This article and many more can be found in our 48 page 2024-2025 Winter Guide. The guides are available in racks all across Minot Air Force Base, or can be viewed online at northernsentry.com
After the holiday stress has exhausted our budgets, health and stress levels, most of us could really use a little self-care to rest and recharge. Did you know that staycations—vacations where you stay at home or travel nearby— offer many of the same mental and physical benefits as a traditional vacation, but with less stress and a lower price tag? For example, no worrying about what to pack for an entire week or whether to bring dressy clothes for any parties or get togethers. There are many other reasons that a staycation could be a viable option for a “winter break.”
Staycations don’t involve early morning flights, large crowds, long travel days, lost luggage, or complicated trip logistics. Staycations may involve an out-of-office reply and maybe a short drive. A staycation may help make the most of the earned and paid time-off. A military member earns 2 ½ days of leave a month. A normal weekend off doesn’t involve using the earned leave if the destination is within four hours away, letting a military member keep accumulating the paid time off and saving it for much bigger trips.
With a vacation near home, there aren’t large crowds to fight. Because of their simplicity and lower price tag, staycations also stretch the travel budget. Costs associated with tickets, baggage, taxi fares, long-term parking fees, and hotel fees can accumulate. With a staycation, these extra costs are almost eliminated. You can put that money toward an upgraded hotel room or a relaxing spa treatment. This creates a more relaxed and happier you and family!
If “vacation” in your household means a trip to the dog kennel, your pet will appreciate a staycation where they can come along. Some Minot hotels, such as Clarion Hotel Convention Center, the Sleep Inn & Suites Conference Center and Water Park, and Hotel Revel offer pet-friendly rooms, so you can relax and know that your pet is safe and sound with you, and they get in on the family fun too!
The greatest aspects of staycations are that they can be almost anything you want, and they are good excuses to check things off your home-town tourist to-do list. Just remember, laundry and chores can wait until the staycation ends. Treat yourself and your family to a nice meal without worrying about cooking it and washing the dishes. Busy schedules and daily routines sometimes don’t leave much time for exploring new places or businesses around towns. Wander through downtown Minot and visit the local businesses or drive through Oak Park or Roosevelt Park for the winter scenery. Minot is one of the smallest cities in the U.S. to have a full symphony orchestra, so enjoy a concert at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at Minot State University.
One nearby destination to take a “staycation” is the Sky Dancer Casino and Resort in Belcourt, nestled in the forested hills of North Dakota’s Turtle Mountains, 97 miles or a 1 hr. 35-minute drive northeast of Minot AFB. Sky Dancer offers comfortable rooms and suites, several dining options, and elevated amenities. Sky Dancer’s 23,000-square-foot Turtle Mountain Water Park features an activity pool, 3 waterslides, a 175-foot-long lazy river with two spray features, a wading pool with zero-depth entry, a multi-level play structure, an elevated spa, and a kiddie’s play area, which makes Sky Dancer Casino and Resort perfect for families to escape for a day or two. For Friday through Sunday day passes, this amazing water park is only $20 for ages 3-11 and $25 for ages 12+. Anyone under 3 years old is free. Have fun splashing in the water while the snow is coming down. For more information about admissions, visit https://turtleislandadventureparks.com/indoor-water-park/admissions/.
Don’t feel like driving or worried about bad weather and icy roads? Then, make your own staycation in Minot. Book a hotel room at the Hotel Revel, located in the heart of Minot and next to the Dakota Square Mall, and lounge by the indoor saltwater pool and hot tub and enjoy a cocktail or mocktail. Hotel Revel’s complimentary amenities include daily hot breakfast, high-speed internet, in-room streaming (Netflix, Hulu, etc.), and guest laundry. Also, there is a cash bar providing beer & wine. Get a good night’s sleep without the worry about the drive home…or those chores.
So, take that staycation to rest and recharge to “survive” the dark winter hours.
