What are you doing for vacation next year? Tuesday, Jan. 25 is National Plan for Vacation Day, powered by the U.S. Travel Association. The day is dedicated to encouraging Americans to plan their time off for the entire year. And there is a ton to do right here in a Colorado Springs staycation.
“Visit Colorado Springs celebrates National Plan for Vacation Day every year,” says Doug Price, president & CEO of Visit COS. “We encourage our staff to map out their entire year of vacation days, so it’s more likely they’ll actually be used.”
Data from the U.S. Travel Association found that Americans leave 768 million vacation days unused annually. Of course, the U.S. has experienced nearly two years of fewer opportunities to travel amid pandemic stress and fatigue. American workers are reporting extreme levels of exhaustion, with more than 80% feeling moderately or extremely burned out, according to Destination Analysts.
While some may not be ready for a lengthy trip yet, planning shorter staycations and road trips is also important. Any time off work to focus on family, rest and rejuvenation is beneficial for workers’ mental health.
“We ask all businesses to consider setting aside some time next Tuesday for employees to consider their vacation days and start planning,” Price says. “Join us in prioritizing time off and its wonderful mental health benefits.”
Here are a few fun staycation ideas from Visit COS for the Pikes Peak region.
- Catch a Switchbacks FC game at Weidner Field and a Rocky Mountain Vibes game at UCHealth Park.
- Take The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway up Pikes Peak and visit the Summit Visitor Center.
- Starting Feb. 1, get your tickets for the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo this July and celebrate its inaugural year as the NFR Open with a million dollars in prize money.
- Take a family road trip to nearby Cañon City and visit the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River, Skyline Drive and more.
Check out more information about National Plan for Vacation Day.
Find more Colorado Springs staycation ideas here.
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