By Tisa Conway-Cunningham
Eat. Drink. Travel. Vacations do not always have to be an overnight adventure, especially when all you need is just one day to relax and rejuvenate.
It’s June, and we are in the full swing of summer. While all of us would love nothing more than to take a much needed sabbatical, that is just not a reality for everyone. Whether it be the lack of time or the lack of funds, neither should hinder us from a much needed break.
My wife and I have been together for 14 years, and of those married for 11 years. A lot of times our friends, family and students ask us how we keep it exciting and interesting. We always, honestly, say the same thing. First, we actually like each other. She is my best friend, my other half, and the person that I truly could share everything with.
Second, we are intentional about spending quality time with each other. We take turns planning at least one date each week. Lately, I have had so much fun with this. I create little adventures for us that I like to coin, daycations.
Daycations. Short trips. Experiences. Food. Drinks. Fun. It is a day where you can unwind, unplug, live life and enjoy each other. When I am planning these days, I like to think about all of the little things, activities or places that Krystal and I have referenced and let it go from there.
An easy place to start is locally. I like to check out social media. Look on the events tab. Here you can see what is happening locally and in surrounding counties and cities. Search local venues, local group pages, and you can even see events that your friends are interested in and have highlighted. Remember, when you visit pages, push the like tab or the follow tab. This way, when these pages post events and happenings, they show up on your news feed.
There is so much fun all around us to get into, but you have to seek out the adventures. I like to look at what is happening near me anytime I am on Facebook (FB). I click the interested tab on different events, which will prompt me to share with persons I would like to experience the events with. It even gives the option to add the events to my online calendar. By clicking “interested” or “going” FB will periodically send reminders about each event, which comes in handy when planning my mini “daycays”.
Local events are golden. From festivals, classes, concerts, themed days, dinners and even shopping days. Any, and/or all of these experiences can become a basis to build a daycay.
An event that Krystal and I have frequented in the past few years is the Josephine Sculpture Park’s Barn Raisin.’ Josephine Sculpture Park is self described as “where art meets the earth.” There are over 70 works of art that can be explored on over 40 acres of forested and native meadows. The Barn Raisin’ combines conservation, culture, and cuisine.
For $125, you can enjoy live music, locally-sourced fare, silent auction, family-style dining, complimentary bar and supporting a good cause on June 7, 2026.
This is definitely a great event you want to partake in and it makes for a great daycation. Visit the sculptures, eat some delicious locally sourced food creations, have a drink, listen to live music and enjoy the elements.
There are always events going on, and while some do cost, some are free to enter with minor costs for food and drink. Think, summer concert series, or free movie nights on the old capital lawn. Splurge when you can, but if the budget is tight, look for special discounts and special rates and curate your special experience around those money saving events.
Now, I believe a friend told me about this next place, but this daycation was epic. Just a short scenic drive to Versailles, among acres and acres of horse farms, is Irish Acres Gallery and The Glitz restaurant.
Trust me. You will spend several hours here. With three levels of antiques, it reads more like a warehouse versus any typical antiques shop. This is a mecca for antiques. Furniture, jewelry, hand bags, tea sets, antique toys, sculptures and period pieces. Anything you can think of or not think of, you will find it there.
Exploring everything that this place has to see can easily take up an afternoon, and you will be glad you built up an appetite too. On the ground floor below all of the action is a whimsical restaurant called The Glitz.
The Glitz provides a luxury, upscale ambiance without the ticket price. For $39 per person, you can enjoy a three course meal. Once you check-in with the hostess, you are escorted to your seat and provided with their current menu, water and their specialty drink, the Apple Cider Spritzer. Your lunch price includes an appetizer, entree and dessert of your choosing.
The food is scrumptious, and with dishes like the florentine corgette tart that Krystal enjoyed, and the salmon en croute that I enjoyed, there is a little something for everyone to enjoy. The menu here rotates on a three week basis, so there is always something new and inviting to keep the experience fresh.
The experience did not stop there though. About 10 minutes down the street is Wildside Winery, so I planned a wine tasting for each of us. For $15, each person is able to curate their own wine tasting experience by picking six choices from their extensive wine selection. The staff is knowledgeable of the selections, are able to offer advice on things to try, walk you through your personal experience, and provide you with a wealth of knowledge about their wine making process. After your wine tasting experience, your glass is cleaned, wrapped and you are able to take it home as a souvenir to remind you of your special daycation.
An added bonus at Wildside on this day was a plant swap event that was happening. It was free to the public, and I was able to acquire 10 different clippings for free to start my own indoor green space for our home. Events like these are always happening, so make sure to check the calendar page on your destination’s website to be in the know about all that is going on.
Not a wine person, they also have slushies, beers on tap and other beverages. If you need a bite to accompany your tasting, they have a limited menu that includes charcuterie boards in multiple sizes, beer cheese boards, sandwiches, wraps and a few other items. There is indoor and outdoor seating, different spaces for small and large groups, and is kid-friendly with events for all ages.
Daycations are one day experiences that are designed to allow you to let your hair down, loosen your belt buckle and relax. It is a day of fun, a day for self-care, or a day to reconnect with friends, family or that special someone. This day may be short, but it allows you to take a moment to breathe and recharge.
