Perk up your 'staycation': Discover deals and community gems while staying closer to home

NEW YORK -- As summer's end approaches you lust for one more travel adventure. Here's a close-to-home concept worth checking out.

Of course, you're probably tired of hearing about "staycations" in the media. You get it now. Stay close to home, save gas, etc. The trip to Europe, downsized to a trip to a U.S. national park, downsized again to a stay in a country B&B near your home. Tired topic, yes, but I found a new idea for that last little summer getaway. It works well into the fall, too, and as the economy stays weak, I suspect it'll go for a while.

Not surprisingly in this economy, city hotels are offering deals. Business travel is down, and big hotels have rooms to spare, especially on the weekends. Museums are looking for visitors, too. So they've teamed up to offer package deals, little cultural staycations. Stay at a hotel, capture a perk or two such as VIP parking, and get free tickets to a local museum or arts performance.

Usually, when you frequent your city museums, I'll bet it's like this: A couple of hours on a busy Saturday, too many people, long lines at the restaurant, kids everywhere. Or, on a weekday, cram it in before rush hour; get home to the kids or some other obligation.

Not so with these packages. You can ditch the car, spend the time you want, enjoy restaurants and other amenities that make your city special.

Sample packages include:

• Cleveland: Get a luxury room at the Glidden House with Continental breakfast for two, free parking, and two tickets to the Vatican Splendors exhibit, for $129 through Sept. 7. See more details.
• Boston: The Institute of Contemporary Art has links to several hotels that offer room and ticket packages at varying prices, including the Westin Boston Waterfront. They offer a $239 deal including a room and breakfast buffet for two and two tickets to ICA. See more details.
• Atlanta: The Louvre and the Ancient World exhibit at the High Museum of Art has several hotel and ticket packages available, including the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, where for $219 you can get a room, breakfast, valet parking, and two tickets, through Sept. 7. See more details.
• Seattle: Brushes and Berets Impressionism. The Mayflower Park Hotel offers a package including a room, two VIP tickets (let's you skip the line) to the exhibit at the Seattle Art Museum, and complimentary valet parking, for $225 through Sept. 21. See more details.

And for later this year:

• Dallas: King Tut. Beginning Oct. 3, the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas offers a package for $349 including a room, breakfast, two VIP tickets to the Dallas Museum of Art's King Tut exhibit, and a special Egyptian-themed pastry welcome gift. See more details (click on "October").
• San Francisco: Golden Treasures of Afghanistan. The Fairmont San Francisco offers a $299 package with the Asian Art Museum that includes a room, two exhibit tickets, and Turkish coffee and baklava for two, starting Oct. 24. See more details.

This is just a sample; you can explore the Web sites for your favorite hotels and cultural venues in your city. Or ask a concierge. Think of it as your local stroll to the Louvre. It's fun.