Over the past decade, the staycation or stay-at-home trend has gained popularity among travelers looking for a more affordable and relaxing alternative to their vacation. Instead of planning a trip abroad or to another city, they choose to stay home and explore their local city, relax at home, or do outdoor activities. Here we present some ideas to enjoy a staycation in Yucatan, a State that has it all!
Explore your local city: Many people never take the time to explore the lesser-known corners of their city. Take time to visit museums, parks, and tourist attractions in your city that you wouldn’t normally visit. Also, research events that take place in your city during the summer season, such as festivals, outdoor concerts, and fairs.
Among the most recognized museums and parks in Mérida you can find:
- Museo Fernando García Ponce – MACAY Has permanent exhibits of works by Yucatecan artists, including additional paintings by Fernando Castro Pacheco, the painter of the murals in the Government Palace.
- The Great Museum of the Mayan World Exhibits a great sample of Mayan history and anthropology.
- Museum of Anthropology and History Housed in a fully restored mansion is a vast display of local Mayan history and anthropology.
- Palacio de la Música It was created with the aim of valuing, conserving, studying and disseminating the cultural heritage contained in traditional and popular Mexican music. It is located in the Historic Center of the city of Mérida Yucatán.
- Government Palace The arched interior patio, a gallery on the second floor, and the balcony are venues for a display of paintings by local Mérida artist Fernando Castro Pacheco. The murals show the history of Yucatan.
- Hacienda Yaxcopoil has become a parador and museum of a particular character, which tries to show with the greatest truthfulness and simplicity, the spaces and furnishings that were customary to use in times of splendor since the 17th century.
- Parque de Santa Lucía For more than 40 years, on Thursdays at 9 pm, the square of Parque Santa Lucía has been dressed in music and dancing. In the open air, more than a hundred people gather around the stage, waiting for the musicians to play their instruments to start a romantic and troubadour evening.
- Parque de Las Américas,is considered one of the most beautiful in Mérida, and proof of this is the many visits it receives from Meridians and tourists all day. The park is in the northeast of Mérida and consists of four modules: the Mayan fountain, the library (Centro Cultural José Martí), the Felipe Carrillo Puerto kindergarten and the Acoustic Shell.
- Paseo verde in Mérida, is an important point of recreation on a metropolitan scale and an axis of mobility for both pedestrians and cyclists. It is satisfied with 12 kilometers of walkers and bike paths; 14 playgrounds for children; 13 esplanades and 9 outdoor gyms; 2 urban gardens; 2 multipurpose courts and a multifunctional one with synthetic grass, all covered; 4 soccer fields 7; BMX track, area for gotcha and more… You can’t miss it!
- Extreme sports park, is located to the west of the city and considered the first of its kind in the region. It ensures family fun and adventure, it has 17 attractions such as pedal go-karts, the zip line, the climbing tower, the elevated circuits, the trampolines and the giant slide.
Rest at home: Don’t want to leave the house? No problem. The staycation is also an opportunity to kick back and relax at home. Take advantage of the time to read that book that you have on the nightstand or watch that television series that you have been putting off. You can also do a spa session at home with a bubble bath and facial mask. Enjoy the tranquility of your home and recharge your batteries.
Do outdoor activities: If you prefer to be active, try outdoor activities like hiking, biking, boating, or fishing. Yucatan has beautiful beaches, very close to the city, to carry out these activities. If you have a pool at home, have a pool party with friends and family. Organize a barbecue in the park or simply enjoy a day of picnic.
Read our article Do you know the activities you can do on the beaches of Yucatan? and discover everything you can do in this area of this fabulous State.
Take a food tour: The staycation is also an opportunity to try new restaurants in your city. Research popular local restaurants and try typical dishes. You can also take a food tour visiting different places to try different styles of cooking. Make a reservation at a fine dining restaurant for a special night.
The gastronomy of Mérida is renewed at every moment, always preserving its traditional essence and offering us a unique culinary experience. Traditional Yucatecan food is based on the ancestral knowledge of the Mayan peoples, who combined the Spanish tradition with the preparation of different foods. The rich Mayan past and abundance of creative ingredients and crafts are a little-kept secret discovered by those seeking the gastronomic experience.
In Mérida you will find endless options to enjoy spectacular gastronomy, including specialty restaurants with renowned avant-garde chefs.
Host a game night: Invite friends and family over for a game night at home. Play classic board games or video games. Host a card tournament or play team board games. Game night is a fun way to spend time together and create lasting memories.
Remember that Mérida goes beyond a safe city, it has a very broad history and cultural diversity that is experienced every day; Abundant colonial churches dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, 19th century buildings and elegant old mansions influenced by all the opulence of the beautiful era. All this is complemented by modern buildings by award-winning architects, new residential areas, museums, musical events and renowned restaurants, making it a sophisticated city. In short, a staycation in the Yucatan is a way to enjoy quality time without spending a lot of money.
Take time to explore your local town, relax at home, get outdoors, try new restaurants, and enjoy the company of friends and family. With a little creativity, you can have a memorable and exciting staycation without leaving your city.
Escrito por Gregory Hokenson
Socio fundador de Balam Group, nació en New Jersey, EUA. Vive en Mérida desde 2008, proyectos de construcción y restauración de casas antiguas en el centro histórico.
