Theoretically, we know what a vacation is. When the pandemic raged, we heard an awful lot about the staycation. Today, we introduce the straycation. On a straycation, you wander each day, possibly with a destination in mind, possibly just for the ride. When you get home in the late afternoon, you take a little nap on the sleeping porch before making dinner, you sit on the front porch, and you sleep in your own bed at night. Here is the recipe for a perfect long weekend, though results may vary if you don’t have cloudless sunny days with temperatures in the mid to high 70s, a trusty antique British convertible, casual outdoor dining locations within a couple hours’ drive, scenic less-traveled roadways, and a family that is always up for the ride.
Straycation
- Friday evening, eat on Domer’s deck. Get a cheesesteak with curly fries.
2. Saturday, pick Sophia up in the morning and take Routes 405 and 147 south along the river until you reach Penn’s Tavern Historical Waterfront Restaurant. Eat on the deck overlooking the river, watching kayaker’s paddle ashore to do the same. Order seafood nachos to share and a burger with fries.
3. Enjoy the drive home, rest up from your time in the sun, and make Korean beef with gochujang baby potatoes and green beans for supper. Sit on the front porch chatting until the sun goes down.
4. Sunday, skip church (putting the stray in straycation) and leave even earlier than the day before. This time, drive north up Route 14 all the way to Troy. Go east on Route 6 to Towanda, south on Route 220 to Dushore, and south on Route 87 to High Knob Inn. If you have had enough sun, eat inside, enjoy the taxidermy, and order a deluxe cheesesteak.
5. Marvel at the perfection of weather and scenery on the way home, rest a bit, and meet Eli, Wes, and Kathy at New Trail. Catch up with all the old friends you run into, but forget to take pictures because you are too busy enjoying the moment to capture the moment.
6. Come home and eat leftovers from High Knob Inn because what made you all think you each needed your own cheesesteak at lunch?
7. Monday morning, each of you strays to the activity that speaks to you. I took a bike ride. Phil caught up on some stuff. Ben swept the front porch and patio, then wiped down chairs in the hopes of “making a party.” He kept insisting that we have spring outdoor furniture and summer outdoor furniture, and it was time for a seasonal swap. Maybe he’s confusing us with the Rockefellers or something, but we had to break it to him that this is as good as it gets!
8. After securing groceries for the final portion of your straycation, make summer rolls and chicken sate with peanut sauce and rice. It is not traditional Memorial Day fare, but what is a straycation for if not to stray?
Where do you stray when you can?