Staycations and how to support local tourism

Spring Break Stay-cation in Mason City

The latest local, regional and national news events of the day are presented by the ABC 6 News Team, along with updated sports, weather and traffic.

(ABC 6 News) – Spring has almost sprung and as residents look to make their spring break plans, it’s important to keep our local towns in mind.

Airfares are down more than 6%, according to the most recent Consumer Price Index data, but that doesn’t mean you need to look any further than right here at home, especially when making spring break plans.

“Mason City is home to some really unique architecture, including the only remaining Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel in the world,” said Lindsey James, the executive director of Visit Mason City. “It’s interesting to learn about the history of our community, as well as why we have these architectural treasures.”

Mason City isn’t the only place with great amenities; let’s not count out Spam Town.

Savile Lord, manager of the Austin Spam Museum, said the museum is only the first stop of the places you want to be in Austin.

“The Spam Museum is the catalyst for people to come take that day trip to Austin, and they have other options that they can go do. Make a day trip, come down visit the museum. Then they can see the Hormel Historic Home, they can see the Hormel Institute,” said Lord.

Rochester has already made it’s name as one of the world leaders in medicine, but who’s to say you can only be good at one thing?

You might be surprised by all that downtown Rochester has to offer.

“Rochester welcomes with open arms all of the patients and their caregivers who come to Mayo Clinic, the best care provider in the country, they come here for care,” said Kathleen Harrington, the interim-executive director for the Rochester Downtown Alliance.

She goes on to say, “what they can find is not only very welcoming people, but great restaurants, wonderful shopping and ease of getting around town.”

Before you book your next flight, keep local tourism businesses in mind, it just might surprise you.