If money’s tight and you can’t swing airfare to a beautiful beach or other tropical destination, why not consider a staycation? These at-home holidays are more and more popular in recent years, and here are some fun ideas for your own.

Research Your Town
Chances are your town has an interesting history, but it may not be something you've ever really considered! Why not take some time this summer to learn about its past history, its buildings, and what your neighborhood was like years ago?

International Cuisine Potluck
Spend some time reasearching the food of another country, then have a potluck where guests each bring a unique dish. Indian cuisine, Thai cuisine, and other national cuisines offer some enjoyable new tastes to experience together.

Game Tournament
Each night, play a different board or card game with your family members. Record the winner every night and have an awards ceremony at the end of the “season” giving prizes for various things.

Geocaching
This popular hobby can be enjoyed just about anywhere. People hide waterproof containers with logbooks in various locations all over the world, and anybody with a GPS and a sense of adventure can follow clues to find them.

Wine and food lovers in Leesburg can count on The Wine Kitchen to satisfy their taste buds. This cozy, rustic wine bar was selected as one of the best new restaurants in 2009 by Northern Virginia magazine, and has continued to earn good marks from critics and diners alike. The menu changes seasonally, but regular standouts like farm-raised quail and cornmeal-herb waffles, homemade gnocchi, and duck confit — all keeping patrons coming back for more. Located in the heart of downtown Leesburg, The Wine Kitchen is a very popular dinner destination, though it also offers a lunch menu. Regular diners warn of long waits for tables, and suggest that visitors plan to take advantage of the extensive wine list by having a leisurely meal. Wine-lovers suggest asking the knowledgeable staff for wine recommendations or choosing one of the wine-sampler flights available each night. The Wine Kitchen is a perfect choice for a special evening with friends or family, good conversation, laughter, and great food and drink!

The Wine Kitchen
7 S. King Street
Leesburg, VA 20175
(703) 777-9463
 

Looking for tasty Tex-Mex food in Herndon? Check out Guapo’s Restaurant. The rotisserie chicken is the signature dish and the chicken is perfectly seasoned and juicy. The combo includes a choice of rotisserie (most customers are satisfied with a quarter chicken), a salad, Guapo’s sauce, and your choice of fried potatoes, corn tortillas, or for an additional charge, fried yucca. Everyone who dines at Guapo’s loves the fried yucca with its crispy exterior and airy interior that pairs well with Guapo’s sauces, especially the green sauce if you enjoy a spicy kick. Be sure to cherish every bite of fried yucca though, because an order only comes with five. Guapo’s makes you feel welcome as soon as you step in the door with its inviting, lively atmosphere. It can be busy during lunch and dinnertime, so the wait might have you thinking about ordering a larger portion of rotisserie chicken.

Guapo's
1042 Elden Street
Herndon, VA 20170
(703) 787-8887