Staycation is one of the few unique trends brought about by the recent global pandemic. While traveling seems to be the commonly popular option after a long house-arrest of this pandemic, a staycation is a more economically feasible and healthy alternative. Staycations provide the opportunity of hassle-free local exploring in a restorative and affordable way instead of expensive busy typical travel itineraries. But, there are some common mistakes the travel experts always warn you about, while planning and during the ‘travel’ to your own hometown. Here they are.

• Missing Out Local Discounts

In almost every place, some hotels, eateries, spas, and attractions offer special discounted rates only for local travelers. So while booking a local hotel or travel experience, don’t forget to ask about special local rates.

• Last Minute Booking

It’s very wrong to assume that early booking is not needed in case of staycations. With domestic travels picking up gradually, staycations are more popular than ever resulting in a rush booking of hotels and attractions. According to travel experts, it’s best to make your reservation at least a month ahead to avoid the fuss.

• Not Packing Properly

Though sounds irrelevant, proper packing is a useful trick of the trade, while planning a staycation, especially due to some pandemic-driven changes in hospitality practices. For example, almost every hotel now is prioritizing hygiene safety and is no longer providing one-time-use toiletries. So, packing your regular-use things accordingly will save you a ton of hassle later on.

• Skipping Research on the Location

According to travel experts, probably the biggest mistake of any staycation planning is not to bother with researching about the destination like any out-of-station trip. Though relatively closer to your home base, exploring new attractions, trying new things, and discovering hidden gems will undoubtedly perk up your staycation, enabling you to appreciate your known hometown in a new meaningful light.

• Failing to Unplug from Mundane Life

The proximity of staycation from your house or workplace can be a burden during staycation causing trouble in disconnecting from your daily life. Choosing a nearby place to be available on short notice, is a sheer waste of the staycation budget.

With all its diversity and collegiality, it’s no surprise that the city of Boston is home to museums of every type. From carefully stored historical time capsules to fun reenactment of history itself, Boston museums give the tourist their pick of options. Whether it is kids or adults, there’s something for everyone! Read on to find out about the must-visit museums of The Hub.

Institute of Contemporary Art

Situated in a stylish and spacious seaport building, the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA) is the cultural cornerstone of the Boston waterfront. With a sprawling 65,000-square-feet of floor space, the glass-walled building houses multiple galleries, a theater, and even a café. Founded in 1936, the museum changed its name in 1948, from the original Boston Museum of Modern Art to ICA. Distancing itself from the partisan concept of ‘modern,’ the museum takes pride in embracing the changing concept of ‘contemporary’ and being an inclusive platform for creative, challenging, and offbeat contemporary works. One can also catch a concert or a DJ on the scenic breezy back deck for a lighter scene.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum

As the name suggests, this fun and floating museum is centered on a milestone event in America — the Boston Tea Party. There are various things one can do here, like visit the media exhibits explaining the event, but the most thrilling part is the live reenactment of the historic incident! The one-hour-long museum tour takes place on restored 18th-century sailing vessels, which replicate the ships involved in the original event from December 16th, 1773. Aiming to educate the participants in a fun way, the tour features historical interpretations and interactive exhibitions. Visitors also have a chance to get a taste of history by sampling the five flavors of teas thrown overboard that winter evening. Lastly, one can score a photo op by dumping tea themselves. Memorabilia, anyone?

Harvard Museum of Natural History

The historic Harvard Museum of Natural History in Boston boasts of a vast — and perhaps a slightly creepy — collection of bottled, dried, and stuffed creatures from across the globe. There’s everything from butterflies, to coelacanths, to llamas to please the fossil-mad nerds. One can gawk at the dinosaur skeletons or be wowed by the gigantic 42-foot kronosaurus, a prehistoric marine reptile. Rock fans (the stone, not the music), can head straight to the gemstones and meteorites section. The entry fee to this museum includes admission to another interconnected institution- the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology. This particular museum of Boston is renowned for its anthropological exhibitions focused on North and South America.