One of my friends is positively convinced the term staycation was created by the wealthy as a pleasant panacea for those in the underclass unable to afford the luxuries of traveling to exotic locations - or at least, outside one's own hometown. I’m taking the less cynical approach and instead viewing it as a chance for two hard workers with a more positive attitude, tackling a budgeting issue using the creativity, skills, and abilities keenly chiseled in their respective trades.
Standing staunchly beside one another and with almost childlike defiance, my significant other and I simply refused passive acceptance as our vacation budget shriveled. Instead, we took risks and expanded our imagination – both of which proved a worthy challenge to two individuals who have now learned to plan much more carefully, and well in advance, for that dream vacation. In the meantime, we didn't just halfheartedly map out a staycation - we forged ahead like dedicated tourists in our own hometown.
Risk Highlight: Cedar Point Amusement Park – The Roller Coaster Capital of the World
“Cedar Point,” rolled out of my mouth before I had a chance to accurately assess my teenage memories of the Sandusky, Ohio amusement park. Although cloudy, fear was strangely absent from those aforementioned memories – but almost managed to make itself a cozy little third party on our coaster date. My significant other stepped up to the plate and knocked fear out of the proverbial ballpark, coaching me through lines and onto rides that seemed insurmountable once up close. I was determined to have an active, eventful staycation, or at least one major personally uncharacteristic trip, but it was only thanks to my partner that I screamed like a teen again while on the coasters, instead of simply screaming and running back to the car.
As a couple, we were brought closer together by the experience, both of us more shocked than I think we would even like to admit at both the evolution as couple and individual. Additionally, whether it was the element of fear or role reversal in caretaking, Cedar Point was precisely the elixir we both needed to begin the staycation.
Relaxation Highlight: Amadeus Spa Couples Massage at the McKinley Grand
Fear was becoming a running theme for me – and I found this to be just absolutely unacceptable. Amadeus Spa owner Tim Kolopus assured me in an email that my fears were normal, but unfounded, in regards to a couples massage. Although popular with couples, the massage is not only for lovers, indicating his experienced massage therapists have provided the service for many different types of people on special days, from colleagues to friends, from bride to maid of honor, to even a mother/daughter bonding experience, to name just a few. What Kolopus wrote made sense and I suddenly felt silly for seeing potential menace where there was none. I blamed overworking. It was definitely time to relax.
Kolopus indicated room 202 at the McKinley Grand Hotel in downtown Canton (a former Hilton property, quite popular during Hall of Fame week and throughout the year for various work/holiday/special event celebrations) was the offsite location for the service, which consisted simply of two massage therapists in the same room, simultaneously providing both my partner and I a one-hour relaxation massage. He also included the benefits of massage as well, in an email attachment, which sold my better half immediately: improve sleep, relieve muscle aches and stiffness, reduce muscle tension and discomfort, enhance tissue elasticity and flexibility, increase range of motion in joints, reduce anxiety, improve circulation, enhance general relaxation, and improve immune system function.
In addition to all of that, there was much giggling and excitement, even a little nervous tension while undressing before the massage, which both my partner and I found pleasantly awkward. We indulged in room service, staying in room 822 for the evening, a meaningful number for us (the title of a short story I had written almost a decade earlier), although it was purely by chance we were assigned that room. Or was it?
Two Staycation Misses: Sense of Humor Placed it All into Perspective
I won’t waste much space discussing the misses, but the experience just wasn’t good at the North Canton Rockne’s: the taste was rather bland, the presentation uninspiring, and the wrong order was delivered to our table. To the chain’s credit, they are beloved by many and the web reviews are usually good, so we might give the location another chance in the future.
However, no future chance will be given to the Courtyard Marriott – Cleveland Airport South. We’d had such a magnificent and surprisingly smooth staycation thus far; I suspect we just did not consider the idea of a snag at this juncture, certainly not with the Marriott logo attached to the hotel.
While the front desk and maintenance staff were quite pleasant, the breakfast nook staff members were unabashedly rude, the hotel was maddeningly packed, the complimentary coffee was never actually available when I checked, the Jacuzzi (a main reason we stopped for the night) wasn’t functional, and there was trash in our room, both on the floor and on the balcony. We refused to let it ruin our evening in Cleveland, and spent the majority of our time in Coventry Village shopping (Big Fun, Record Revolution, for example) and dining in Little Italy, toasting all good things at the absolutely stellar Primo Vino.
Back to Homestead, Dining Like Royalty, and End Notes
After the unpleasant hotel stay, we decided to head back home to Canton and use our staycation funds instead to dine like royalty and enjoy each other’s company. I’ve been dining out for far too long to underestimate my ability to remain objective, and I know we didn’t just get lucky each time we chose a restaurant. The restaurants we frequent in North Canton (Macaroni Grille, Bravo) and Canton (Ferraro’s) really are just that tasty, as well as remaining affordable and committed to providing all-around top-notch customer service. Newer player in Massillon, Sophia’s Restaurant, understands this – and we were grateful to end the staycation on a high foodie note!
With so many choices, there is no need to settle for lackluster service in any capacity. Furthermore, with the right sense of perspective, an even attempt at budgeting, the right partner, a good amount of humor, a dash of flexibility, and a willingness to get out, meet people, try new things, and experience the act of the staycation to the fullest can lead to all sorts of revelations and insight – both big and small - that will stay with you for a long time afterwards.
Additional Notes:
Extremely pleasant, highly recommended local mechanics who readied our rides for an uninterrupted staycation and took care of us when we did have an emergency:
Belknap and Sons, 1202 Whipple Ave. NW Canton, OH 44708 (330) 479-8253
Take Off Tire, 1307 1st St. NE Massillon, OH 44646 (330) 833-0186
Dan’s Service, 3225 4th Street Southeast, Canton, OH 44707, (330) 488-2244
Recommended website for Cleveland area restaurants: www.opentable.com
Rhonda Baughman - Dr. Rhonda Baughman is a graduate of Kent State (Honors College), Antioch Univ. McGregor (Midwest), and Argosy University, Chicago.
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