Staycation All I Ever Wanted

If you are like my family and I, you might be remaining near home on a “staycation” this summer. As a mom of four, ages 3-10, I have some experience with making the most out of the space and season I’m in. Whether it is out of preference or necessity, I have some fun ideas to help energize your plans.

Remember, you know your family best, these are just ideas to spur you on! If relaxing in your backyard and/or by the local pool is within your capacity (personality type, energy level, kids’ ages and stages) then fully embrace it! There are no “should’s” here, you pick what will fill your joy buckets the most.

Local Parks and Playgrounds

• Make a list of, or better yet, get your hands on a city or county map and mark all the playgrounds and/or park open spaces. Make it a goal to visit a different playground a couple times a week all summer long. Your kiddos will enjoy crossing off each playground on the map as you go.
• Invite your friends and/or your kids’ friends, including those you haven’t gotten to know very well. A playground meet-up is a low-key way to invite others in. If they cannot join, your kids are still going to have fun and the other parent is going to feel warm fuzzies because you thought of them.

Hiking/Walking

• Similarly, locate the hiking trails nearby. Make it a weekly family outing goal to check out a new trail and spend half the day enjoying the great outdoors together! This is on our personal list. Depending on your location and chosen hike, you may have bugs and weather to contend with. Always dress accordingly and be prepared with a map and plenty of water.
• Pack up the scooters or bikes and find a local school parking lot or wide sidewalk space to practice their skills.
• Call a friend to join you on a walk. It’s not a vacation but it is an easy breezy way to catch up with a friend and enjoy the fresh air. Sometimes that’s all I really need to feel refreshed.

Progressive Dinner

• Plan to spend a slow evening enjoying portions of a meal with changing scenery. The general idea is that rather than staying in one place for an entire date, you will eat appetizers at one restaurant, dinner at another, dessert and/or drinks at another.
  • Things to consider.
    • Method for choosing your restaurants.
      • You could simply choose beforehand or let your people choose.
      • If you’re going to make this a summer staple you might write your appetizer options on one color of paper, dinner, dessert and drinks on different colors and put them in a jar to up the ante on the unknown.
    • A family affair?
      • Instead of going into restaurants with kids in tow you could make the progression a picnic where you move your already packed (or to-go orders) to different locations outside. The kids can play and you can enjoy your meal.

Games to Play to “Get Away”

These are games I have personal experience with. I’m sure there are many others. A good game night is something I am glad I did afterward. I have my eye on the Trekking games series and “The World Game.”

• Ticket to Ride: “A cross-country train adventure”
• ‘Parks’ by Keymaster Games: A beautifully made strategy game for small groups or can be played solo. Each player “hikes” through the four seasons exploring nature by visiting the National Parks of the United States.

Ice Cream Truck—er Minivan?

We did this two summers ago and it was a hit for our kids and our friends. We bought several different types of ice cream (thinking of what their friends might like) and a poster board. Cut out the picture of each type from its box and paste it to your poster. Have the kids make it their own with “FREE Ice Cream” in bold. We let our friends know in advance that we would be an ice cream truck for an afternoon. Pack up your ice cream in an ice filled Igloo or similar, buckle up and head out. My husband played the typical ice cream truck music when we pulled up to each house. The kids took turns helping their friends to their ice cream of choice.

The Local Library

This will be dependent on your location and availability.

• Around here our library has a summer reading program – the goal is to read so many books, or for so many hours, and earn prizes.
• Fun events. Our library has also hosted various events for kids of different ages, including adults. Check out your local library for fun, free things to do. They may also have calendars available for the larger community.
• “Visit” a new country through reading and add-on related crafts for an immersive learning experience.

Local Sightseeing

Of course there are also the things within a few hours’ drive that you can include in your plans. Around here, that’s eastern Kansas, we have Children’s Discovery Centers, Zoos, World’s of Fun, Theatre productions, Arts and Crafts shops, Home Depot hosts a free kids workshop the first Saturday of each month, community pools and splash pads to name a few.

Sometimes all it takes to make the things we have access to every day fun is to add a little magic. A special name for it during break – Sundays at the Splash Pad. Add fun/themed food. Change the location. Or make it a group party. I think you’ll be surprised how much like vacation it feels. And the best bonus from this banker’s perspective? None of these ideas break the bank!

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