Staycation Soulcare: Finding Wellness Without Boarding a Plane.
There was a time when travel meant a passport stamp, a packed suitcase, and a race through busy airports. But on my recent road trip from Texas to Utah, something shifted. No long security lines, no crowded terminals, no juggling luggage while rushing to make a connection—just open roads, mountain views, and peace. Somewhere between rest stops and red-rock horizons, I realized that sometimes, what we crave most isn’t distance, but quiet. Maybe it’s age, perhaps it’s wisdom, but there’s a certain beauty in slowing down. As travelers of color, we often carry not only luggage but layers—expectations, history, and the quiet exhaustion of always having to show up strong. That’s why this season, I’m embracing a new kind of journey—one that starts closer to home. A softer pace. A gentler rhythm. A self-care staycation that lets me travel inward as much as outward.
What Is a Self-Care Staycation?
It’s not just about staying home. It’s about choosing yourself. Whether that means booking a Black-owned spa retreat, a boutique hotel in your own city, or simply creating a peaceful oasis in your backyard—this is travel that restores instead of depletes. My recent road trips may not have added passport stamps, but they have left me with impressions of peace. Peace that comes from within. Think of it as “soul travel.” No airport delays, no baggage fees—just time to reconnect with the person behind the passport.
How to Create Your Own Staycation Getaway
Here are a few ways I’ve turned ordinary weekends into meaningful escapes:
Book local, rest intentionally. Look for Black-owned or Black-welcoming boutique hotels and Bed and Breakfasts in your area. Look for keywords like ‘Inclusive’ and ‘Stay Black Experience’ to find safe and affirming spaces.
Curate a spa day. Support local estheticians or wellness centers that celebrate our skin, hair, and overall well-being.
Explore your city like a tourist. Visit that museum you’ve always passed by, try that new café, or attend a cultural event that feeds your spirit.
Unplug. This one’s sacred but straightforward. Log out. Put the phone down. Be fully present for yourself.
The Why Behind It
Wellness travel may be trending, but for us, it’s more than a hashtag—it’s a healing experience. For generations, we’ve been the backbone, the caretakers, the ones “on” all the time. We’re the planners, the peacemakers, the ones making sure everyone else is comfortable, safe, and happy. From family vacations to group getaways, we’re often the ones holding everything together—making it look effortless, even when it’s not. That constant care takes its toll. So when we finally get a chance to rest, it can feel foreign—almost like we have to permit ourselves. But choosing rest is radical. It’s resistance. It’s how we reclaim our peace in a world that often demands our strength. This season, I’m reminding myself—and you—that we deserve to recharge, not just endure. Rest is not a reward; it’s a right.
I used to equate movement with meaning. If I wasn’t jetting off somewhere new, I wasn’t truly living. There was always another destination to check off, another bucket-list moment to capture, another place I needed to end up. But if I’m honest, sometimes the pursuit of “getting there” left me more tired than transformed. The pressure to plan, perfect, and post can steal the joy right out of the journey. Over time, I’ve learned that peace can be just as powerful as a passport. You don’t have to chase every destination to prove you’ve lived. Your best trip might be the one that brings you back to yourself.
So this week, take that day off. Turn your home into a retreat—book that local getaway. Pour into your soul the same way you pour into others. You don’t have to cross an ocean—or tick off another box—to find peace. You have to choose it.
What does rest look like for you this season? Please share your favorite local wellness spots or staycation ideas in the comments, and tag #EbonyTravelersRest for a chance to be featured on our next post.
