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For many of you, it might already feel like you’ve been in some sort of weird summer limbo. Now it’s actually summer, though, and for many, vacation plans aren’t looking the same as they were three months ago. If you’re finding yourself facing a staycation instead of your usual trip away from home, I’d like to give you some summer staycation ideas so that it will still feel like a break in your normal routine.
For ideas beyond this list, think about what makes your vacations special and memorable. You may not be able to recreate the beach in your backyard, but maybe you can have a talent show like you did the last time you were vacationing with your extended family.
20 Summer Staycation Ideas
Play a game
Play a long board game (think Risk or Monopoly) over several days. Set it up on a card table or in another part of your house so you can leave it up without getting in the way of meals or other activities.
Eat out
Even if you can’t go to a restaurant, ordering takeout or getting food delivered will remove some of the normal stress of cooking. If you had planned to spend money on lodging, you could use some of the money you didn’t spend on this!
Do a puzzle
Choose a puzzle with a lot of pieces (1,000+) and work on it as you’re able to.
Make a movie
Write a screenplay together, then have everyone act it out and film it with your phone. Or have LEGO minifigures or stuffed animals act it out, depending on the age and interest level of your kids.
Avoid your phone
Disconnect from your phone—keep it put away, or only have it out for emergencies. Especially if your staycation means taking time away from your job, this will help you feel like you’re actually on vacation.
Have a competition
Come up with some sort of contest—coloring, building with Legos, making items out of found objects, etc. Let someone be the judge, declare a winner, and then celebrate together.
Craft something
Embark on a long craft project (knitting, cross-stitching, etc.). If you don’t know how to do any of those things, then use this time to learn one of those skills, maybe even along with one or all of your kids!
Have a theme
Come up with a theme for the week (international food, sports, etc.) or for each day of the week and choose activities based on those themes. For example, have a meal inspired by a different country every night, or watch movies or documentaries around a certain theme.
Have a video game tournament
Enjoy screens together by having a video game tournament. Create brackets and see who comes out on top.
Go to the beach or on a hike in the mountains
If there are outdoor options available to you, take a day trip and enjoy the water or the fresh mountain air.
Do a scavenger hunt
Set up a scavenger hunt in your house or in your yard (or have older siblings set one up for younger siblings), or even in your city. You can also Google scavenger hunts and fine ones already made that you can just print out.
Eat fun stuff
Make special foods that you wouldn’t normally eat (steaks, ice cream sundaes, etc.). Again, take advantage of the money you’re not spending on lodging and other accomodations and splurge on some fun food items.
Watch a movie (or movies)
One fun idea is to have a movie marathon in one day, or watch a different movie from the same series each evening before bed. You could watch through all the Star Wars movies, for example!
Go to a drive-in movie
If your family likes movies, looking for a drive-in movie option nearby might be a possiblity this summer. Stock up on snacks and drinks before you go!
Complete a home project as a family
Sometimes it doesn’t feel like work if you’re all doing it together and there aren’t any time constraints. Refinish some furniture, build a birdhouse, or paint someone’s bedroom a new color!
Change things up in your house
Rearrange the furniture, switch your kids’ bedrooms, or finally hang up those picture frames that have been sitting in the closet for months.
Catch up on reading
I love to sit on the beach with a book, but you can still read even if you’re not at the beach. Devote some time each day to reading through a big book you’ve wanted to finish, or pick a bunch of fun, light reads and breeze through them.
Take a picnic to an outdoor area
If you’re able to go to a local park, a picnic is a fun way to change things up. Take a football or a Frisbee and enjoy some fresh air along with some yummy food.
Explore the outdoors
You can probably walk the streets of your town or a larger city nearby. See if a city near you is one of the cities we’ve covered in our 25 free things to do series—many of the options are outdoors!
Camp out in the backyard
Part of the fun of vacation is sleeping somewhere else, so why not sleep in the backyard? Set up a tent and enjoy a night in the yard to mix things up.
What are your best summer staycation ideas? Let us know in the comments!
