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

Visit These Two Staycation Destinations Near Kansas City, 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.