Last week’s spring break provided a welcome respite for many Shelby Countians as people made trips to warmer climates, ski slopes or to visit family and friends. My family and I took a different approach, choosing a ‘stay-cation’ rather than a trip out of town, and it proved to be a great choice. During a ‘stay-cation,’ residents choose to experience the local community through the eyes and activities of a visitor; doing so forces you to consider the many fun diversions right in your back yard, many of which you drive by unaware of just what you are missing.

Our ‘stay-cation’ included a lazy walk on the University of Montevallo campus, trying a recently opened local restaurant, playtime for our children at several of Shelby County’s wonderful parks and even a much-deserved spa day for my wife; it was a fun-filled week which created ample memories while helping us keep our budget in check and our money in the local community. We’d choose it again in an instant.

Here are a few of the items already on the list for our next ‘stay-cation’ that would be worth considering for yours:

-The American Village. Take your youthful imagination and sense of patriotism to the American Village for an afternoon unlike any other you could experience in this century.

-Golfing. Shelby County offers any number of outstanding courses where you can spend a day testing your skills.

-Play ball! Our county has a great number of youth sports leagues, which give local kids a chance to learn valuable life skills in a fun filled environment.

-Lay Lake. This beautiful lake is perhaps best known for its spotted and largemouth bass fishing, but it certainly provides countless other recreational activities well worth discovering.

Mother Nature still appears confused on whether she wishes for it to be winter or spring, leaving so many Shelby Countians longing for warm, sunny days and cool spring nights.

But rest assured, those warmer days are just around the corner, creating the perfect opportunity to experience (or re-experience) many of our local ‘stay-cation’ hotspots.