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T OUR THE H EART OF A LABAMA Explore the Heart of Alabama as if a tourist. Plan a day to spend in each community. Montgomery has museums honoring artists such as the FitzgeraldMuseumhonoring Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and the Hank Williams Museum honoring the legendary country singer. Visit all of the Civil Rights museums and landmarks. Enjoy a picnic on the grounds of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, wan- der through the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts Sculptor Gar- den and admire the collections within the museum itself. While Downtown be sure to grab an iconic Chris’ hotdog. For your day on the plains spend a day wandering through the many boutiques in downtown Auburn, take pictures in front of Samford Hall and grab a lemonade from Toomer’s Drugs. On the National Register of Historic Places, downtown Opelika includes the Opelika Depot, Lee County Courthouse and the Museum of East Alabama. Ope- lika’s Main Street offers delicious eats as well as one-of-a-kind items by local makers, artists spaces and fashion boutiques. Visit the Daniel Pratt Historic District in Prattville and explore Fort Toulouse and wander Gold Star Park in Wetumpka. H AVE A L ETTER D AY This is especially fun with young children. Pick a letter from the alphabet and plan to do at least three things beginning with the one you chose. If you picked P you might walk in the park, eat pumpkin pie or play games. Any letter will have all manner of things you can do for the day. V OLUNTEER FOR A G OOD C AUSE With many facilities being closed to the public, volunteering may look a little different now days. But reach out to nursing homes, hospitals, animal shelters, and other non-profit organiza- tions or volunteer through your church or synagogue. There are still needs to be met. Make it a family project whether it be deliv- ering food items to shut-ins or writing letters to troops overseas. There are always a lot of opportunities to help. L EARN A N EW S KILL A staycation is the ideal time to learn something new. Check out local day courses and workshops, or find a podcast online. There is a wide range of interesting new skills to learn. C ATCH UP ON R EADING Staycations are the ideal time to catch up on the reading pile and relax with a book or two. Plan ahead by ordering in a book you want to read beforehand. Alternatively, spend a day browsing second hand and independent bookshops local to you for some reading inspiration. P LAN A M OVIE N IGHT Movie nights are great for relaxing as a family or couple on a staycation. Make a TV supper, include some popcorn and pick your favorite movie from your own collection or a streaming service. Then chill out in front of the screen and enjoy the film. S PA D AY Spas are for relaxing and the perfect pick me up. If you can't get to a spa near your home, bring a few treatments into the home. Facials, a pedicure, or body scrub are just a few spa therapies that can be done at home when you have the time. D O A G AME N IGHT Get the family board games out, make a few snacks, and start playing with traditional puzzles and games. It's fun and is a lovely way to get everyone involved in something. Game nights are perfect on rainy days. H AVE A D ESTINATION D AY Although you aren't travelling overseas this year, you can pretend. Choose a country or destination (Japan, Disney, France etc.) and have a themed day based on the culture and other aspects. You can taste or cook the food, listen to music from that country, or watch a movie filmed there. Once you start thinking the ideas will flow. A staycation is an excellent time to get to explore the Heart of Alabama. It is also a time to relax with family and friends. There's just one guarantee — that with all there is to see and do you won't get bored. n 26 AL/ Metro 360 www.almetro360.com