With airline prices soaring and gas prices near $4 a gallon, many people are forgoing traditional summer trips and choosing to stay at home. But don’t worry; there are plenty of fun things to do right here in our home town!  Here are a few tips and ideas for planning the perfect West Cobb Staycation:
  
 
- Buy a City Pass for Atlanta. It costs about half the price of regular admission to six of Atlanta’s top attractions ($69 for adults and $49 for kids). It includes the Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Zoo Atlanta, Inside CNN Atlanta Studio Tour, a choice between Fernbank Museum of Natural History OR Atlanta Botanical Garden, and a choice of either High Museum of Art OR Atlanta History Center. The City pass is valid for 9 days; go to www.citypass.com for more information. 

 - Rent a boat at Lake Allatoona and spend a day water skiing, or just soaking up the sun.
 
 - Pitch a tent in the backyard and spend a night under the stars making S’mores.

  -  Hike Kennesaw Mountain and visit the museum at the Battlefield.

 - Take a city tour of Marietta and ride the new Trolley.
 
 - Spend a day at Stone Mountain Park and stay for a picnic on the lawn and watch the Laser Show.
 
 - Be creative….the possibilities are endless!
 
Here are a few tips to keep in mind for your Staycation:
 
 - Set a start and end date so it feels more like a “real” vacation. 
 
  - Don’t work or worry about chores! This is your time off, don’t be tempted to run errands or do chores around the house. Let your co-workers know that you are on vacation.
 
 
- Set a budget. Even though you’re saving money on gas and hotels, be careful not to “splurge” so much that you end up going in debt for the staycation. The whole point is to save money.
 
 - Take photos just like you would on a real vacation and make a scrapbook or photo album.