50+ Lifestyles

Surf’s Up – Internet News

Planning a “Stay-Cation” or Entertaining Out-of-Town Guests

By Chris Cournoyer
e-mail: webmaster@ccx.net
Domain: www.ccx.net

The Internet can take you all around the world–virtually speaking, but in these “tough economic times”, how can the Internet help you “get away without actually getting away”? Perhaps you’ve heard the term “Stay-cation” or the phrase “vacation in your own backyard” Wikipedia.com defines “Stay-cation” as: a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions. Staycations have achieved high popularity in the financial crisis of 2007–2009 in which unemployment levels and gas prices are high.The term was added to the 2009 version of the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary.

Common activities of a staycation include use of the backyard or local pool, visits to local parks and museums, and attendance at local festivals. Some staycationers also like to follow a set of rules, such as setting a start and end date, planning ahead, and avoiding routine, with the goal of creating the feel of a traditional vacation.

If this sounds good to you, there are many helpful websites that help you plan your “trip.” These websites can also help you entertain visitors from out of town:

Start with www.VisitQuadCities.com – this is the official Tourism website for the Quad Cities by the Convention and Visitors Bureau. It features the 2009 Visitor’s Guide, a Calendar of Events, directions, transportation, area attractions, information on Day Tripping, stuff for kid’s, as well as deals and discounts, packages and even suggested travel itineraries.

Other Useful Websites:

• http://www.qcguide.org/ – A dining and entertainment guide for the Quad Cities. Also a good resource about non-profit organizations in the area.
• http://www.qctimes.com/go/ – Entertainment and dining guide for the Quad Cities from the Quad City Times
• http://qconline.com/index.shtml – Local news and event information from the Rock Island Argus and The Dispatch
• http://www.quadcityarts.com/– Quad City Arts website with information about local artists, events and exhibitions, including Festival of Trees
• http://weareqc.com/ the Quad Cities Online Community Newspaper
• http://www.rceaders.com – River City Reader with local insights and events calendars
• http://www.woc1420.com – WOC AM Radio Station 1420
• http://www.augustana.edu/WVIK/ – Augustana Public Radio WVIK – listen online, get programming information and local news
• http://www.myqcmallards.com/ – Quad City Mallards Hockey
• http://www.riverbandits.com/ – Quad City River Bandits Baseball
• http://www.steamwheelers.com/ – Quad City Steamwheelers
• http://www.iwirelesscenter.com/ – The iwireless center events and ticket information
• http://www.adlertheatre.com/ – Performing arts information
• http://www.qcsymphony.com/ – upcoming performances, volunteer opportunities, store, education and photographs
• http://figgeart.org/ – The Figge Art Museum
• http://putnam.org/ – Putnam Museum and IMAX theater
• http://www.familymuseum.org/ – Bettendorf Family Museum
• http://www.balletquadcities.com/ – Ballet Quad Cities
• http://www.bettendorf.org/ – City of Bettendorf
• http://www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/ – City of Davenport
• http://moline.il.us/ – City of Moline
• http://rigov.org/ – City of Rock Island
• http://visitleclaire.com/ – Historic City of LeClaire on the Mississippi River
• http://www.qcairport.com/ – Check arrivals, departures and more!
• http://www.weatherview.dot.state.ia.us/ – Iowa Department of Transportation Weather and Road Construction and Road Condition information
• http://www.quadlinc.com/ – Quad City Library System – plan your escape with books and other media at various libraries, place items on hold, etc.
• • http://www.weather.com/ – type in your zip code and view the current radar or get the 10 day forecast!