I’m taking some much-needed time off this week to celebrate my wedding anniversary and my husband’s birthday, which are just a few days apart.
As I write this (a couple of weeks in advance), we don’t have anything special planned. I’m sure we’ll have a nice dinner or two out and find a few fun things to do. But I’ve found that the older I get, the more I enjoy a good staycation.
It gives me time to do projects around the house, go shopping and simply enjoy local attractions. There’s something to be said for being a tourist in your own town. We have so many amazing attractions, including the Battleship North Carolina, the N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher and numerous museums, but we don’t often visit them.
One year for my husband’s birthday, we went to the Battleship. Although he’d lived here about 20 years at that point, he couldn’t remember if he’d ever been. He loved learning about the history and getting an up-close view of the machinery and living quarters. We’ve also taken boat tours before, and one year for my birthday we spent the day touring Bald Head Island.
While I haven’t decided for sure, I’m thinking this year we might focus on local museums. Maybe we’ll head to Southport for the day and visit the North Carolina Maritime Museum and the Fort Johnston – Southport Museum and Visitor Center. We’ve never been to either, and my husband really enjoys learning about local history
What’s your favorite local tourist attraction? Even if we aren’t celebrating a special occasion, we’re always looking for new activities. This time of year is perfect because the weather is much cooler, and it’s a good time to think about things you might want to do with visiting family members over the holidays.
Sherry Jones is the StarNews executive editor. You can reach her [email protected].
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