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Spring Break has started here and we didn’t plan a vacation. How about you? Because the virus is spreading around the country, it has made us think about staying home and have a staycation instead.
Because my chronic illness medicine suppresses my immune system, I’m vulnerable to virus complications. I’ve been careful about being in crowds to avoid getting sick. And, even though heading to Florida sounds great, a staycation can be fun, too.
It isn’t the first time our family has decided to forego long days in the car to go on a vacation. Not only do vacations wear you out, but they wear down your wallet. Between travel expenses, hotels, tickets, and dining out, the expense of a vacation gets higher every year.
Vacation At Home
- If your weather is very warm, get in the pool. Even a child’s pool can be fun. Or have a water-gun fight.
- Movie Night is fun! Pay to watch a great new movie or watch a marathon of your favorite movie series. Don’t forget the popcorn.
- Pajama Day/Spa Day is great for kids. Have a mother/daughter mani-pedi morning. Use your brightest polish.
- Camp out in your back yard. This is so much fun (if you live in a mild climate). Roast marshmallows and tell stories. Sing and laugh into the wee hours.
- Have a night when the kids cook dinner. Depending on the ages of your children, your meals should be interesting!
- If you live where there is still snow on the ground, have a snowman-building-contest. The most unique snowman wins!
Staycations In Your Hometown
- Are there any local sporting events? High school sports are usually free or not expensive to attend.
- Play your own sports. Try a game of tennis. If you’re not very good (like me), you’ll probably get a lot of laughs with this one.
- Visit a park or trail that’s new to you. Take a hike or a picnic lunch.
- Museums can be fun, even in a small town. You’ll learn something new.
- Visit a new ice-cream parlor or pizza place. Have a new food adventure. It will be a treat!
- Scour the newspaper/internet to find a local event that sounds interesting. There may be a play or concert that may be out of your comfort zone, but you might have a blast.
Whatever you decide to do on your staycation, make it a time for great communication. What about turning off the cell phones and suspending the chores for the week? Use paper plates and work as little as possible. Make this a Spring Break they’ll remember.
@2020, copyright Lisa Ehrman
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- Lisa has been blogging since 2013, and loves sharing resources and ideas for living a simple life. To get free printables, bonus words, and more - sign up for the newsletter.
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My immune system isn’t so great either, and I’m too tired for ‘real’ vacations. Staycations are just the thing!
It’s amazing how exhausted parents get from a “vacation”. 🙂
We love Staycations. We always pick local activities from our newspaper. It’s so much fun learning to do things and tour places. It’s great to have time with kids without all the getting settled in a different place. The kids love picking activities as much as we do. It’s great to spend money in our area also. I do suggest that you take the time to pick out activities beforehand because you won’t be sitting around trying to figure out what to do and wearing everybody out. It’s so much fun knowing what’s upcoming and getting excited about it before the staycation begins.
Great ideas! It’s so important including the children when we plan. And, I agree, that the anticipation is almost as fun as the event 🙂
Yes it’s always a good idea, especially when most events are cancelled, half the world on lock down. I think it’s a wise idea to have plans to stay home where you are 🙂 Take care!
Yes, it seems that more events are cancelled everyday. Hope you (and all of us) stay healthy 🙂
It’s always nice to stay home and enjoy peace and quiet! Especially now!
Yes, staying home is my number one thing to do for a while 🙂
These are all good tips especially since now everybody is staying at home more.
Yes, we all can benefit from more simple, family times 🙂
Thanks for this post.
You’re so welcome, Jodi 🙂
Yes, whether we like it or not.
The only way, now.
Good tips to know
my daughter has 5 kids they have been cooped up so long that just coming to my house for a rew days is a staycation for her,,although i cant take all 5 at the same time, usually 4 is my limit for over night stay ,,i dont have beds enough,,but we could have a mini camp out on my floor in sleeping bags and i could manage all 5 ,,,ill have to think on that ,
I’m sure that the kids would love a mini-camp with you. 🙂
Thanks for the post. Yes, need to break the monotany of being at home and have a safe staycation
Yes, this is a really good time for one 🙂
These are all great ideas of what to do on a Staycation, thanks for sharing with us.
Staycations are the best! We take them more often than regular vacations, since my husband owns his business and works a lot. It’s still nice to get away from home, and in my case not cook for a few days!
I take a staycation once ever couple of months