sea World, Legoland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and probably the most expensive restaurants and hotels in the country except for maybe New York City and San Francisco, so I was basing it on that. You don’t have to spend all of it, I just didn’t want anyone booking a trip on the Queen Elizabeth II or staying at the Ritz Carlton or eating every meal at Spago, whilst being driven around in a stretch limousine.

I just wanted to know what kinds of fun things there are to do where you all live. Fun things that normal people would do. $5,000 is just the high end of the budget just in case some of the Jellies happen to live in uber-expensive areas.

@JLeslie Yes, I think you could travel within a hundred mile radius. In fact, if I could do that too, I think I’d go camping : )

Within 100 miles I would go to Epcot for a day and Universal for a day. I’d stay in a hotel over there for four nights. I’m not sure which hotel. Maybe the Polynesian at Disney? I’ve always wanted to do that since I saw it my first time at Disney at age 9. The Contemporary also was always fascinating with the monorail going through it. I never have stayed in either because of the cost.

I’d spend at least a couple of hours one or two days at the pool while there.

Also, while staying near Orlando I’d go to downtown Orlando, which I have never done, just to see it, probably have lunch or dinner. Maybe go out dancing.

The other few days I’d just stay at home and see if the symphony or a musical is playing at the performing arts center near me. I’d go to the beach one day. Maybe take a boat ride.

That’s what I would do, because I have done many things here already. If you come to visit the area I would say be sure to stay at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg. While there be sure to go to the small history area on the main floor to read about the hotel and the area.

One morning have breakfast at the airport (first airport to have a scheduled commercial flight in America) then cross the street to go to the Dali museum (be sure to take a tour with a docent).

Pick out a couple of other museums to see in St. Pete depending on your preference.

Go to the theatre for a concert or play while in St. Pete. Everything is within a mile that I have mentioned in St. Pete. There is a trolley to take you around or you can walk.

Take a dolphin boat ride. They come out to play in the wake of the boats. It occurs without provocation, the dolphins seem to enjoy it.

Day at the beach. Eat at Frenchy’s a local little fish restaurant that specializes in grouper and they catch the fish themselves. Well, since you are vegetarian that actually would not be best for you specifically.

If you have a couple days more you can drive to Orlando and see what you want to see there. I recommend Raglands at Downtown Disney one night to see the Irish dancers and like band and good food. If you go to Universal take the boat shuttle to the Portofino hotel early evening and listen to the tenors sing from the balcony in the plaza.

Actually, just north east of Orlando, Winter Park is a wonderful town. Walk along the Main Street to see all the local shops and restaurants. On the north end visit the Morse Museum that had the biggest collection of Tiffany. The chapel alter takes your breath away. I also love sitting in the daffodil terrace area. It’s a fairly small museum, but the pieces are just exquisite.

So many things to do and see. I haven’t named half the museums or other things to do.

@JLeslie That sounds wonderful!

It’s why I feel on vacation all the time when I live in FL. Not every weekend, but fairly often I can do a tourist thing. 300+ days a year the weather makes me feel like I’m on vacation.

To add to @Pied_Pfeffer‘s answer regarding Memphis, which I agree with everything she said, I’d go to the theatre there too. Either the Orpheum or the local Playhouse on the Square. Gus’s chicken is the best fried chicken in the world in my opinion if you like fried chicken. It’s been written up and makes top ten lists over and over again. While at the Peabody you have to see the ducks march in the evening. I’m not sure if I would stay at the Peabody or the Madison. The Madison has a nice view of the river and bridge into Arkansas if you get the right room. I have never been in a room at either hotel, just the common areas. Also, if the weather is good take in a baseball game in Memphis. One other museum besides the must sees Pied already mentioned is the Mud Island museum, and if you have any interest, the cotton museum (the cotton museum is a very small museum packed with information). Get to all these places around town walking or take the trolley.