Handy vacationing

A new word is taking hold in the American version of the English language: staycation. It's a blend of "stay of home" or "stay close" and "vacation." Those who enjoy a staycation spend their time doing things in their own hometowns or travel short distances.

A "short distance" can mean different things to different folks. For some, a staycation is traveling less than 100 miles. For others, it's going no farther than a day's drive. For still other, it's seeing the sights in this country instead of traveling abroad.

Whatever your version of staycation is, there is much to be said for those who want to travel no more than 100 miles.

Reunions and festivals

Just look at all the events going on in the Cape Girardeau area and surrounding towns. Both Jackson High School and Central High School in Cape Girardeau have just held wonderful reunions that brought together hundreds of former classmates. Some of those graduates traveled long distances to renew old acquaintances, but most of those attending were from this area.

Chaffee just had its annual German Days. There is always some kind of cultural or historical celebration in lovely Ste. Genevieve. Towns like Frohna and Altenburg are full of history regarding the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Sikeston is a rodeo town with plenty to do during its Cotton Festival.

Traveling west, Marble Hill's natural history museum and dinosaur exhibit are worth a trip. Wappapello and Clearwater lakes offer boating, camping and picnicking. On the edge of the 100-mile limit are Big Springs and the Current River.

Parks and trails

Towns in Southern Illinois abound in interesting things to do and see: the park overlooking the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in Cairo, a great biking trail on an older railroad bed at Vienna, the John Logan museum in Murphysboro and miles of trails and great food at Giant City State Park.

Both Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois have a fair share of wineries. And across the bridge from Cairo is Wycliffe, Ky., where you can see and learn about the burial mounds of American Indian.

This partial list barely scratches the surface of things to do in our area. You want a staycation? You're in the right neighborhood.