Take a Daytrip to Historic Downtown Parkville and Pirtle Winery of Weston, MO:

For many Americans, getting away for a vacation this summer does not include a trip out of town. The newest buzz suggests the staycation as the answer for people forgoing their usual vacation, due to the many budget woes, brought on by the economic ripple effects of rising gas prices and food costs.

During a friend's recent visit, we took a trip to Historic Downtown Parkville, MO and the Pirtle Winery of Weston, MO. We accomplished all of this and arrived home in time to pick-up the little ones from their activities. Over 50 unique shops, boutiques and galleries as well as many eating establishments, offering a variety of dining options, French, Italian, and Mediterranean to name a few, fill Downtown Parkville to brimming. We did a great deal of window shopping since this portion of our journey took place in the morning. My favorite shops were:

· Christmas on Main Street/ Now You're Cookin'-One side of the shop features Christmas items from cute knick-knacks to elegant décor items. The other side specializes in a variety of cookbooks, kitchen tools, mixes and spices.

· Sunrise Soap Co. sells handcrafted soaps, lotions and sprays. They custom scent their products, and their prices are reasonable.

· River's Bend Gallery left me speechless. Beautiful paintings, woodcarvings and curios filled the small space. If you're looking for unique décor pieces, this is the place to visit.

· Parkville Antique Mall presents an opportunity to walk through history--our nation's and your own. I found myself discovering items, I'd seen in my grandmother's home and even an old portable typewriter like the one my mother gave me for Christmas when I was eleven years old.

· Savoy Boutique, offers "style with sass." Trend setting shirts, blouses , tanks, dresses and accessories draw the eye and spark the imaginations of patrons' inner fashionistas. Savoy helps make dressing up or down loads of fun.

Parkville's location north and west of downtown Kansas City makes it a commute of 15 minutes to an hour from the city for most local visitors. A visit to Parkville is like stepping back in time, but being able to enjoy some of the best food, shopping and entertainment that the present has to offer. The historic downtown district's storefronts and homes appear as one imagines they must have during the late 19^th century. Antique shops, retro boutiques, and the variety of dining choices make a day in Parkville a day well spent.

Around lunchtime, we headed about 30 minutes northwest of Parkville to Pirtle Winery. It surprises some people to learn that Missouri is home to several wineries. The Missouri Wine & Grape Board's Missouri Wines brochure lists 72 wineries and their amenities.

Pirtle Winery is located in a historic church building circa 1867. During our visit to the winery, we sampled several wines and enjoyed a tray of cheese, summer sausage, crusty bread and crisp apples in the shade of vine covered trellises, which enclose the charming sitting area next to the winery. I liked the light crisp apple wine and the award winning Blackberry Mead; it won gold at the 2008 International Mead Festival.

Kansas City, MO boasts a wide array of entertainment and activities to keep locals of every age busy. Museums, festivals and entertainment venues make a satisfying vacation at home extremely doable. Daytrips to surrounding areas like Historic Downtown Parkville and Weston, MO also give staycationers the opportunity to feel as if they've actually had a bit of a trip, because part of the adventure of vacationing is the travel to one's destination.