Are you ready to start planning your getaway? Leave behind the need to jump on a plane and get creative with your staycation ideas. Rediscover the possibilities of finding a new sunny beach, a cozy cabin in the woods, or that amazing golf course at a destination right in your own backyard! With a little ingenuity and effort, you can fashion some of the most memorable vacations ever and they are right at your fingertips.
1. Embrace the Staycation: Making the Most of Time at Home
This summer, consider packing your day planner with staycation activities and excursions within your own home. Now, more than ever, spending time at home with family is both an important safeguard and a delightful opportunity. Rather than fretting, get creative and maximize the potential of passing time in the comfort of your own space!
Create new family traditions. Turn movie nights into an event by building a snack tower out of homemade goodies and stopping to grab the popcorn from the kitchen. Preempt the week’s expectations by filming a morning talk show within your own home, or discuss the day’s to-dos while enjoying breakfast together. Make the dining table the perfect place to gather as a family by adorning it with fresh flowers and festive decor.
Explore local recreational sites. The surrounding area can be a never-ending source of opportunities for staycation entertainment. Discover can’t-miss gems like nearby parks, trails, and farms—look for unique activities like outdoor mini golf, disc golf, and even an urban beach nearby. Or, take advantage of tourist sites and attractions staying open in your area. Reserve tickets in advance to take advantage of specially-designed activities to help respect social distancing regulations.
Gather with friends (virtually). Unexpected circumstances won’t stop you from connecting with those close to your heart—and it can offer them a much-needed spiritual pick-me-up. Plan a themed virtual gathering complete with trivia, cooking demonstrations, or our favorite: a shared movie night through your favorite streaming service.
Find solitary solace with a hobby. The summer offers the perfect opportunity to dive into a project. Once you get the creative bug, the possibilities for personal wellbeing activities are endless. Here are just a few:
- Pick up a foreign language
- Clean and reorganize the pantry
- Grow your own vegetable garden
- Learn calligraphy
- Attempt a delicious baking project
The summer sun coupled with unexpected downtime provides an ideal backdrop for harnessing the joys of the staycation. With a little bit of creativity and flexibility, you can make the most of your summer and unlock precious moments of togetherness, exploration, and relaxation all without leaving home.
2. Get Creative – Crafting Memorable Home-Based Getaways
The Staycation
Stuck at home but in need of a break? Here are a few ways to get creative and plan your own staycation – a mini getaway from your own four walls!
- Start by deciding the theme of your staycation. Do you want a spa-style atmosphere? A beach-side vibe? A nature retreat? Whether you opt for zen or campfire vibes, the goal is to create a distinct difference to your everyday environment.
- Create a to-do list of activities that fit the chosen theme. Turn your living room into a cosy cinema, set up a beach bath in the garden, organise a cooking class over a video call… the possibilities are endless! Just be sure to mix relaxation with adventure and learning.
- Think outside the box by adding little treats and surprises. How about taking a baking class to make some cupcakes or a family treasure hunt? Invest in a cocktail making kit and enjoy a mocktail hour with your loved ones, or simply dress up for dinner in costume!
The Virtual Getaway
Thanks to technology, you can experience the feeling of an exotic location without leaving your home. Try to capture the atmosphere of a far away place by gathering all that it has to offer:
- Tune in to the sights and sounds of your desired destination by streaming live webcams, searching for virtual tours, and watching videos or music from the region.
- Bring the destination to your plate by recreating a typical meal from the chosen place. Hit up the nearest ethnic food store or whip up a delicious recipe off the internet! Bonus points for dressing up in traditional attire.
- Explore the region’s culture and history by reading books, watching documentaries, visiting virtual museums, or even participating in a language class!
When crafting your staycation or virtual getaway, it’s important to set a budget and timeline, and to get everyone involved. Let the creative juices flow and turn your home into a whimsical destination with your family or friends!
3. Maximizing the Benefits of Staying Close to Home
Staying close to home has its advantages over more elaborate holiday plans, and if you make the most of it, you can enjoy a vacation that will be just as enriching. Here are a few tips for how to maximize the benefits of a staycation.
Experience something new: Even though you’re confined to the area where you live, you can still put curiosity into your staycation. Whether it’s taking a stroll through a part of town you don’t usually visit, trying specialty food from a restaurant that just opened, or checking out a museum you haven’t been to yet, there’s always something new to discover right around the corner.
Take advantage of public places: Parks, beaches, and other public areas are invaluable assets for anybody looking to inject a bit of adventure into their staycation. All you need is a pair of walking shoes and you can venture out to experience some of the most breathtaking sights in your area. Keep your eyes open for any events or concerts happening in parks nearby – it might just be one of the best days of your holidays!
Prioritize leisure: We tend to run into the same problem every time we go on vacation – customizing our schedule to fit in all the things we want to do. This is where staycations come in to save the day. Rather than spending a week cramming activities into your schedule, you can prioritize free time and relaxation, because if you’re nearby, it won’t take you long to go from one place to another if the opportunity arises.
Visit places with friends: It’s only natural that families and friends will want to holiday together, so why not take the opportunity to save some money and enjoy each other’s company on a staycation. This way you can divide the costs of tickets, don’t have to worry about paying for sleeping arrangements or transportation, and can even create an itinerary together for the various places you might want to visit. It’ll be just like going on vacation, only cheaper.
4. Making Staycations Feel Like Real Vacations
If you are stuck at home this summer, feeling envious of friends heading off to exotic resorts or the beach, fear not! With a bit of creativity and effort, you too can have a staycation that feels like the real thing. Here are some tips to make that happen:
- Schedule it: Block out time in your calendar as if you were actually taking a vacation. If you have a family, get everyone involved in planning your staycation.
- Detox: Leave your phone and all other technology in one room and designate the staycation time as technology-free. This will help you disconnect and fully enjoy your time.
- Set the mood: Create a vacation atmosphere at home by playing some calming music, dimming the lights, or setting out some treats. Light some candles or incense to give the room a home-spa feel.
Decide on activities: Create an activity list that includes the things you love to do on vacation. For example, if you’re normally out sightseeing on vacation, plan a day of visiting local attractions. For some outdoor fun, you can plan a hike or a picnic in the park.
You can also pamper yourself: put on a day spa, give yourself a massage, or try out a new hobby or artistic activity that you don’t usually do. That can add a unique flavor to your staycation. For instance, you could reinvent a room in your home with a special DIY project.
Finally, buy yourself something nice. Whether it’s a bouquet of flowers, a special magazine, or an outfit to make the staycation even more special, splurging on yourself will help make the staycation feel like a real vacation.
Close your eyes, take a deep breath and enjoy a much-needed staycation. Whether you choose to get active and explore nearby trails and take day trips to nearby cities, or choose to relax and rejuvenate your mental wellbeing, these staycation vibes can always be your go-to for crafting memorable getaways close to home. Now, don’t forget to pack some snacks for the journey as you embark on the getaway of a lifetime!
