A senior living in Cincinnati knows that winter is a great time to roll out of town to a warm, sunny vacation destination. A lot of folks head to Florida, the Gulf Coast, or the Southwest when the weather turns chilly.

And it costs a lot of money to do so: airline flights, or gasoline and tolls for folks who drive, camper and RV permits, food on the road and more. A winter vacation can burn a hole into a senior's budget tout suite, so it can behoove one to save a bit on travel expenses during the fair weather months.

So, what about fun in and around Cincinnati during the summer? What lower-cost options do retirees living in Cincinnati have for "staycations?" Well, we have some ideas about that:

1. Try a weekend at Hocking Hills.

Ever been up to Ohio's natural wilderness gem? It's cheap to camp there and an easy drive from the Queen City.

Hocking Hills State Park is a 2,356-acre wilderness preserve in Hocking County (just northeast of historic Chillicothe). It's adjacent to the Hocking State Forest and other nature preserves, so it's a great place to hike and see amazing, native wildlife and plant species — many of which are threatened.

Hocking Hills is named for the high bluffs on either side of the ancient Hockhocking River bed. At the end of the last glacial period, torrents of meltwater filled the Hockhocking valley with silt, changed the direction of the river and left exposed the deep cuts and caves that the river had carved in the region's soft, sandstone bedrock.

Today, active seniors who visit and hike there can marvel at gorgeous, easily-accessed rock formations like Ash Cave and "the Devil's Bathtub."

The park features many rentable cabins and nearly 200 campsites, many of which are wired for electricity, have flush toilets and shower facilities and feature camp stores.

In addition, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will this year complete construction of a brand-new, $6 million visitor's center. 

2. Do a weekend downtown.

Believe it or not, Cincinnati's become a happening place on summer evenings and weekends.

Over-the-Rhine (OTR) and Pendleton are buzzing with culinary hotspots and specialty shops, Main Street and Fountain Square alive with live music, the Aronoff theater district (on Walnut) and the Banks development light up the night.

The Reds are suddenly on the rebound (12-9 in June, as of this writing) and Music Hall is back open for Symphony business after an extensive, much-needed renovation (thank you, Hamilton County taxpayers).

Save the hotel expense and plan a series of outings right here in Porkopolis!

Take a Cincinnati brewery tour, or explore our historic German churches. Take a Segway tour around OTR. Or, hit the buffet and try to win it big at the JACK Casino.

There are so many delightful options — and you don't have to hassle with an airline to experience them.

3. Take a drive out to Metamora.

Metamora is about an hour's drive from the I-275 beltway. It's an old canal town in rural Indiana, about halfway up US 52 as you drive toward Richmond.

Until the mid-19th century, Metamora was a bustling, early industrial center, but the decline in canal-based trade caused it to transition into a sleepier farm town. The canal was maintained, though, to provide hydraulic power until well into the 20th century.

Part of the old Whitewater Canal still exists there. Visitors today can take a horse-drawn canal boat ride, just as people did in the antebellum period.

The town is also home to Indiana's only operational, water-powered grist mill and an historic district which includes interesting, period-specific buildings that have been moved to Metamora to function as collective, living museum dedicated to life in 1838.

You and your grandkids can learn about "life in the olden days," enjoy some hand-pulled taffy or old-fashioned candy and ice cream, and enjoy the beautiful sunshine along the canal bank.

It's an easy drive there and back, or a nice place to stay for a weekend. Metamora is a picture-perfect example of how our ancestors tried to live well.

When you choose a retirement community, choose one where you'd live well, too.

Staycations are great ways to have fun, stay active and age positively. But what about the day-to-day needs? What makes your life feel fulfilled? And how do you find a retirement community that fits your lifestyle wishes?

First, click here to download our free guide, "How to Choose a Retirement Community."

In it, you'll learn how to evaluate communities not only from the practical side — care options, cleanliness and inspection scores, budget, the availability of financial assistance programs, etc. — but also from a value-based standpoint.

You'll want to consider factors like proximity to family and friends, activities and events, opportunities for fun outings with your neighbors, care philosophy, general atmosphere and sense of community.

Because you should develop an understanding not only of where you'd receive the best care as you age, but also learn how to determine where you or your senior loved one would love to live.

And we think Deupree House is a Cincinnati retirement community you'll definitely want to include on your list. We focus on promoting healthy aging and positive aging in equal measure.

Schedule your family's visit with us today. Let's find out more about your senior living wants and needs.