With the rising cost of travel, coupled with the lower value of the Canadian dollar, many Canadians are adopting the new idea of a Staycation. Let’s face it, for many of us our home is our castle and there are plenty of benefits to enjoying our own space while taking time away from work. Staying close to home allows us to continue working on retirement savings and reducing our family debt. Sounds like “killing two birds with one stone” to me!

Taking it a step further, why not consider enjoying the outdoors by taking advantage of the many bicycle and walking paths in Durham Region and surrounding areas to get to your favourite destination and get some exercise at the same time.

For example, if you want to take advantage of the parks and trails in Oshawa, click on the link below for some ideas on areas to consider:

http://www.oshawa.ca/things-to-do/ParksTrailsandNaturalAreas.asp

I have been known to spend a great day with my wife bicycling to a few of our favourite spots so we may enjoy the local wildlife, waterways and picnics.

For ideas on packing a picnic lunch for you and your loved ones, some of our favourite shops we cycle to in Oshawa and Whitby include:

• LCBO Oshawa Centre – great wine selection
• Buckingham Meat Market – meat/cheese shop
• Olive That – specialty olive oils and aged balsamic vinegars
• The Bakers Table – Italian deli and baked goods
• Halenda’s Meats – award winning smoked and dried meats

I am sure you all have your own favourite shops you like to visit and I’d love to hear about them. Why not enjoy them, along with your own home, back yard, local parks and trails during your time off this summer. Have fun!