Ultimate Summer Staycation Ideas: Fun and Relaxing Ways to Enjoy Your Summer Without Traveling
Summer time is for rest, relaxation and quality family time. Many people love to get away for a great trip. But sometimes staying local on your summer vacation can be fun too. Check out these ideas on how to enjoy your summer staycation without traveling too far from your home.
Make a Plan
Write everything down. For me we have used large Bristol Board to plan our summers. It is a great visual reminder of what is to come. We like to sit down with our kids and go over their ‘summer dream list’ of all the things they would like to do in the summer. Our only requirement is that it is realistic within our “staycation” theme rather than big trips.
Planning is key. If you are needing to take time off work and some of the ideas may take full days it helps to plan these ahead of time. We like to add a mix of activities that can be done at home and those that may take us out and about.
Here is a list of exciting ways to enjoy your summer staycation in no particular order.
1. Local Parks
Do a little research ahead of time to find all of the parks within a specific location. This has helped us to find some really great playgrounds that we had not noticed before. Pack a lunch and snacks and hit the road to the park.
The great thing about finding a new park is it keeps their excitement for longer than than a park that they go to more regularly.
An added bonus that we try to include when searching for new parks is finding ones that have some type of a splash pad as well.
2. Summer Movie List
Create a list of movies that you would like to watch as a family. Even more fun is choose a specific type of movie or theme. We did this once as a countdown to a Pixar Cruise, we watched all of the Pixar movies on Disney+.
We always try to ensure that movies are only watched in the evenings or on the afternoon of a rainy day to prevent the kids from spending too much time indoors.
To add to the fun of the movie list- set up a fun movie theatre with fun snacks, cushions and blankets.
3. Swimming
I don’t know about your kids, but my kids could swim all day everyday. Not every area has access to local beaches but there are also community pools. Check on what is within your driving distance. For our family we probably have about a dozen beaches within 20minutes from our house.
Similar to the parks heading to a new place to swim captures their attention for longer as they explore the area.
4. Backyard Camping
If you aren’t all in to camping like me then this is great for you! Or even if you are into camping and you are looking something exciting to do with your kids then this is where its at. Set a tent up in your back yard and you are camping while maintaining all the amenities of your home.
And to add to it if you have a fire pit, start the night by having a family camp fire and roasting marshmallows.
If this is your kids first time camping this is a great way to slowly introduce sleeping outside.
5. Spa Day
Find all the nail polish, warm towels, creams and cucumbers for a spa day. My kids love getting their finger and toe nails painted. We also have a foot bath that gives them a bit of a foot massage. Pick up a few of the facial packages at your local drug store and add some cucumbers on their eyes and you have a day full of relaxation and fun.
6. Painting
Not your average paint day. Try out different kind of paint for this. Puffy paint, sidewalk chalk paint, bubble painting or water colour paint. For your little ones put some water in a bucket and have them “paint” the house or fence with water. It dries right off and they feel like they are painting.
7. Water Day
This is great for one of those forecasted hot days. Sprinklers are always a great easy way to cool off. We also love having the kids wash our car or their outdoor bikes, cars or kitchen sets. Water balls are fantastic, they can be dipped right into a bucket and then the kids can throw them.
If you want some more fun family vacation ideas be sure to check out our other posts at Blog – Together We Can Travel.
