50 Best Staycation Ideas {Family & Budget Friendly!}

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Are you looking for some staycation ideas that satisfy the pickiest in your family? Are you on a tight budget but still really want to give your family something to remember? Keep reading! You’ll find 50 super-fun ideas that are creative, out-of-the-box and guaranteed to please! 

Staycations Check Off All the Boxes

I don’t know what your school schedule is like, but around here, we’re on what they call a ‘balanced schedule.’ While we aren’t in school year-round, we have a shorter summer and 3 two-week breaks throughout the year (plus a few extra days around Christmas and Thanksgiving).

What that equals for me is long chunks of time with the kids home from school. Like most families, there’s no way we can afford to go on vacations every time school is out.

Maybe that’s your situation, too?

Maybe money is tight all around and a faraway vacation isn’t really in the cards for your family. Or maybe you’re trying to teach your kids that you don’t need to spend a lot of money on extravagant vacations to make memories and have fun.

Staycations are the perfect solution to all of that.

Experience over Material Possessions

It’s a big trend these days to give kids experiences over material possessions – those are the things they’ll remember more and do so much more for family, bonding, and relationships.

But what do you do if you can’t really afford the ‘experience’? Staycations are a fantastic option for that! There’s so much you can do within the area that you already live – and that will save you so much in travel and hotel costs.

There are a few little tricks to making a staycation work, but it’s really possible to have an amazing staycation experience – one that can rival going away on a traditional vacation.

Tricks to Having an Amazing Staycation

Know Your Goals

What exactly is your family trying to accomplish? Is it time bonding together? Is it exploring where you live? Is it being out in nature and unplugged from technology? Is it thrill-seeking types of activities? Is it downtime and relaxation?

The answers to these questions are important in planning out your staycation. Now, it can be a mix of these, but just knowing where your priorities lie can really help with your planning.

Get Everyone’s Input

It can be hard to please everyone, especially if you have some a Negative Nelly in the group.

Before you make plans in stone, poll your family members and ask for what they’d like to do. What kinds of activities would they enjoy? What would make the staycation memorable for them?

Decide on the Ground Rules

While you do want to feel like a vacation, the dynamics are a little different when you’re staying in your own home. Decide ahead of time what this will look like and make sure everyone knows beforehand.

Are you totally unplugging from technology?

Are phone calls and emails from work allowed?

Are family activities all day every day or will they be able to have their own downtime?

What about food – who is cooking?

Are you going out to eat and ordering in, like a real vacation? Housework? Chores? Will they be happening?

Are you really acting as if you are ‘away’ and disconnecting?

You want to make sure expectations are clear from the beginning so there’s no unanticipated disappointment.

Be Flexible

Things are going to come up.

Someone might get sick. The weather might not cooperate with what you have planned. The idea of a vacation is to recharge a bit, so try not to take on extra stress. Leave some margin in your plans and don’t create a schedule that’s too rigid.

Prepare everyone to go with the flow.

Plan Your Budget

Just like a traditional vacation, you want to know just how much you can spend. Since you don’t have to pay for hotels and travel, hopefully you’ll have a little extra in the budget for a few splurges.

But even in you don’t, there are creative ways to enjoy your staycation that are inexpensive and many are even free.

Groupon and Local Flavor are great ways to find discounted tickets to many local attractions and restaurants as well as coupons that come from fliers in the mail.

50 Fabulous Staycation Ideas to Please Even the Pickiest Among You

Here are 50 staycation ideas you can choose from. You can do one a day, several a day or several over the course of the week. The idea is to put together a vacation that works for you!

You can even write a few staycation ideas down on a piece of paper and pick one out each day to add a surprise element to it. The goal is to spend quality time with the people you love, experience some new things and make memories.  

If you can check those 3 things off your list by the end of the week, I say, well done, Mom and Dad!

And if you’re looking for ideas while practicing social distancing, survival is an OK goal, too! But hopefully, you’ll create some meaningful memories in the process, too!

Home Activities (or Activities Suitable for Social Distancing With Minimal Public Interaction)

1| Movie Marathon

A break from school is a great time to catch up on some movies! You can stay in your PJs all day and just keep watching flix. Totally OK to plan in a lazy day!

2| Binge-Watch Favorite TV Series

Do you have a series your family has loved? Even an old one? Pick a day and binge-watch the whole thing and see how far you get!

3| Outdoor Movie

This is another fun option! Outdoor movies aren’t too common these days, but there’s something about the novelty of it that makes it extra fun! Here are some helpful tips to make it a perfect night!

4| Scavenger Hunt

There are so many ways to do a scavenger hunt! You can do one in nature, while driving in a car, at the mall, or even a picture scavenger hunt! Or create your own! Here are some fun scavenger hunt ideas for kids! (For social distancing, omit the mall option!)

5| Camping

The novelty of a tent is another super-fun staycation idea. Campground fees are super-cheap, and if you have one in your area, that’s a fun getaway without all the travel. Be sure to include fun activities (here’s a printable for a camping photo and selfie challenge + 18 more free camping printables!) and fun food – like foil packs meals!

You can also camp in your backyard or if the weather isn’t suitable – you can do this your living room or basement!

And don’t forget a bonfire with S’mores and hot cocoa! Those are great for any night as well – even a chilly one – even if you’re not camping!

6| Stargaze

Going out to look at the stars is something that is so fun to do!

If you have too many lights in your area, take a night drive to a country spot to look at the stars. Even better if you have a telescope. Bring a blanket and a list of constellations to find.

You can also head to the planetarium to check out the stars. Your own backyard can also be a great choice, too.

7|  All Nighter

Kids LOVE to stay up past bedtime. Plan an all-nighter, even if they don’t make it the whole time. Arrange food, movies, games for the evening. Then sleep in and spend a lazy day in.

8| Photo Session with Props

Kids are experts at selfies today. Try having a family photoshoot. Create a backdrop, get props. You can even create some themes for extra fun. And you’ll have the pictures for great memories! Here are some fun props you can check out to get some ideas!

9| Picnic

Set up an outdoor picnic at a local park, playground, or even the beach! If the weather isn’t permitting, even just laying out a blanket in the living room or basement and creating an indoor picnic can be just as fun!

To up the fun factor, try these 18 Best Picnic Games!

10| Home Outdoor Water Park

This is great if you live in a warm-weather climate (or summer). You can definitely go to a local waterpark if you want, but how about setting up an outdoor park out of your house?

Even if you don’t have your own pool, you can set up an inflatable family size pool, slip-and-slide, sprinklers…all kinds of outdoor fun! Here are 16 great ideas for a DIY home water park!

11| Fancy Dinner

Plan one fancy dinner night. This can be at your own house with candles, fancy place settings, and dressing up (ordering in is definitely an option!).

Try putting the kids in charge – they’ll also love creating a menu and cooking for this! Might not be that fancy, but it will be fun! 

12 | Board Games (or a Board Game Tournament)

Board games are great way to bring the family together. If you want to take it up a notch, have some board game tournaments of your favorite board games!

Here’s some help in arranging a board game tournament. And if you have a younger crew, you can include some Minute To Win It Games!

13| Geocaching

This is another super fun scavenger-hunt type activity using your cell phone to find secret containers! Here’s a place you can find some geocaching activities in your area.

14| Sunrise and Sunset

Pick some scenic places nearby, get up early, grab some hot chocolate and coffee and watch the sunrise. Get some breakfast, enjoy the day and end the day with a beautiful sunset.

15| Theme Party

Pick a theme and have a family party (or invite friends, too)!

It can be a certain time or place in history – Roaring 20s, Wild West, the 80s.

Have food, activities, and decorations that align with the time period. For more fun, dress like a person from that era.

16| Arm Chair Travel

Pick a country and use it as a theme for the day! Have food from that country, do activities that they would do there, make crafts associated with that country – and dress up in their attire!

You might not be able to visit the country, but you can bring the festivities right to your home!

17| Obstacle Course

Set up an obstacle course in your yard or in your house. Create a course to complete and then have a competition. Here are some ideas to get you started!

18| Family Olympics Sports Day

Plan a day for your family to compete in all kinds of sports together – soccer, wiffleball, volleyball, softball – or just some outdoor camp-type games. Create your own mini-Olympics!

You can get some game ideas here and more game ideas here!

19| Family Project

As a family, complete a project together.

This can be making your own family tree, a memory book, putting together photo albums. Or it can even just be something you all complete together as a family like a home DIY or woodworking project.

You can also do a community service type project as well to teach them to give back!

20| Explore Nature

Chances are, there are lots of outdoor things in your area that you’ve been too busy to explore.

Hiking trails? Biking trails? Biking in the country? Nature walks?

Being out in nature is a fantastic way to bond and unplug, even on a chilly day!

21| Games, Arts, Crafts, & Indoor Activities

This is a great time to let the creativity go with some crafty projects or some inventive games to burn off some steam.

You can do a seasonal project, around an upcoming holiday, or just get out coloring books, crayons, markers, and paints. This is a fun time for a structured art project or craft, or just letting their creative instincts and imagination run a little!

Here are some lists you can go through for different kinds of indoor crafts, games, or activities:

22 Indoor Activities to Do With Kids (both quiet ones and ones that get energy out!)

87 Energy Busting Activities for Kids

35 Activities for Kids at Home (and You’re Out of Ideas)

Low Prep Stem Activities for Kids

Low Key Activities for Kids

100 TV Free Activities for Kids

And if you are getting ready for Easter, here are 30+ adorable Easter crafts you can do with kids!

 

Activities for Cold or Warm Weather (Winter or Summer)

Here are activities you can do any season of the year – winter, spring, summer, fall. Some are outdoor activities, but you still can do a lot outdoors during winter months or cooler seasons.

They’re very easy to adapt – and it’s great to get fresh air during that winter hibernation! Just bundle up and you’re good to go!

22| National Parks

National parks are another great option.

If you have one that is close by, visit one and grab a junior park ranger kit from the visitor’s center. Lots of fun activities to complete!  Get more information about the junior park ranger program here!

There is a lot to explore in the winter, too!

23| State Parks

So often, we forget just how amazing these state parks are!

Check out which ones are in your area and within driving distance. There are often sites like waterfalls and activities like horse-backing riding that would be a ton of fun! Use this site to find the nearest one to you!

24| Neighborhood Cookout or Dinner

This is a great time to catch up with the people who live closest to you! Even more fun if you make it a pot-luck!

It can be hard to reach out, but it’s well worth it and a great example for the kids.

 

25| Find the Disguise

I did this one year as a camp counselor, and it’s a ton of fun!

Designate a person or 2 to wear a disguise, head to the mall or downtown, split up  – and see if your family can find your other family member dressed up! A ton of fun!

26| Local Attractions

When is the last time you’ve been to the zoo? The aquarium? The museum? Are there some in your area that you haven’t explored yet?

A staycation would be a great time to visit these local amenities! Many places have children’s museums, which are great for the kids, too.

 

 

27| Escape Room

Escape rooms are a super- fun trend these days.

How would your family do trying to find their way out together? This would surely be a great team-building activity, too! You can check out this site or this one to find an escape room near you!

28| Garden/Arboretum

Many areas have local gardens and arboretums to visit.

These are beautiful places that kids don’t always get to check out but are totally worth the visit! Often, they are open in winter months or have indoor sections.

 

29| Bounce Park or Trampoline Park

Sometimes your kids just need to get some energy out!

These are great places for indoor fun, especially during the winter or on a rainy day. It’s probably not something you do on a regular basis, so this will feel like a special occasion to them.

30| Volunteer

This is a great choice to get your kids to think beyond themselves.

Is there a soup kitchen or food pantry they can volunteer at? It’s great when this is something you can do together, where they can see the example of parents serving.

Check out this list for 10 great ideas for volunteering.

31| Local Tourism

Is there something that your town is known for? A historic event or building?  The first in something? Is there something in your area that people come to visit for tourism?

Try being a tourist and checking out the local tourist spots near you!

32| Acts of Kindness

This is something you can do in one day or throughout the course of your staycation. Encourage your kids to come up with ways to show kindness throughout the day or week.

There are so many choices that are super-fun to do as well! Here’s a list of 100 Acts of Kindness you can choose from!

 

33| Home Sports Party

Do you have a family favorite team? How about a party while you watch a big game? 

Invite friends and neighbors, have sports theme food and party games! Here are some ideas for a sports-themed party!

34| Family Competition

A little friendly competition playing lazertag, paintball or bowling is lots of fun! Winner gets treated to ice cream!

35| Skating

Does your town have a roller rink? Or an ice skating rink? How about rollerblading through a park? 

There’s nothing like the old-school fun of skating to bring a family together

36| Local Amusement Parks

Lots of times, we don’t have time to enjoy the local amusement parks nearby. Is there one that’s close or only an hour or two away?

It doesn’t have to be Disney World to be a ton of fun! Many are open year-round!

37| Progressive Dinner

Arrange a progressive dinner with some friends or neighbors who will also be in town.

Do appetizers at one house, dinner at another, and finally dessert at the last house! (You can even do this at restaurants if you have the budget!).

38| Alphabet Activity

Choose a letter and only do activities and eat food that starts with that letter. Or, work your way through the alphabet!

39| Rent a Fun Car for the Day

Does your family have a dream car? Rent one for the day and go for a drive. Explore and any place you end up will seem more fun in a new car!

40| Dinner by a Chef

If you have it in the budget, hire a chef to come and cook a delicious meal for dinner!

41| Instagram Tour

Are there some beautiful photo spots in your area? Make a list and go take pictures by them for an Instagram tour. Be sure to post them later!  Just Google ‘Instagrammable Spots Near Me.’

42| Mini Road Trip | Day Trip

What tourist spot is within a few hours of your house? Plan a day trip there. Get up early, hit the road, spend the day exploring and then be home to sleep in your own beds.

43| Random Jar Activity

Have family members write down different activities they want to do and randomly pick one from the jar each day!

44| Spend the Night in a Local Hotel

If you can afford it, spend one night in a hotel. You can get great rates during the week, and even just hanging together at a hotel, in the pool, playing games and really feel like you’re ‘away.’

45| Free Events in Area

What is your town sponsoring for free events? You can usually find a ton in local Facebook groups as well as newspapers.

You might not get to join in on these fun events during the busy school year, but a staycation is a perfect time to catch a festival, a movie on the library lawn, or store sponsoring a craft or project (like Michael’s and Home Depot)!

46| Painting | Pottery Activity

Many art type stores now offer projects you can complete in the store – like a painting, a DIY project or pottery. This is a super-fun thing to do together as a family!

47| Right-Left-Straight Game

Get in the car and rotate through each person letting them pick the direction at each intersection: right, left or straight. See where you end up!

48| Surprise Bus Trip

Hop on your local public transportation and see where you end up! Start with one stop and ride until you get to the next public place.

Keep going until you make your way around town, and then head home.

49| Take a Train Ride

Instead of driving, take the train somewhere! You can have a destination in mind that you’re familiar with, or you can choose an unfamiliar stop, get off, and explore.

 

Activities for Warm Weather (Summer Fun)

50| Local Water Activities

Are there rivers or lakes nearby? How about kayaking or canoeing? Paddleboats? Many parks have these available for rent!

51|   De-Modernize with Fruit Picking & Farming

Getting back to nature on a farm or orchard is always a great option for disconnecting!

Is there fruit in season at the time of your staycation? Fruit picking is a super fun option.

Or visiting a local farm to check out the animals and activities is also a great way to ‘de-modernize’ for a day!

 

Staycations Can Be > Traditional Vacations

I hope this list has your brain humming for ideas. There are SO many things you can do without leaving your house or digging yourself in a financial hole. Activities and vacations do not have to involve fancy locations and spending gobs of money.

Being together is what’s important, and you can make a staycation just as memorable as an extravagant trip. Some of these activities may even turn into things you’ll enjoy on a regular basis or family traditions.

One thing for sure: time together with family is never wasted.

(If you need some help organizing ideas and making lists for your staycation, be sure to check out this free summer family planner!)

Seasonal Family Bucket List Activities

Depending on when you’re vacationing, check out these seasonal bucket lists, all with free printables!

Summer Bucket List

Fall Bucket List  

Christmas Bucket List

 

 

 

Thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below!