My family and I have had the time of our lives during our spring break. This year, I wanted us to do something different from our normal quick trips or “rest-the-full-week” excursions. What better way to spring break than to enjoy a staycation. See, I grew up in the Dallas area and believe it or not, there are still places within the city I have yet to experience. I figured this year was the perfect time to do just that for the family.
Let’s discuss some of the highlights of the week!
STAYCATION LEARNING!
Yes, it is possible to learn while enjoying your staycation. Everything that we see or experience can be seen as a learning experience, don’t you think?
Perot Museum of Nature and Science
The Perot Museum was the best and aside from a semi-photo shoot, we have not visited this museum as a family, but I am glad we did. The Perot Museum is located in downtown Dallas with some of the most beautiful views and architectural elements I have seen in the city. This location contains 11 permanent exhibit halls, with hands-on activities making it a perfect family destination in Dallas. To be honest, hours can pass with all you can experience here.
We got lucky… we were given the tickets because of a photo shoot we did for the museum. We appreciated the tickets and it allowed us to add some fun to the itinerary.
If there is one piece of advice I can give to families planning to visit this museum, get there early to that you can experience most of everything before the masses arrive.
The Samurai Collection
The Samurai Collection is located in downtown Dallas and was created in 2012 to house the Japanese armor of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller. The collection is located on the second floor of S. Ann’s School Building (above Saint Ann restaurant).
This collection is amazing and I was in awe of the Suits of Armor, the helmets, the masks, and weapons.
Did I mention? To visit this collection, the admission is free? Yes, it is free! I promise it is worth the trip.
STAYCATION TRANSPORTATION!
Before I go any further, no staycation is complete without figuring out how you will get around right? The Toyota Camry Hybrid SE has too many fantastic features to mention. It is chocked full of amenities and that makes this car a winner! Out of all of those fantastic features this car has, here are a few that caught my eye!
The Hybrid Energy Monitor
This piece of technology had me intrigued and I couldn’t keep my eyes off it.
“As the driving conditions change, the monitor uses both the display and available Head-Up Display (HUD) to show how power is being routed to the drive wheels or how water energy is captured to charge the battery.”
Toyota Qi Wireless Charging Feature
Obviously, I love the fact that I have a phone that can function with this feature (first and foremost). It’s located in just the right location that is fully accessible. Place your phone on the area and push the wireless charger button to start charging. Easy!
Overall Impression
If you’ve gone on my previous car journeys, you know that I love a good interior especially since that’s where one will spend a majority of their time. The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE has lots of interior features that can keep you occupied for hours before you even begin your drive. Overall, the design of this car is exquisite and has just the right mix of functionality and style. It has a starting price point of $29,500 making it a great choice for families and individuals alike. Also, I think that it is worth noting that the 2018 Toyota Camry received the NHTSA 5-Star overall safety rating. #Winning
STAYCATION FUN!
Top Golf Fort Worth
Can you say “absolute fun”? I admit that I’ve taken my youngest to a birthday party at the one in Dallas, but I stayed to the side and left as soon as it was over. To be honest, it didn’t feel like it would be a fun time (Boy was I wrong). We decided to visit the location in Fort Worth, Texas. It was close to the downtown area of the city without the hustle and bustle of being in downtown.
We arrived, the attendant greeted us and asked if we visited before. We told her we had not, so she continued to explain how the process proceeds including where the best place for us to set up shop (the 3rd floor).
When I tell you that we had the time of our lives, please believe it. It was a relaxing environment and one that brought out our friendly competitive sides.
There is a cost associated with this activity, but aside from the $5 membership fee, we paid $25 for the hour. Not bad at all! Next time we will stay longer.
PLANNING YOUR OWN STAYCATION!
Sometimes it is not necessary to travel to a different city because planning within your city doesn’t require much advanced planning. Make a list of those locations you have yet to visit, figure out any associated costs and have a blast. You do not have to wait for spring break, you can do this one Saturday a month (for example). Fit it into your family dynamic and don’t be afraid to try something new.
Personally, I have learned that this wonderful city I grew up in has so much more to experience than I thought. Savoring the time as a family is what matters at the end of the day. I admit, sometimes I forget how much our kids have grown and how the fun we are having is not about watching them experience new things, but for us to experience those new things together. Soon, our daughter will be off to college and I want to cherish this time we have together because we’ll blink and they will be moving on to their adult lives.
What staycation plans do you have?
Until Next Time!
*Special Thank you to Toyota USA for allowing us to be able to get from location to location during this fun staycation week!*
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