I’ve only been out of the country twice.

Once I went to Paris, and once I went to Puerto Vallarta.

Most of my vacations, though, are the staycation variety, the kind where I drive no more than a few hours from home.

This summer, I took two of them.

I went to Crosslake for a week as a camp counselor and then ventured up to Duluth last month.

Staycations can also be simple day trips, and I took some of those, too.

I went to a Twins game, went to Cheese Fest in Pine Island, took in the Renaissance Festival and pretty much ate my weight in fried food at the state fair.

Staycations are important to both Mower County and to Minnesota. They put money into our economies when we eat out, stay in hotels or go to the theater and watch a movie.

Our staycations might not have the warmth in the wintertime of Mexico or the art museums of Paris, but there is still plenty to do and see right here in our state.

At the end of this month, the Herald will be publishing its annual Southern Exposure special section, which this year will serve as a relocation and staycation guide.

The section will be jam packed with information for those new to the area and will include everything from church listings to an up to date list of city and county officials.

It will also include ideas for staycations right here in southern Minnesota, day trips that are easy to find, but well worth the time, effort and money.

Staycations shouldn’t be limited to the summer months either.

The fall offers hunting, apple orchards, pumpkin patches and seasonal colors that are second to none.

The winter offers ice fishing and skiing, while the spring offers fishing and just about everything else.

So go ahead and plan your next staycation and keep watch for Southern Exposure.

It will be published in the Herald Sept. 30.