Win a 'Dream Staycation' from Patch

With spring break just around the corner, it got us thinking about travel (and how expensive it can be to get out of town) and about all the fun things there are to do right here in Northern Virginia and D.C. 

It gave us an idea for....a "Staycation" sweepstakes. What's a staycation? A staycation (also spelled stay-cation, stacation, or staykation) is a neologism for a period of time in which an individual or family stays at home and relaxes at home or takes day trips from their home to area attractions.

So, in need of a little fun? We've gathered goodies (worth more than $300) donated by local merchants to make for one fun staycation of dining, shopping and R&R for a lucky reader. How do you enter our Dream Staycation Sweepstakes?

Here's what you have to do:

1. Leave a comment after this post with a staycation tip (where you like to go around the D.C. region, nearby or within a few hours drive, for fun or where you take visiting friends and family)

2. One entry per e-mail address, per day between midnight ET, March 13, 2013 and 11:59 p.m. ET March 31, 2013.

3. Patch will choose a winner in a random drawing from all comments to this sweepstakes on Mount Vernon Patch and Greater Alexandria Patch

Here's what one lucky winner will receive:

• From Top It Off - basket of accessories from this local retailer located in the Hollin Hall Shopping Center
• Mamma’s Kitchen – dinner for two - $50 gift certificate
• Hollin Hall Pastry –  gift certificate for 6 cupcakes, approximate retail value $16.50
• Mount Vernon Athletic Club – one week, valued at $250:

Here's the scoop on the Mount Vernon Athletic Club's gift: A one-week, all inclusive Fitness Membership at Mount Vernon Athletic Club; childcare (7 days a week!); unlimited tanning; unlimited sauna

Plus:

• A relaxing and refreshing facial by Master Esthetician Diane Quartel
• Access to all Instructor lead fitness classes (Zumba, Pilates, Yoga…)
• And introducing “Fitness on Demand” – at the only location in Northern Virginia, MTVAC! This is a new fitness class system – any class, any time! Just call it up on our 15 foot wide screen and go for it – alone or with friend 

Good luck! Patch Giveaway Rules are attached.