A couple of weekends ago, the Clever Boyfriend and I were both tired, run-down and in much need of a some quality relaxation. But given I had just returned from two weeks in New York (which immediately followed Fashion Week madness) and he is a mere month from finishing a PhD, a far-flung trip made no sense. And so, we indulged in perhaps the most decadent of all holidays: The Staycation.
The Staycation’s luxury derives from the fact that it is perhaps so unnecessary (after all, no one needs to stay in a hotel in their own city), but that is also precisely it’s charm. I’m not going to deny the fact that it was rather lovely to take a £5 cab ride to get to our destination (rather than the usual long-haul flight), but more than that, it is so wonderful to get a whole new outlook on your own city and see your home through the eyes of a tourist.
As we have now been living in Cambridge for nearly three years (my, how time has flown!), I was starting to get too used to the curiosities and sights I used to gape at in open-mouthed amazement (this really is one of the most wonderful places in the world, after all). And so on Saturday morning, we checked in to the charming Hotel du Vin, went for brunch, then crammed in all our favourite Cambridge things. We went punting on the river (for the best views in all the city), sat on the banks of the Cam and happily people-watched as preppy students floated up the river, gazed at old Italian masterpieces in the Fitzwilliam Museum (an English treasure), kissed under falling autumn leaves, walked along the backs and wove through ancient colleges (remembered just how beautiful they are), rummaged in tiny second-hand bookstores up cobbled alleyways and had afternoon tea in a place we’d always been meaning to try. In the evening, we dressed up for dinner and went out for a proper date that lasted into the small hours.
The next day, we went for a long walk through the wild meadows beside the river to the tiny village of Granchester for tea in an apple orchard, a place so idyllic that Lord Byron composed poems about it, and Virginia Woolf would while away afternoons there during her Cambridge years. As we made our way back to the hotel, I caught the sounds of the Kings College choir floating on the Autumn breeze from the magnificent chapel building (King Henry VIII’s monument of love to Anne Boleyn). As I looked up at that wondrous sight, it was easy to remember just how much I love living in this place filled with so much special history and beauty.
Staycation Tips:
- Treat it as you would a holiday in any other location. If you normally cram in as much sight-seeing as you can, then do this. If you normally lie around a spa and spend 5 hours reading in a bathrobe, do this instead.
- When out ‘exploring’ your city, do only fun, wonderful and luxurious things a visitor to your home might do. Do not get distracted by errands (ie. don’t pop to the chemist to pick up toothpaste ‘because you’re passing’), and see only those people you would want to take away on holiday with you.
- Pack your favourite things; clothes that make you feel fabulous, your most luxurious toiletries, a gorgeous scented candle, a book you’ve been dying to read, gorgeous lingerie, etc.
- Stay in the best accommodation (whether it be a charming B&B in the countryside, a palatial manner or a luxurious city hotel) you can afford. If you’re staying in a mouldy room with grey carpets, it won’t feel like a holiday and you might as well have stayed at home. This is about luxury.
Do you ever indulge in ‘staycations’? I’d love to know how you would spend the perfect weekend in your city.
Love, Miss B xx
Oh what a lovely post. I love your staycation “tips” – I absolutely agree with point number four (I learned this the hard way after staying in a very bad London hotel last year!). I had a really great staycation in London once where I made a list of all the museums I wanted to visit, that I hadn’t been to in yonks, and I treated myself to the best dinner that night too. I found some hidden treasures I hadn’t known about before – that’s the fabulous thing about staycations, the (re)discovery factor :-))
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Cambridge is wonderful! I will definitely have a staycation soon! I realised how much I missed Canterbury since going to uni! 🙁
Great post xx
I only spent a day in Cambridge as a full fledged tourist, but your post reminded me of the wonderful memories.
Living in DC, friends and family are continuously visiting, so I often turn those weekends into mini staycations. No hotel, but packed days of sightseeing and memorable meals are a must!
Your weekend sounds absolutely divine! Fabulous staycation tips… must try one soon. Still have plenty to see and do in NYC, even after 7 months.
This is a great post read and i love the title – staycation makes totally sense;-) Absolutely love the photo of those yellow autumn leaves and the chapel, it’s so breath taking where history and beauty comes hand in hand=D I like how you described your Cambridge adventures with your BF, it sounds so chillaxing and care free! It’s sweet how you guys dressed up for a proper dinner date. It’s important to do these special things with your other half once in a while, just like back in the days when you first started dating. Brings back that spark, hehe
Seeing all your wonderful photos reminds me of the one time only i went to Cambridge to visit a friend who was studying there years back. Sadly, i didn’t do much of what you mentioned as i only went to a uni park party to drink beer and eat hotdogs and of course, got pretty wasted….lol This definitely tells me i gotta go visit Cambridge again when i get the chance to go back to the UK. I have yet to try punting – i bet it will be an unforgettable experience.
Love all your tips about staycation – i once went to a neaby island, Lamma Island to be exact, which only takes an hour ferry ride from the busy city of Hong Kong. I went with my best mate who came for a visit from Canada and we had a ball of a time there. We ate at local seafood restaurant, had some cocktails at a pub while selecting songs from the juke box and listened to the oldies such as Whitney Houston’s – I wanna dance with somebody ( i know i know, lol), and ate at this local dessert place that’s well known for their Tofu desserts. The hotel was not the best accomodation but we had a gorgeous balacony facing the beach, and English breakfast was served for free=) Gosh, talking about all this makes me already wanna plan another staycation!!!!
This should definitely encourage everyone to go for a staycation!!!=D Speaking of which, i’ll be off to Singapore this weekend for a short family vacation. So exited!!!!!!!!! hehe
Cinz
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What an awesome (and very romantic) way to spend a weekend to recharge the batteries 🙂
I love the idea of a staycation with best hubby in the world in our own hometown over here 🙂
Thanks for this great post and the lovely pictures.
PS: I ADORE your blog! 🙂
What an awesome (and very romantic) way to spend a weekend to recharge the batteries 🙂
I love the idea of a staycation with best hubby in the world in our own hometown over here 🙂
Thanks for this great post and the lovely pictures.
PS: I ADORE your blog! 🙂
I love the idea of “getting away” whilst still being in your own city, I’ve been meaning to do something like this in London, everyone needs a break every now and then XX
This sounds a very lovely weekend, I love spending some days into the nature in Italy like a tourist, there are always new wonderful landscapes to discover.
Cambridge looks beautiful! I live in London and have never ventured up, but after seeing this I think I might have to. I’m off for a long weekend away next week, and this just got me very excited for what’s to come! I hope you’re feeling nice and relaxed now! xx
I’ve lived in Cambridge my whole life and it’s great to see it through a visitor’s eyes. I spent a day with my boyfriend walking up to the top St Mary’s Church steeple and visiting colleges; it really does remind you of what an idyllic place you live in.
Great post, fantastic pictures!
Lovely photos! Looks like a fabulous day out. I didn’t get to venture this way last time I was in London. I only had 3 days, but definitely will have a look when I’m back in London next.
Have subscribed to your blog so looking forward to reading more 🙂
I just read your post with the Amelie soundtrack playing in the background – your staycation sounds delightful!
Seems like a trip to Cambridge is now on the cards for me 🙂
This post is beautiful x
My brother is in the King’s College Choir :o)
Glad you enjoyed your staycation!
I’m getting serious city envy reading this! The bf and I did a London staycation last year. It really felt like being in a different city – went to jazz club, different bars, stayed out til the small hours then only had a 2 minute wander back to the hotel instead of a tube followed by a night bus. Bliss. I agree that errands are verboten, otherwise you might as well stay at home! Lovely post.
What a great idea! With a new baby in tow, far flung vacations aren’t really a possibility right now. The staycation, on the other hand, is perfect for us! Thanks for the idea!! XO
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Staycations are such a great idea, but I never seem to get around to doing it! Cambridge really is one of the most beautiful cities in the world; I’m glad you took the time to see it with new eyes!
Oh, what a lovely Fall (Autumn) post! You’ve made this Northern hemisphere gal living in the Southern hemisphere very jealous. The weather in Sydney is great, but I want a sweater day…with an apple…and that purse 🙂 thanks for the post!
Thank you for the post, it took me back to the time when I visited Cambridge. I live in London, and went to visit Cambridge this autumn. It is a wonderful place! I spent there one lovely day, visiting the colleges. I also went in a punt, which was a great experience. I took plenty of photos, you can browse them at my photo blog http://seebeautyaround.blogspot.com/.
I recommend Cambridge to everyone, absolutely worth visiting!
I love this idea; I live in a city that is close to another city, and I’ve been wanting to go ‘visit’ our neighboring sights for a weekend with my boyfriend– thanks for reminding me!
Just found your blog and I LOVE it! I did a staycation several years ago and it was very fun I need to do another one soon.
ooh lovely lovely post – I’m a Cambridge girl, and a poet, so this is exactly how I do see the fabled city, but every time friends come and I do The Tour, I get to see it with new eyes. In fact I was just googling ‘favourite things to do in Cambridge’ and your blog was top of google’s list for me 🙂
Really looking forward to discovering more of your style…