Until recently, I had never heard the term daycation before. I had heard of mini-retirements, and getaways, and day trips, but never daycations. If you’ve ever taken a day off work to go for a hike, or simply to explore parts of your own city, you’ve taken a daycation. In this interview, travel guru Mike Barish answers my questions about daycations and his suggestions on how to get the most out of your brief escape from the 9-5 grind.
Daycations Q&A With Mike Barish
Unfinished Man: Mike, could you tell us a little about yourself and what you do as a freelance travel writer?
Mike Barish: I live in New York City and have written for a variety of websites, magazines and newspapers. I have a background in standup comedy, so most of my writing – and videos – focus on the lighter side of travel. People tend to make traveling stressful and complain about it quite a bit. My goal is to remind people that exploring the world should be fun.
UM: Tell us a little bit about daycations and what they mean exactly. I’m guessing that – like the name implies – they’re a mini-escape from the daily 9-5.
Mike: You hit the nail on the head. People can’t always take vacations because of finances, busy schedules, etc. Daycations let you break away from your normal routine without straying too far from home or breaking your budget. Some people call them mental health days or sanity breaks. It’s just a day dedicated to selfishly treating yourself.
UM: What elements go into your ideal daycation? Do you prefer to stay in town, or are you more of a nature person?
Mike: Well, I definitely love getting into nature. You would think that New York City would be a bad place for that, but there are beautiful trails just an hour north of the city that my dogs and I love. Hiking is definitely one of my favorite daycation activities. But, I’m also happy to have an urban adventure eating street foods, riding my bike around town or just reading in a park.
UM: Can daycations be done on the cheap? If so, what type of daycation would you recommend for someone on a budget?
Mike: Absolutely! That’s one of the best parts of a daycation. A picnic is a great way to have an affordable daycation, as is a hike or bike ride. You don’t have to go to a five star restaurant to treat yourself. You just need to do something for yourself for a change.
UM: For those daycationing in the city, what’s your favorite way to find new and interesting restaurants to eat at?
Mike: Rather than trust random websites or reviews, I seek out advice from my friends. I often crowdsource information on Facebook and Twitter to get suggestions from people that I know and trust.
UM: In your Soyjoy Daycations video, you suggest people try and book a day off during the middle of the week. Can you elaborate on that a bit?
Mike: Don’t get me wrong, long weekends are great. But, there’s something liberating and exciting about sneaking away from work on a random Wednesday. You feel like you’re the only person without responsibilities that day. It almost feels naughty…in a good way.
UM: Have you ever planned a daycatation that you thought would be a great idea, but that turned out really poorly in practice?
Mike: Yeah, always check the weather before you plan an outdoorsy daycation. And bring a raincoat. That’s all I have to say about that.
UM: For our readers who are single, do you think that daycations are a good way to meet new people?
Mike: Definitely! There are often meetups for people who enjoy similar activities and many cities have groups that organize hiking trips and other outdoor activities. Joining organized activities is a fantastic way to meet new people, enjoy adventures that would be challenging on your own and take some of the pressure of planning off of you.
UM: Which items are must on a daycation? Are there any items you don’t leave home without?
Mike: On a basic level, you always want some water and snacks with you to get you through the day. I like to carry a backpack so that I have a place to carry my supplies and hold any souvenirs that I might buy. A camera is a must, as you never know what you might see on your daycation. A notebook is useful too, to jot down your thoughts and make notes about new places you discover. Oh, and comfortable shoes!
UM: Is there anywhere that our readers can read more of your daycation and travel advice?
Mike: I’d love it if everyone would follow me on Twitter (@mikebarish). They can also find me at mikebarish.com and facebook.com/themikebarish. I promise to be funny…or at least share cute pictures of my dogs.
It was an absolute pleasure interviewing Mike, and if you have any questions about daycations or travel in general, please feel free to leave a comment below, or contact him through one of his sites listed above.
